TI7 Aegis of the Immortal

Kuroky | Thoughts about career after TI7

Life after TI7 | Kuroky

How does a person that has reached the goal of his life feel himself? How to set up to fight the team that was a step away from throwing away from the tournament? For the site – theplayerstribune.com Kuro Salehi Takasomi tell about the way Team Liquid on TI7 and about his feelings after the victory.

It’s hard to describe what The International is, to a person who is not interested in e-sports.

The easiest way to compare TI with the Super Bowl, but there is only one match. The International is an endless Super Bowl. The struggle does not stop for a second, every action you take is watched by thousands of spectators in a crowded arena and millions around the globe on their screens.

Kuroky is the captain of Team Liquid, since 2015. He helped to recruit players into the squad, many of them at that time were relatively little known. Now everything is different.

Ivan Borislavov (MinD_ContRoL) Ivanov is a world-class off-line player. Lasse (MATUMBAMAN) Urpalainen is an amazing carry, charging us with his enthusiasm and gay pals. In 2016, we signed Amera (Miracle-) Al-Barkavi, a 20-year-old Jordanian who was the first in Dota 2 to take 9.000 points of solo-rating, and in the same year, Maroon (GH) Merhei joined Team Liquid – a great support, who added depth of our draft.

TI7 | Bad day for Team Liquid

Before the tournament, the captain felt very confident. They finished the performance in groups with the score 13-3 and went to the playoffs as favorites. They knew that if they just played our Dota, nobody would stop us. We just needed to do what we can.

Kuroky was almost 100% sure that this is their year.

And then Liquid lost in the first match of the grid.

Yes, they lost two maps to Invictus Gaming. But Liquid were not so bad, but eventually ended up in the bottom grid. Now, to win, they had to win 6 series in a row. I do not underestimate the merits IG – they are a great team, they played without fear, whereas Team Liquid was too conservative. They managed to surprise all with an unusual strategy that everybody respect.

Rehabilitation of the Liquids

The International is the main goal of every player in DotA. Subconsciously, Kuroky is thinking about The International constantly, and this obsession can knock anyone off when you finally get to this tournament. In the morning, before the match, he looked at his team and realized: something is wrong. They were not uninhibited, as usual. In none of the previous tournaments, he never feels such a fear of a mistake.

At the first glance on GH, Kuroky can see that he is nervous, it was his first The International. Team Liquid was not ready for a struggle and paid for this.

And this is normal. Teams on TI regularly break down under pressure, it’s even a kind of tradition. But captain’s task was to free the players from their own thoughts. During the interview, Kuroky always stayed calm, people know this Kuroky. But after that defeat, he knew that he needed to show his other side, one that others rarely see, add rigidity to wrest us from this prostration.

Captain arranged a long conversation with players. And by “conversation” I rather mean “speech”. It is unnatural for him to raise voice; from the outside, it usually seems like he forcing himself, but when Kuroky screams – his team immediately listens. “Wow, Kuro yells, something will happen.”

If Kuroky learned something from a long career in Dota, so this is the fact that there is nothing more important than good teamwork. Of course, players should be talented, disciplined, but if you got on The International, then it’s not even discussed. Everyone at this tournament knows what he is doing. When you fight with 17 of the best teams in the world for a prize fund of $ 24 million, you do not need additional motivation. And since everyone there is incredibly strong, the level of the game, in itself – does not play such a big role. The winners of the losers are not distinguished by the ability to behave in the hands, but the ability to co-exist with their teammates.

TI7 Liquids

Leadership, interaction, teamwork – that’s what determines the champion. Do your teammates trust each other? Will they not attack each other after an insulting defeat? Can you organize a team when someone makes a mistake in a gang or dies out of position? Can you keep the mood when the opponent comes forward, or drown in the negative? Of course, these phrases sound like cliches, but everyone who played at this level knows that this is the case. You can have the highest MMR in the world, but if you can not play with the team as a whole – you obviously lost.

So, when the guys did not find their place after the defeat from IG, Kuroky told them – “all your problems in your head, do not doubt your skill.” You can not let The International intimidate you. Yes, in fact, this tournament is very frightening, but thinking about the arena, what is at stake is tantamount to suicide. In fact, you need to deceive yourself, make you believe that this is just another tournament. “Do not think about winning! Just try to perform well. ” Because if you do it, everything else will fall into place.

