In a recently released documentary about their journey through The International 2024, Team Falcons captured a friendly tussle between Stanislav "Malr1ne" Potorak and Oliver "Skiter" Lepko during practice at the Dota 2 tournament.
The film showcased a clash between Malr1ne and Skiter, where the latter overpowered his opponent with a chokehold in a fair match. The bout began with Malr1ne's swift attack, attempting to take down Lepko, but the move worked to Skiter’s advantage. He manoeuvred behind his opponent, locked him in a hold, and appeared ready to finish the fight with a chokehold. However, the scene transitioned abruptly, leaving viewers uncertain about the fight's conclusion.
This isn’t the first time the players have engaged in playful combat during a tournament. A previous light-hearted altercation between the two was broadcast during DreamLeague Season 22.
The documentary also revealed challenges faced by Team Falcons during The International 2024. Curtis "Aui_2000" Ling, the team’s coach, discussed the psychological hurdles that may have affected the players’ performance:
"In my opinion, there’s some kind of psychological block during high-stakes matches or games on the big stage. I think working with a psychologist might help. It feels like we’re not ourselves in those moments."
Aui_2000 mentioned that the team performed well during practice matches, with their strategies and ideas showing success. However, something seemed to go wrong in official games. He speculated that this mental barrier may have hindered their performance at TI13 and possibly at Riyadh Masters 2024.
You can watch the full documentary through this link.