Mario ‘malbsMd’ Samayoa has opened up about the G2-to-Liquid transfer that defined the spring transfer cycle. Speaking to HLTV, the Guatemalan rifler admitted the move came earlier than he expected and that he was informed only after the deal was already in motion: ‘It was imposed. They came with the offer and then I received a call from G2 that they had received the offer and they were willing to do the transfer.’
The G2 context that made it possible
The move followed a difficult spell after NiKo and m0NESY left G2. malbsMd struggled to find his best form in the new structure, pointing to role issues and saying G2 ‘could never find the consistency they wanted.’ His read on himself: he was underperforming after switching into anchor positions instead of the entry profile he built his 2024 reputation on.
Why Liquid wanted him
HLTV analyst NER0cs wrote in a Stat Check feature that malbsMd gives Liquid the bomb-site entry profile they’d lacked since YEKINDAR left — and potentially frees EliGE to operate as a second-in star instead of the tip of the spear. Liquid coach flashie pushed back hard on the framing that this was a Major-qualification trade: ‘The move was not made to qualify for the Major. We brought in Mario because we believe that we can be a better team with him.’
The personal goal
malbsMd’s framing for what comes next is simple: ‘I want to be the malbs that I once was, and I’m hoping to find myself again.’ The Atlanta exit (9-12 finish), the CAC visa delay that forced him to miss the opener, and now the IEM Cologne Major build-up — all of it is the rebuild context. The 23-year-old wasn’t ready to leave G2 yet. The 2026 season is about whether Liquid’s bet on him pays off.
