With the game between TLR / Andy’s Vent at an end, the players are being shipped around for the post-match team photos. While one of the ESL photographers tries to rustle up some of the remaining stragglers, I manage to grab a brief word with Dignitas stalwart Elliot “Wez” Welsh.

Despite the game perhaps not being as clear cut as he would have liked, he cuts a relaxed figure and is smiling. He doesn’t conduct a lot of interviews, but when he does I’ve always found him an honest and straightforward subject. This time is no different.

You made hard work of that match. What happened?

It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. We expected it to be a bit closer than people were touting because we had some gaps in our set-up. Obviously we’ve not practiced with Blackmane a lot so we expected some stupid rounds to go to them.

Would it be fair to say you underestimated your opponents?

We may have underestimated them back when we got out of CGS, but right now we’re not in a position to underestimate anybody. We’ve learned that lesson the hard way. I know in the past I’ve put down victories against us down to flukes and that sort of thing, but I started to figure out that it was happening for a reason and our attitudes had to change. I certainly don’t underestimate anyone I play these days.

Who were the stand-out players in that game from your perspective?

Definitely wilzOOO and Re1ease. James said he felt he had a shakey last event so he was up for this one and Dan is just on another level. I don’t know where he came from but he is so good. For them I’d say Des, but not for any other reason than he’s an AWPer and seemed to make a few picks with it. That’s not to be disrespectful of anyone, but I can’t think of anything special from an individual on their team.

Blackmane is still better known for his COD4 achievements than his ability in Source. How much of this was a factor in that match?

Obviously we know he can play competitively at the highest level, so that’s not a problem. We also know he has the aim, so that’s not a problem. But he is still learning the game and that does make a huge difference in how you react against different kinds of opponents and different situations. Give him one more year of playing and he will be insane, no doubt about it. Right now though he is still very good and is a good fit for the team because of the chemistry we possess.

Now you’re in the final who would you like to play out of the remaining two teams?

I’d like to play Toxic because we’re all good friends with that mix. As far as competition goes it’s pretty even, but I think it’s fair to say that playing Crack would be a more difficult game. But then again with Toxic being a mix might benefit them as they have nothing to lose. I’ve said before that we don’t have a rivalry with Crack. We just take them as any other opponents. Closest thing we have to a rivalry in CS:S is with Reason because of where they are at the moment.

You’ve been in a lot of different Dignitas line-ups. How do you rate this incarnation?

I really like it, but obviously you’d expect me to say that. I’ve played with Luke loads before and I like his attitude to the game. It was sad to see Pete go because he was a real talent and a great guy, but Dan has shown he can fill those shoes. You couple that with Luke’s ability to give us all enthusiasm and drive us forward, and what we already have in the team and i genuinely believe we can get back to being the best. I’m confident we will deliver on that.