The ESL One Bangkok 2024 tournament not only served as a stage for thrilling matches but also became a source of bold statements and unexpected events, opening new perspectives and challenges for professional Dota 2 players.
Nigma Galaxy: Growth Despite Difficulties
Nigma Galaxy support player Omar "OmaR" Moughrabi shared his thoughts on the team’s progress over the past few months:
"Overall, I’m happy with our growth. However, we faced some challenges at this tournament—some of our players were ill, which meant we couldn’t perform at full capacity. It’s unfortunate, but I’m glad that we’ve started to understand each other better. Every day, we try to figure things out for ourselves.
KuroKy is a genius. His idea of using Earthshaker as a carry proves that we have a huge pool of ideas. It’s a shame we couldn’t showcase all of them and were eliminated so early, but I’m confident that great successes lie ahead for us."
Ceb Scandal: A Joke or Provocation?
Sebastien "Ceb" Debs, the two-time TI champion, grabbed attention not only for his gameplay but also for changing his Steam username to an obscene "full dick don't care."
Despite the fact that such an action could lead to sanctions from Valve, his account remains active. Ceb has not commented on the incident, raising even more questions. Some believe it was simply a joke, as he has another gaming account under a more traditional alias.
This incident highlights the fine line between humour and responsibility, especially in the professional scene, where players are public figures representing esports teams and communities.
Puppey: Career End Not in Sight
Team Secret’s captain, Clement "Puppey" Ivanov, put to rest rumours of his potential retirement. In an interview at the 2024 MESA Invitational, he stated:
"I’ll retire when I feel like it. But right now, I’m not ready to go. It’s not something I’m thinking about at the moment. Maybe one day, but I can’t say when that will be."
Puppey remains one of the most respected players in Dota 2. His dedication to the game and ability to adapt to Team Secret’s new roster show his drive to stay at the top. Fans can expect many more strong performances from the legendary captain.