posted by Olucaron,
How does it feel watching that all back?
n0tail: Very emotional; very, very emotional. We kept talking about TI afterwards, and I think most of us shared a thing where we just seemed to have forgotten a lot.
So much happened, it was like two and a half months of Dota compressed into this TI, and seeing it feels like you’re seeing it for the first time, even though you were there.
So much happened, it was like two and a half months of Dota compressed into this TI, and seeing it feels like you’re seeing it for the first time, even though you were there.
JerAx: Emotional. It’s one of the moments that makes me feel very sad and happy at the same time.
It’s rare that one can go back and actually see what the other team is doing in any sport.
What surprised you most about what you were able to see?
What surprised you most about what you were able to see?
Ceb: Just how strong we were together. We felt it but seeing it as a spectator I think something magical happened. I’m also feeling that when I watch this movie, nothing gets to us.
I see these games now, I watch the replay and I’m like ‘they might lose, they’re 20k behind’, but I know we won, right? I lifted the goddamn trophy!
But we were protected in these games; I felt very secure, nothing could get to me, and it’s thanks to them and what we built together. That’s what struck me the most.
I see these games now, I watch the replay and I’m like ‘they might lose, they’re 20k behind’, but I know we won, right? I lifted the goddamn trophy!
But we were protected in these games; I felt very secure, nothing could get to me, and it’s thanks to them and what we built together. That’s what struck me the most.
What about when you saw some of the strategies of LGD?
Was there anything that surprised you based on the conversations you witnessed?
Was there anything that surprised you based on the conversations you witnessed?
Ceb: A little bit. Obviously, this is something we would sacrifice a lot of things to get in their brains for just a minute, because the entire tournament you spend it studying them, trying to understand how they think and how they think of you and what they have prepared.
Of course there’s a lot more to what they build strategy wise, but you get glimpses of it watching True Sight. To us, this is really golden: ‘oh, so that’s what they thought.’
Obviously they had some really good things going, but other things where they probably should have given us a little bit more credit for certain things — but the same goes the other way.
Of course there’s a lot more to what they build strategy wise, but you get glimpses of it watching True Sight. To us, this is really golden: ‘oh, so that’s what they thought.’
Obviously they had some really good things going, but other things where they probably should have given us a little bit more credit for certain things — but the same goes the other way.
After TI, how would you say your day-to-day lives have changed?
Topson: I don’t think it’s changed much. I still play Dota all day long! The only thing is I don’t have to count every euro I spend — I can go shop, I can buy food and not care how much it costs!
n0tail: I think for a lot of people — I don’t want to speak for Ana — people generally in this team, we’ve kind of achieved we’ve all been, in his own regard, longing for, and life is much better for all of us — and for Ana I’m pretty sure it’s also the case!
He’s not here, but I believe he’s watching and I think he’s also very happy about things that happened.
He’s not here, but I believe he’s watching and I think he’s also very happy about things that happened.
What would you like to say about Ana on his behalf, because I know you were all such a tight-knit group?
n0tail: When I first talked to Ana it was early 2017, I believe, and his last sentence before he joined the team was ‘let’s win some Majors and a TI’ and it was kind of what was missing, so, he said it, he did it, and now he’s out!
Ceb: Job’s done!
So, normally OG go into a TI and everyone’s like ‘they won a Major, they’re doing great, they’re looking fantastic’ and it doesn’t work out.
But then when you have probably the worst pre-TI start you could possibly have, you won it. What changed, what was the secret you suddenly unlocked?
But then when you have probably the worst pre-TI start you could possibly have, you won it. What changed, what was the secret you suddenly unlocked?
Ceb: Well, every single loss definitely made us stronger. There’s no other path to winning than losing over and over. We had losses, so it really helps, as you carry these with you as experience.
But it’s definitely the human aspect — of course the Dota part was on point — but what made the difference was definitely the human aspect, how we were there for each other.
This is what I think was the biggest difference between this TI and the other TIs.
But it’s definitely the human aspect — of course the Dota part was on point — but what made the difference was definitely the human aspect, how we were there for each other.
This is what I think was the biggest difference between this TI and the other TIs.
JerAx: I also think that we didn’t set pressure on ourselves. Like Topson said, there’s no expectations, you just play.
I think most of the games we just had fun — at least I did — and even the practice games, we didn’t take the losses very strict on ourselves.
