Esport MeHOTU's Major hopes reignited after RLG Tesla Cup triumph
David "n0rb3r7" Danielyan tells HLTV how a three-month bootcamp and letting go of Major pressure fuelled HOTU's title run, with a decisive trip to Moscow still to come.
HOTU's victory at the RLG Tesla Cup has transformed the Russian side's Major qualification outlook, with HLTV's invite predictor now placing them at 73.3% ahead of their final tournament before the invite cutoff.
Rifler David "n0rb3r7" Danielyan told HLTV that the team had effectively stopped chasing the Major after missing qualification through the 1win and Stake events earlier in the campaign.
"Psychologically we kind of let go of the idea that we could make the Major," he said, adding that the eventual title run felt like lifting a curse the roster had been carrying.
Danielyan pointed to a lineup change as part of the turnaround, with newer addition dwushka joining a group he described as carrying "more firepower" than the previous roster, despite having less experience than his teammates.
He credited a three-month training camp as the decisive factor in the team's form. "The main thing is that we finally went to a bootcamp for three months. We sat in the practice room, worked, progressed," he said, adding that the squad had grown close, telling HLTV he was glad to have "went crazy together with them" during the camp.
The run to the title was not without mishap. Danielyan recounted missing a map veto in their opening match after the team misread a "follow-by" schedule, assuming their match started two hours later than it did.
HOTU now travel to Moscow for the GLuck Moscow Cyber Games 2026, their last chance to boost their Major standing before the deadline. Danielyan said the team's recent run of play should help, noting that two Mongolian teams are also entered and that HOTU do not yet know what form those sides will bring.
The headline fixture of the Moscow event pits HOTU against 1win, a side Danielyan rated highly on recent form. "I don't think there'll be a favorite there. It'll just be a battle for a Major slot," he said, adding that personal acquaintances on the opposing roster would not factor in once the match begins.
Danielyan also thanked tournament organisers Relog for resolving a ticketing issue that had threatened to prevent HOTU from reaching the final, saying the organisers bought alternative tickets so the team could attend both media day and the competition itself in Moscow.
The outcome of HOTU's push for a Major slot will be known on 1 November, according to Danielyan.