Niko "naSu" Kovanen has been in the spotlight lately with Team Finland being disqualified from the ENC by ESL, mainly because of one of his actions. But he is also currently playing for and with Serious Gaming, which are attending Dreamhack in Sweden this weekend. We had a talk with him about the ENC situation, his gaming career, the future and a lot more!

First of all, thank you for your time. Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?

Heya! My name is Niko Kovanen 16!! years old guy from Finland, known as naSu in tha internet!

You are really young, how did you get involved in counter-strike, did your brother have something to do with it?

Haha can't remember, I just heard about the game in school I guess and tried it and here I am.

As probably many people know by now, you just annouced your new lineup for Dreamhack. How will you prepare for the upcoming and how do you think the new players will work out?

We are trying to play as much as we can.... I think the few new players will work out pretty well.

How do you feel about how ENC has handled the situation with you and team finland where you were accused of cheating?

Well, If you read ESL's statement its pretty much like i'd have cheated in the match, but tbh its something else. I know it was wrong to fake the aequitas files but I just couldn't get the program working before the match and we had admins pushing us to get on the server cause the match was shown on GIGA TV. I didn't think that the files were that necessary since no-one has asked the aequitas files in the matches before.

What are you and the rest of the team aiming for at Dreamhack?

Ofc we are aiming for teh win!!!!1

There is a myth about people from Finland being really slow, but did you always have a quick reaction, are you sure you're from Finland?

Im not sure if I always had quick reaction, but I'm really sure that I'm from Finland:).

Where will we see Serious-Gaming after dreamhack?

No idea... In some tournament I guess? =)

 

Will you try to keep this lineup, or is it strictly just for dreamhack?

Will see how it works on dreamhack.

Do you have any other activities apart from counter-strike at the moment?

Not really.

Could you please tell us about your past clans and most enjoyable event so far?

Past clans... RD & DVAS :D. The most enjoyable event must've been WEG!

In your opinion, who are the best tournament organisers in the world?

WEG, fosho it isn't Dreamhack, haven't received our moneys from the last Dreamhack we attended.

In your opinion, how is the finnish Counter-Strike scene developing?

g00d

Are you going to change your haircut in the near future?

I think I'm gonna stick with the Beatles....

Let's make a deal, if u finish top3 in dreamhack you will have to shave a line in the middle of your head!

Yeyeyeeenot. :)

Who is your idol, both in eSports and in the "real world" ?

I don't have any idol irl, but I like zet, f0rest and SpawN =)

Tell me the truth, does your big brother, lurppis, help you in gaming and in normal life?

I don't have any idea how he could help me in gaming, but irl he helps if I ask for help:D.

My default question, who is most overrated player in the world at the moment?

XeqtR and calc =)D

How do you prepare right before big matches?

Nothing special, just gonna get a bottle of water and I'm rdy.

 

I see you are not attending CPL summer, is it because of your age?

Yah it is. I'd sure attend if I could :) its always funny to travel outside of Europe =)

What are your personal goals for 2006?

Attend as many events as possible and win as many as possible and then stop playing cs=D

What would you do if you suddenly just won $20,000?

Book tickets to Brazil =)

I wish you the best of luck in the future, do you have anything to add?

Thanks! I'd like to thank Serious Gaming and it's sponsors, and the guys who
still believe im not a cheater!