Arteezy: The Difference Between Streaming and a Pro Player Career

During a Twitch stream with Jan 'Gorgc' Stefanowski, Artour 'Arteezy' Babaev discussed the differences between streaming and playing professional Dota 2. He expressed the view that streaming has its own challenges due to several factors. Babaev noted that engaging in activities that don't bring long-term satisfaction can be difficult. He also highlighted the near-impossibility of excelling in both streaming and playing at a high level, as success in one often leads to a decline in the other.

Babaev observed that streaming has its ups and downs. In contrast, the rewards of professional play are only felt through victory; without winning, there’s no dopamine rush. The prospect of two weeks of scrims at bootcamp, followed by finishing last at The International, only to face the same routine for the next 300 days, seemed daunting to him. Salaries and prize money didn't always feel like adequate compensation.

Reflecting on a choice between streaming and playing Dota 2 three to five years ago, Babaev indicated that he would have chosen Dota. At the time, he didn’t enjoy streaming, as he felt games were often ruined by stream snipers, leading to frustrating situations where opponents would gang up on him in mid-lane. The chat was filled with mockery, and few seemed interested in winning, with many focused solely on provoking him.

On 23rd July, Artour 'Arteezy' Babaev announced a break from his professional career. He plans to move to Europe to continue honing his skills and eventually return to the competitive scene.