I think we were able to improve a lot, but at the same time we were having fun, always coming together and really just enjoying it.
I think most of the games we just had fun — at least I did — and even the practice games, we didn’t take the losses very strict on ourselves.
I think we were able to improve a lot, but at the same time we were having fun, always coming together and really just enjoying it.
Does that change now? I’m curious what it’s like — now what you’ve won, this is the ultimate thing you can possibly do in a Dota career, and now everybody treats you as the best.
Does that change the way that other teams see you, and in turn does that change the way you need to play together as a team?
Does that change the way that other teams see you, and in turn does that change the way you need to play together as a team?
n0tail: You definitely have people look at you different. Other players, I think — I can only speak for myself — I always looked at a TI winner much differently. 'That guy won TI, I know which one is a TI5 winner, TI6 winner, TI7 winner' — you know it.
It’s very prestigious in a way. I mean, they beat you, they beat me at that tournament, it was always like that. Yeah, it’s changed, but I don’t know — it feels easier now to play than it did before.
It’s very prestigious in a way. I mean, they beat you, they beat me at that tournament, it was always like that. Yeah, it’s changed, but I don’t know — it feels easier now to play than it did before.
Easier?! Would all of you agree with that?
OG: Yeah.
n0tail: I mean, Dota never gets easy as in to win, but to not have that pressure on you, it’s at least — for my personal case — I’ve been playing and having the most fun in Dota than I’ve ever had after TI. It’s like no pressure at all.
Now that you’re there now, do you see why it has been tough for other teams to reconvene and come back and make another run at it? Or have they just not been you?
n0tail: I mean, honestly speaking, I don’t think it’s… Name me a player that keeps winning. There’s no player that keeps winning in Dota — Dota is that hard, it’s a really hard game.
There’s a lot of people that want it, and if you’re going to do something like win two TIs you gotta really, really want it. That seems to be hard for people — like really, really hard — but we’re here to try and do our best at it.
There’s a lot of people that want it, and if you’re going to do something like win two TIs you gotta really, really want it. That seems to be hard for people — like really, really hard — but we’re here to try and do our best at it.
How important was it that you were having fun together?
Because the balance between your personalities was so fun to watch — somebody would make a mistake and immediately you all said ‘don’t worry about it, move on.’
Is that the key, not losing sight of the fact you get to play Dota?
Because the balance between your personalities was so fun to watch — somebody would make a mistake and immediately you all said ‘don’t worry about it, move on.’
Is that the key, not losing sight of the fact you get to play Dota?
JerAx: The other guys — he’s [Ceb] is really good at it — are lifting you up, it doesn’t matter how far you go, and I think mostly everyone is capable of doing that for another person. That’s all the fun part of it, it just ties you together.
You don’t have to think so lonely or sad or whatever, all the other guys are always lifting you up.
You don’t have to think so lonely or sad or whatever, all the other guys are always lifting you up.
n0tail: I think naturally Dota wants to bring that out in you, the worst in you.
But if you as a group together try and fight that bad feeling of losing the game, like you get unlucky at some point, you fight that as a group then it becomes very nice.
You’re fighting a negative feeling together.
But if you as a group together try and fight that bad feeling of losing the game, like you get unlucky at some point, you fight that as a group then it becomes very nice.
You’re fighting a negative feeling together.
TI9 — for some other reason, there’s some other team in the final.
What advice would you give that team and say ‘these are the things we learned, and this is how we did it’?
What advice would you give that team and say ‘these are the things we learned, and this is how we did it’?
Ceb: Honest answer — ‘good luck, bro, I’m not giving you any advice!’
JerAx: There’s gonna be playing us? No? But that’s the only possibility!
Topson: Just focus on your own game, don’t overthink it.
n0tail: You can do what I did and go talk to Kuro – he knows.
Huge thanks to Kuro, I don’t think I could have helped my team half as much if it wasn’t for him.
So if he’s willing to speak to you, that’s what I would do.
Huge thanks to Kuro, I don’t think I could have helped my team half as much if it wasn’t for him.
So if he’s willing to speak to you, that’s what I would do.
This is just part of the main interview, hosted by Kaci Aitchison and Ted “PyrionFlax” Forsyth. Following it was an audience-led Q&A, which also threw up some fascinating answers.
You can check out the entire post-screening event here, starting at 1:17:40.
Having watched True Sight and heard from the champions, do you think OG can do it again at TI9?
Header image: Valve
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