The ESL Berlin Main has been one of the vital anticipated Dota 2 occasions of the 12 months, and for good motive. Day 2 of Playoffs noticed OG lose out to EG, 9 Pandas misstep towards Gaimin Gladiators and at last, South America’s final hope fell to Workforce Liquid.
Among the many gamers on the primary stage was Boxi from Workforce Liquid, a Dota 2 veteran with years of expertise underneath his belt. The ESL Berlin Major isn’t his first rodeo!
We obtained the possibility to sit down down with him earlier than his recreation on day 2 of the ESL Berlin Main and get his tackle the town, the Main and all issues 7.33b!
Supply: @TeamLiquid | Twitter
How are you having fun with Berlin up to now?
Boxi: Berlin has been good. I haven’t been exterior that a lot, largely simply on the lodge or the venue however I’ve been strolling round, I don’t know what the park known as, however subsequent to the Brandenburg Gate there’s this actually huge park so I’ve simply been strolling round it like 20 occasions. Gotta get some daylight however 99% of my go to right here has been the park and the lodge.
How is your expertise of the Main in Berlin in comparison with Lima up to now?
Boxi: The expertise in Lima was a little bit bit completely different than the opposite Majors. I believe with it being the primary time the event organisers deliberate the Main, there have been some minor hiccups however there have been quite a lot of passionate folks concerned, individuals who actually wished to assist out and issues like that. ESL runs issues a little bit bit extra structured, there’s much less hiccups by way of journey or meals or the venue. I do know folks at Peru complained concerning the venue. The primary couple of days there weren’t that many individuals there sadly however the crowd was very loud and it gave the impression of there have been much more. In Berlin, there are much more folks however perhaps they make rather less noise.
Peru was actually nice and it’s good to go to a brand new a part of the world. I’ve by no means been to South America earlier than. The meals and the fruit…the fruit is so-so. However I’ve by no means been to Berlin both so it’s enjoyable to go to a brand new place and the tournaments themselves. I imply each are cool, you present as much as a LAN and there are quite a lot of passionate followers!
Loads of Liquid followers within the venue. #LetsGoLiquid
Your run in Berlin has been a little bit completely different to Lima. How does it really feel to be going by means of the decrease bracket as an alternative of storming by means of the higher bracket?
Boxi: I believe in Peru we have been extra dominant or relatively now, we’re much less dominant as a result of a giant patch dropped and the sport modified fairly a bit. I believe typically it’s worthwhile to lose to be taught as nicely about what works and what doesn’t work and I really feel like now we’ve figured it out a bit extra up to now within the decrease bracket run than we did within the group stage. In Peru, I suppose the sport was a little bit extra stale because of the nature of the patch so there wasn’t as a lot to determine. In earlier tournaments, it was about honing what you already know.
When the patch dropped, we weren’t given quite a lot of discover. How did that change your strategy heading right into a Main?
Boxi: I believe it’s a must to be very open minded and perhaps abandon what doesn’t work so nice. You’ll want to adapt concepts which might be good or are working for different groups. In a patch that’s so new, you’re by no means going to determine every thing out instantly however in an older patch, I’d say, you don’t wanna copy different groups as a lot. You must do what works for you and discover your personal methods. Now it’s extra like this factor is balanced, this factor may be very robust or this factor may be very unhealthy. You kinda have to just accept that you just’re proper or settle for that you just’re incorrect.
You’re going to face off towards both EG or OG later tonight. In the event you might decide one, who would you decide?
Boxi: I believe OG looks as if the workforce we’re extra acquainted with. Maybe from enjoying within the European DPC and we’ve performed towards them lots. However they do have two stand ins, which appears to be a buff to their workforce. I don’t know, I used to be a little bit amazed that they misplaced their first recreation towards EG. However then they received the second simply. It was a loopy draft in recreation one. I really feel it’s higher for us to play towards one thing that’s much less wild. I want to play against OG however I wouldn’t say I actually have a desire or that one workforce is best than the opposite, it’s about what we’re acquainted with.
After our interview with Boxi, Workforce Liquid went on to play Evil Geniuses within the decrease bracket semi finals. They got here out on prime with a fast and decisive 2-0. Boxi himself placed on a formidable efficiency as Oracle and Mirana in each video games.
Now, Liquid heads straight into the decrease bracket finals towards 9 Pandas. If Team Liquid win, followers will see a repeat of the Lima Main grand finals with Liquid’s full workforce able to tackle GG. There’s nonetheless a protracted day of Dota 2 left to play on the ESL Berlin Main!
