Dota 2 player Leon "Nine" Kirilin shared his experience of becoming a stand-in for Team Falcons. Initially, he contemplated declining due to feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility. Afterward, he reconsidered.
"I was asked to play as a substitute because they couldn't find anyone else. Initially, I thought of declining because I felt too much responsibility. After all, the Falcons are the strongest team in the world. But then I thought that I might want to return to the pro scene. Playing as a substitute is a great opportunity to test myself without the hassle of finding a team.
I'm not sure if I would have agreed to the offer if it wasn't from Falcons. These are my friends. When we met, it felt like I had always been part of this team. The guys play incredibly well despite the lack of practice." - Leon "Nine" Kirilin
Nine also reflected on how the break affected his skills. According to him, his mechanical skill hasn't decreased much, but he struggles with understanding the game.
Honestly, I really enjoyed my break. I didn't play at all for several months. Sometimes I thought, 'Maybe it's time to come back?' Played for two or three days and decided that the time hadn't come yet.
I haven't lost my mechanical skills, but my understanding of the meta is severely lacking, to be honest. After a couple of days of playing, it feels like I haven't taken a break at all." - Leon "Nine" Kirilin
Nine hasn't competed on the professional scene since November 2023. The esports athlete took a break for an extended period but considered the possibility of resuming his career.