Preparations for the TI7 Finals

Kuroky is an ordinary person, and also prone to fears and doubts. He visited seven The International, took second place in 2013, was in the top 8 in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Aegis became the goal of his life, and as a leader, he was able to look at things from the other side and understand the feelings young teammates who were not completely ready for this race.

“Guys, listen, I lost this tournament 6 times. And I’m not afraid to lose in the seventh, so do not be afraid either. We played a lot of tournaments together, and this one is just one of them. “

When you’re afraid to fly out, you’ll fall right in the dirt – which happened to the Team Liquid against IG. But on the other hand, one thing I can say for sure: when Team Liquid is playing for fun, they are the strongest team in Dota 2 in the world.

Kuroky captain

The next day we had a game against Team Secret, against them they always played well. In the first game, however, Liquids were simply destroyed. Everyone played badly, everything turned out disgusting. They should be charged with energy to play easily and freely, as they usually do. In the end, Liquids did not have a choice. If they did not play as usual, they would go home.

They win two maps in a row and got a ticket to the next stage of the tournament. From now on, they have kept a balance in every aspect of the game. Team Liquid defeated Team Empire, Virtus.pro, and then successively beat LGD and LGD.ForeverYoung. So they ended up in the grand finale with Newbee.

TI7 Aegis of the Immortal

In the end, they defeated them, with a score of 3-0, which happened for the first time in the history of TI. The best way was to reach the final, where they deserved to be. When we went to the game, I noticed how my guys are driving the crowd. After the first game, leaving the booth, MATUMBAMAN ran his hands across his throat in front of the camera.

“I know it’s hard to believe – there’s still a whole season ahead and a lot of other Dota 2 tournaments – but all my thoughts about The International. I tried to convince myself to live for today, I understand that such an obsession is not good, but in my case, everything went too far.

I am reassured by the knowledge that I am not alone in my thoughts. I am happy to play in the most hardworking, most magnanimous team in the world. Team Liquid is a truly unique team, they responded to each victory or defeat with diligence, discipline and mutual assistance. It’s an honor for me to be their captain, and we are ready for everything that awaits us ahead. The victory on The International was incredible. I knew that it would be so. But these guys made this victory really special.”

The international 2017

The International 2017 | Grand Final | Newbee vs Liquid

Good evening! It’s time for the decisive match of The International 2017. In a series of up to three wins, Team Liquid will compete against the Chinese NewBee – the winner will take home Aegis and the biggest prize fund in the history of e-sports, which is more than $ 10,000,000.

Newbee vs Liquid | 1st Map

Nature’s Prophet from MinD_ContRoL again abruptly starts the game on its signature hero, killing kpii on the Batrider! Immediately after this, team gathering at the mid lane, where Liquid manages to make two kills and kill the courier. The European team dominates the lanes, the score is 6 : 0. NewBee respond with a gank on the Troll Warlord (Miracle), but after losing three heroes on the bottom lane. Summing up the subtotals – after 10 minutes “Liquids” lead with 11: 2 score and with more than six thousand gold. Roshan is under protection, but the courier again dies.

The game is calmed down a bit, and then each time loses two heroes. Liquid killed the Bloodseeker (Moogy), took the tower and went to Roshan. NewBee do not have time to stop them and just lose three more heroes. Aegis helps the European five to increase the advantage. Nevertheless, it’s not easy for them to go to the high ground, they lose several heroes. But with the third attempt, Liquid manages to send several heroes to the tavern, destroy one side and switch to the second one. The Chinese Newbee are forced to surrender.

ti7 finals - map 1

Newbee vs Liquid | 2nd Map

Ancient Apparition (KuroKy) turned out to be very far away, and Anti-Mage (Moogy) makes an important kill. By the third minute, NewBee are managed to make a kill on the each lane. Alchemist (Miracle) goes into the jungle, but he’s again overtaken by Queen of Pain (Sccc), and it’s 4 : 0. The Chinese dominate the whole map but do not so much overcome the opponents in gold only because of the Miracle on Alchemist. Liquid continues to make many mistakes and give away the initiative.

Newbee finally could manage to perform a kill of the Alchemist (Miracle), once again slowing down his farm. The other two Liquid’s heroes are very seriously behind their opponents. Nevertheless, they find it possible to gather up – for example, they managed to destroy the T2 at the top and Sand King (kaka). The NewBee released a little their grip on the Liquid’s head, and they use this opportunity to improve the situation.

