E-sports: Coach Sebastian ‘Ceb’ Debs assured OG can nonetheless shine in Dota 2’s The Worldwide 11

SINGAPORE – The Republic is internet hosting one of many world’s greatest e-sports tournaments – Dota 2’s The Worldwide (TI) – and among the many contenders for the coveted title are European group OG, the one outfit to win the competitors twice.

The group wish to problem for the title, regardless that they dropped into the decrease bracket after struggling a 2-0 defeat by fellow Western European group Tundra within the first spherical of the higher bracket on Friday.

The explanation for his or her optimism: They gained it twice in a row in 2018 and 2019, and a well-known face is guiding OG on the competitors with former participant Sebastien “Ceb” Debs returning to his outdated facet as a coach.

The French two-time TI champion stepped away from aggressive Dota 2 in November final yr however has stood in for group captain Mikhail “Misha” Agatov at a number of competitions after the Russian encountered visa points following his nation’s invasion of Ukraine in February. A number of international locations, sports activities and sporting occasions, corresponding to Wimbledon, had barred the entry of Russians and Belasrusians following the invasion.

On his return to the group, Debs stated: “The fervour for the sport is one factor, the drive for competitors is one thing else and (I additionally) wish to put to make use of every part I’ve learnt through the years. I really feel very comfy with regards to understanding how you can win championships or how to not lose them and what are the obstacles the group may discover themselves dealing with.

“I clearly care so much concerning the future of any OG group and I really feel like I might help them so much. It feels form of bizarre to observe them hit partitions whereas I might’ve helped them keep away from it or successful with regards to the highway to turning into champions themselves, so it feels pure to be serving to.”

The primary stage play-offs for this yr’s competitors, which has a prize pool of US$16.9 million (S$24.1 million) up to now, kicked off this week and might be staged at Suntec Singapore Conference & Exhibition Centre and the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Regardless of going into this yr’s TI with a comparatively younger and inexperienced group – simply two of OG’s 5 gamers have had expertise on the event – they’re nonetheless seen as one of many favourites to raise the Aegis, the competitors’s coveted trophy.

OG’s earlier roster had disbanded after final yr’s TI and the organisation centered on rebuilding, with Agatov tasked to captain and produce collectively a brand new squad.

The core of the brand new group was made up of Artem “Yuragi” Golubiev, 21; Bozhidar “bzm” Bogdanov, 17; and Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, 17; with the Tommy “Taiga” Le, 24, finishing the squad.

The younger facet defied expectations, establishing themselves as top-of-the-line groups on the earth. In Might, they gained the ESL One Dota 2 Stockholm Main, one of many championship’s 4 majors.

Debs stated: “They’re fairly younger and inexperienced for essentially the most half however they really have fairly good instincts – they naturally really feel what’s good and what’s unhealthy for them.

“I’ve by no means been with a bunch that was that younger and inexperienced at TI so I assume there are issues there that I actually can’t foresee so I’m making an attempt to remain as conscious as potential on new points. I really feel just like the group is in a fantastic mind-set.”

The 30-year-old additionally believes that having captain Agatov, who has missed most of the group’s LAN tournaments this season because of visa issues, might be a lift.

The Frenchman stated: “He’s a fantastic participant, a gifted participant. He performs an enormous function on this group and the truth that the group have been profitable with out him doesn’t imply he performs a small function; it really implies that the function he performs is so massive that it conveys even when he’s not right here.

“He has an impression with regards to inspiring the group, work ethics, throwing out ideas and concepts, inspiring good behaviour… he’s the center of the group and the group would have a tough time functioning if he’s not round.”