Off-laner for Team Falcons, Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf, has recently been central to several discussions involving conflicts, interactions with teammates, and language barriers that often lead to humorous situations.
Conflict with Ame: No Grudges, but Firm Principles
Ammar addressed comments made by Chinese player Wang "Ame" Chunyu, who stated in an interview that he wanted to punch ATF. Ammar responded with a touch of irony:
"I don’t have beef with anyone, I’m just not interested anymore. If Ame beats me at a LAN event and starts tipping me, I wouldn’t care. But if someone insults my teammates, I’d say, ‘Screw them.’ Do that to me, but leave my teammates alone."
This response highlights his priorities – team support takes precedence over personal disputes.
Malr1ne Stories: Language and Laughter
ATF also shared amusing anecdotes about how his teammate Malr1ne has navigated language barriers. During their time with Creepwave, Malr1ne often relied on Fishman to translate, especially during conversations outside of games.
"If Fishman wasn’t around, communication became impossible. In Falcons, it’s a bit similar – sometimes my teammates don’t understand what Malr1ne is saying. But I’ve got used to it and can translate, even though my English is far from perfect – I only learned it through Dota 2."
ATF recounted a humorous incident where Malr1ne misunderstood the word “wide.”
"Skiter asked him to ‘spread his arms wide,’ but he didn’t get it. I said, ‘Just open your arms,’ and he understood immediately. Moments like that always make us laugh."
KuroKy’s Role in Resolving the Sonneiko Conflict
One notable incident involved a confrontation at PGL Wallachia 2, where Akbar "Sonneiko" Butaev reportedly threatened ATF over insults in a pub game. The situation resulted in a penalty for Sonneiko’s team, Avulus (minus 110 bonus seconds in drafting), and discussions about his potential disqualification. However, KuroKy played a pivotal role in de-escalating the situation.
"KuroKy asked to talk to me, and I instantly felt he’d sort everything out. He said, ‘I just want you to win the tournament.’ We had a discussion with Sonneiko and KuroKy, resolved the issue, and parted ways as if nothing had happened."
Later, Sonneiko posted a photo with ATF and KuroKy captioned “No Drama,” symbolising the conflict’s resolution.
The stories involving ATF emphasise his commitment to protecting his team, his adaptability in overcoming language barriers, and the importance of dialogue in resolving disputes. His interactions with players and his approach to challenging situations make him one of the most compelling and charismatic figures on the professional Dota 2 scene.