Nigma Galaxy Motivation in Dota 2 and the Need for Change Among Veterans

Esports player, streamer, and analyst Andrey "Afoninje" Afonin shared his thoughts on how a lack of motivation hinders veteran players like the legendary Miracle from Nigma Galaxy from achieving success on the professional stage. He highlighted that even the best players can lose their form without the drive to win.

The Issue of Motivation Among Veterans

Afonin pointed out that many players who have already achieved everything in Dota 2 often lose their inner fire:

"I feel like there’s a lack of proper motivation. Half the team has already won a lot. They get paid well, they’ve got everything they need in life. Some of them have been playing Dota for 20 years. The key factor is the spark and motivation. They lose because they’ve already accomplished everything they wanted in this game. These older guys have different values and priorities now."

He emphasised that even players of Miracle’s calibre, who once dominated the global stage, now struggle to maintain their previous level of performance. According to Afonin, Miracle needs a change of scenery and should join a younger, more ambitious team to reignite his energy and passion for winning.

The Contrast with Young Stars

Afonin also cited Yatoro as an example of a young player who, despite winning two The International championships, remains highly motivated:

"It’s not like with Yatoro, who’s 18 or 20 years old—I can’t quite remember. He’s won two Internationals, and you can see he still wants to win more because he hasn’t been in Dota for long. He doesn’t need to find motivation; he just wants to play Dota. You can tell by how much he streams."

Yatoro’s highest MMR and streaming activity are clear evidence of his hunger for victories. Afonin firmly believes that with the right team, Yatoro could win several more major championships.