Ilya "Raddan" Mulyarchuk, carry player for Team Spirit, shared his thoughts on the atmosphere at The International 2024 in a YouTube video on the club’s channel before the group stage matches began.
He mentioned that while there is some excitement around the tournament, it is typical for the first day to set the tone for the rest of the event. He noted that there isn't a significant buzz this year, echoing sentiments from past tournaments. Reflecting on his first TI victory, he remarked that there was also little hype then and that concerns about low viewership were common.
Regarding his role, he stated that he is comfortable with how he plays and noted that his top three heroes are Dragon Knight, Luna, and Morphling.
As for the drafting stage within the team, he explained that Silent primarily prepares and makes picks, while Miposhka handles button pressing. The team occasionally suggests ideas, which are picked if they fit, otherwise, they follow Silent's judgement. If Silent does not have a clear strategy, the team adjusts their picks accordingly.
The International 2024 takes place from 4th to 15th September in Copenhagen, Denmark. The prize pool has surpassed $2.4 million and continues to grow through sales of the compendium.