However, the Chinese are still ahead – in the absence of Alchemist (Miracle), they manage to exchange one hero for three enemies. However, Liquid answers very cool, taking Roshan: NewBee did not have time to prepare for the fight and lost it, losing most of their heroes. Suddenly Alchemist (Miracle) became very strong and with two lives decides to go on the high ground.

The team from the Middle Kingdom as a result of several errors in the defense loses the side and three buybacks, but the fight at the base still conducts very unsuccessfully. Now Liquid wins 9000 gold. And now nobody can stop them – Alchemist (Miracle) comes on the second side, and Anti-Mage (Moogy) as a result remains without a buyback. NewBee forced to surrender.

ti7 finals - map 2

Newbee vs Liquid | 3rd Map

Gh on Earthshaker changed lane, killed Sand King (kaka) and get gold for the first blood. NewBee perfectly act on the top line and capture the initial advantage. Death Prophet (Sccc) at the bottom takes the tower, Juggernaut (Miracle) responds by killing Centaur Warrunner (kpii). The game is very equal, but the Chinese’s advantage is their push potential. However, when they trying to take away the central t1 they lose two heroes.

Liquid beat off all enemies – once again after the loss of two heroes they manage not only to deff T2 in the top, but also to catch up with two enemies. Then there is a one-to-one exchange, but the “Liquids” themselves take the tower on top. At the 19th minute, Earthshaker (GH) made a mistake at the center – it’s not only two deaths, but also the opportunity for NewBee to kill Roshan. However, the embattled representatives of the Celestial Empire for some reason do not rush, which plays into the hands of the opponent.

Sand King (kaka) is acting controversially, – NewBee respond with a frag on Juggernaut (Miracle). Then follows the exchange of 1 in 1, the Chinese led 4 thousand on gold. The Chinese try to go to Roshan in a smoke and exchange it for T2, but Liquid guessed it and could break into the roshpit. Magnificent fight, minus four and Aegis – and immediately after that the European five takes t3 at the center.

Liquid returns to destroy T3 on the bot, but lose three heroes in exchange for one, although they are still leading five thousand on gold. At the next attack, they manage to kill two characters and to force them to buy back. The teams stand near Roshan in anticipation of the decisive battle. As a result, NewBee caught, but could not kill (there was only 100 hp) Juggernaut (Miracle) and paid for it – minus five.

ti7 finals - map 3

The European team takes Roshan and going to take barracks. Another team fight – and the game is over. This is 3 : 0, the Kuro team wins the International 2017!

The International 2017

The International 2017 | Group stage and Play-off grid

Results of The International 2017 – Group stage

Recently group stage of The International 2017 ended, and now we know names of the teams that entered in the play off. The only losers of the event, that leaves the grid were Hell Raisers and Fnatic, that can not show a good game at all. Virtus Pro Russian Dota 2 team win 10 games and lose only 5. They ended in the 3rd line of the B group, and now they will meet LGD Gaming, that loses only four times.

Team Empire could not enter the upper grid and ended group stage only on 7th place with the 6-10score. Right now Imperials have no rights to lose with the Cloud9.

ti7 play off grid

 

dota-2-jaggernaut

Dota 2 is losing players

Despite the development of e-sports in general, new record sums of the prize fund of The International, the number of Dota 2 players is inexorably decreasing. Paying more attention to the commercial component of the game, the developers are less concerned about ordinary players, which could lead to a certain problem.

Dota 2 is Doomed?

dota loosing players

According to the service SteamCharts for the last month, online in Dota 2 has decreased by more than 10%. This is the second largest outflow of players in the history of Dota 2 (the first occurred in September 2015). However, this trend began in March 2016, and since then the average number of players is getting smaller and smaller (see the chart above). If a year ago, on July 2016, the average online was more than 638 thousand players, today this figure does not reach even 500 thousand. The only white spot in the past year was the release of the Battle Pass to The International 2017, after which the online players again crawled down.

Dota 2 dying

One of the main reasons for the slow (if not the reverse) development of Dota 2 is the complexity of the game process. In the latest updates, developers have made many changes that should facilitate the understanding of the game for beginners. Moreover, on the very The International 2017 Valve promise to make a separate stream for new Dota 2 players. But how are they going to keep the old audience?

Summing up

The sunset of this game was prophesied even before it was released, however, Dota 2 is still alive and popular, and the prize fund of the TI7 broke all records. But what if Valve will continue to lose players/profits?