ashhh: "I don't think we're still in a honeymoon period"
Aurora coach Ashley "ashhh" Battye spoke to HLTV.org about Ali "Wicadia" Haydar Yalçın's progress, the team's difficult start at Thunderpick World Championship 2026, and preparations for the semifinal against FURIA. The coach believes the Turkish player has the potential to become one of the best in the world, but emphasizes that Aurora needs to improve their consistency ahead of the Major.
Aurora opened the tournament with a loss to 9z but later avenged that defeat in the playoff qualification match, beating the Argentine side 2–0. Ashley "ashhh" Battye acknowledged the poor performance in the opening match, citing potential fatigue from travel and player illnesses, but noted that such excuses only go so far.
The coach also highlighted the development of Ali "Wicadia" Haydar Yalçın, praising both his individual skill and mental approach. According to ashhh, Wicadia has the potential to achieve much more than just a top-20 ranking, thanks to his incredible game sense. To support this, the team provides the Turkish player with maximum freedom, allowing him to play on instinct like a star performer.
Despite recent successes—including a second-place finish at StarSeries, third at ESL Pro League, and reaching the semifinals of the current tournament—ashhh believes the team has yet to reach its ceiling. "I don't think we're still in a honeymoon period," he stated, adding that individual skill is what keeps Aurora competitive.
Looking ahead to the semifinal against FURIA, ashhh described the Brazilian side as dangerous opponents capable of winning any tournament. He suggested that Aurora has been playing at their "B level" so far and will need to perform at their "A level" to secure a victory.
Имба
