Community caster Alexander 'Nix' Levin and inactive esports player Roman 'Resolut1on' Fominok discussed OG's performance at The International 2018 during a stream on Nix's channel.
Resolut1on remarked that when N0tail and s4 were left in a difficult situation, their immense motivation allowed them to deliver an outstanding performance driven by that intense determination to prove themselves. He emphasised that the team was on the brink of defeat numerous times but always found the strength to come back into the game, despite mistakes by Topson and ana.
Nix compared this situation to classic stories from TV shows and films, where one character fights merely for survival, while the other fights to prove their worth. He noted that ordinary players participate in tournaments, but the goal of proving their capabilities drove these individuals.
Nix also opined that N0tail possesses an inexhaustible source of energy, which he directed towards achieving this goal. He recalled that a friend, with whom N0tail had played throughout his career and who had promised to be by his side, abandoned him just before the most crucial tournament of the year. Consequently, N0tail had to assemble a roster missing a player, putting the coach in a player’s role and recruiting two pubstars—one from another region and the other who had previously played with Russian esports player Illidan.
At The International 2018, OG secured first place, defeating the Chinese giants LGD Gaming 3-2 in the grand final. The following year, the European team replicated their performance, becoming back-to-back TI champions.