TOfu: "It wasn't always about dyrachyo, everyone had issues. We considered changes in other positions" Interview
2024-10-28 20:22:00Gaimin Gladiators support Erik "tOfu" Engel commented on the latest roster change. He revealed that they could've shuffled a year earlier, and claimed that replacing Anton "dyrachyo" Shkredov wasn't their only option. The support explained this to Cyber.sports.ru.
The issues have been building throughout the season. Even last year, after TI12, we discussed the roster a little bit, but we decided to stick together, work on the problems, and try to fix them. After all, we already proved that we had what it takes when we won the Majors.
Over time, the relationships between people and each individual develop and grow. The team dynamic was no longer that easy. It felt like every tournament was a lot of work. We really had to put in a lot of effort.
It wasn't always about Anton. In general, everyone had issues. We considered changes in other positions. Sometimes, people have bad individual performances or even bad tournaments. We needed to discuss what’s going on, what’s wrong. It’s just that at the end of the season, something had to change.
The interview was taken before the start of BetBoom Dacha Dota 2 2024. The support revealed that he knew Alimzhan "watson" Islambekov only from pubs and scrims before this event.
It's not like I have a certain way to build him in the team. I guess it will happen naturally. I first met him only at the media day. I knew him a bit from pubs and saw him at other tournaments, but I never spoke with him outside of Dota. We spent two weeks chatting online during scrims, but only about the game. So we'll see how he fits inside and outside of the server. But the first impression is that he's quite different from dyrachyo. Anton is much more loud, cheerful, and sociable, while watson is a bit more reserved, thoughtful, and silent.
Gaimin Gladiators failed their first LAN after The International 2024. They were eliminated by Aurora right after the group stage of BetBoom Dacha in Belgrade. Now, they participate in DreamLeague S24. In the first match, they beat Nigma Galaxy 2:0.