Lakad Matataggggggggg!
Before anything else, a big shout out to TNC Predator for winning the third ESL One Hamburg 2019. It was one good stage to test the water with their newly formed line-up and how they fare up with each other and to other teams. The news of Kuku and eyyou departing the team may be a bit sad but luckily kpii and March proved us that they can fill in the shoes with no problem and their addition fits perfectly with the remaining members.
This post is certainly inspired by the recently concluded ESL One Hamburg tournament and champion TNC predator.The seer in me sees great future ahead of TNC and hopefully it will not dwindle into void and me becoming a dark seer in the process. While many are celebrating this joyous moment, I came to wonder why my eyes only gazed long at OG and spent so little time rejoicing on other’s victories. Like they are the Medusa in this era of Dota teams and I am stoned and spellbound by its beauty.
Why OG? The answer to this question may vary on the one giving you the answer. For me, I felt most connected to OG’s players and camaraderie. I see my friends in them and the way they value friendship over play (without sacrificing the game) is what struck me the most. Let me tell you what I like about their players.
Topson
A newbie in the Dota pro scene. He was invited to join the team in-time for TI8 by n0tail. Many question his inclusion and many doubted his ability to perform well in a professional level stage yet he proved them wrong by making great comeback. It is not a secret that there are times during TI8 that he loses the laning stage and/or he dies most of the time. But despite all that, he never give up, never loses hope and continue to play the game with the thought of winning. His undying resilience to dire situation is what makes him a good player.
Ceb
The strategist of the team and their former coach. He filled in the missing player position after Fly and S4’s departure. During the Kiev Major, I admired his in-depth knowledge of the game and how he uplifts his team’s morale on their losses. He is team OG’s constant reminder to reset their emotions every after a game ended. His greatest performance of his Dota-pro career was also in TI8 when he played the berserker Axe (TI8 PSG.LGD vs OG Grand Finals: Game 4).
ana
The youngest and most timid member of the team. You seldom hear him talk personally but his actions in-game speaks volume of his talent as a pro Dota player. Unlike Topson, his young self once succumbed to the pressure during one of the major to be later boosted by both Ceb and n0tail. As for me, Ana is one of the best carry in the Dota world. And he always amazed viewers on his actions in-game just like the sleight of fist/searing chains TI8, the $10M RoA item and his meta breaker IO carry of TI9.
JerAx
A consistent support player even before he joined OG, JerAx already carved a name for himself for this position. His relentless wards and dewards, his mobility in the map, un-numbered neutral stacking, his visibility in team fights and his unselfish support to his teammates hero growth is what makes him a good support player in any team he will be assigned into. As a support player myself, I can identify all his effort to sustain his teammates survivability in skirmishes while keeping the equilibrium for his own hero’s growth.
n0tail
The current captain of OG after a heartbreaking break-up with former captain Fly. He has the most experience of the team yet he has a childlike personality that will make you love this guy. Of them all, I believe his positive outlook towards the game exceeded everyone else. No losses can change how he felt about DotA. N0tail also values friendship above all else and winning is not always the name of the game for him. His leadership style vehemently embraces his beloved teammates unique strengths, thus he allows them to use their comfort heroes even in competitive matches. This complete trust and confidence towards them is definitely off the teammate charts already, it is brotherhood.
Conclusion:
OG is my personal bias and that will extend for years to come. The undeniable synergy of their players game style and the way they had each others back made me cringed in envy. They are also selfless in their own way, letting their teammates soar high before them. They consult and hear each other’s opinion boosting morale and respect within the team. And these are just some of the key figures that made OG claim and reclaim the Aegis of Immortal twice in a row. Lastly, OG embodies the heart of a DotA player and that is to enjoy every moment and give it your best shot even if the outcome is not in your favor, for me, this is a testament of a true lover of DotA.
PS: Happy Birthday to OG.ana (October 26, 1999)