Team Spirit wrapped up the second day of the ESL One Bangkok 2024 tournament with draws in matches against AVULUS and Shopify Rebellion. Support player Alexander "rue" Filin and team manager Dmitry "Korb3n" Belov shared their thoughts on the team's performance and current state.
Second Day Results
In the match against AVULUS, Team Spirit faced difficulties on the first map due to an unfavourable draft. However, they confidently dominated the lanes in the second game to secure a win. "We were outdrafted on the first map, so it was tough. But in the second game, we played well on the lanes and stomped the opponents," said rue.
Against Shopify Rebellion, Spirit easily won the first map thanks to a strong draft but struggled in the second:
"In the second game, we picked the wrong heroes and didn’t move well across the map. In the late game, playing against Magnus and Beastmaster was difficult, so we lost."
These results placed Team Spirit in 3rd–4th position in Group A. On the final day of the group stage, the team will face BOOM Esports.
A New Perspective on the Team
Following several roster changes, Team Spirit has revised its approach to teamwork. Manager Dmitry "Korb3n" Belov stated that the group no longer identifies as a traditional “team”:
"We have players on stand-in roles, and that’s fine. We’ve stopped pretending to be a full team. Everyone is pursuing their own goals, but right now, everyone is focused on doing their best and competing for the trophy."
Belov emphasised that reaching the top four is a key objective:
"Anything less than that would be a failure. We’re no longer riding the wave of youthful enthusiasm, but we want to finish this season on a high note."
Player Reflections on the New Line-Up
Off-laner Abdymalik "Malik" Sailau, who replaced Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov, shared that the roster is still young, and he is adapting independently:
"I haven’t learned much from the team since it’s a new roster. But I’ve improved in terms of discipline and communication. Sometimes, I ask Miposhka for advice, but I mostly play on my own."
Ambitions for ESL One Bangkok 2024
Despite the changes and challenges, Team Spirit remains highly motivated. The revamped roster has already achieved solid results, including a top-four finish at BetBoom Dacha 2024 and third place at DreamLeague Season 24, though their failure at BLAST Slam I prompted a reassessment of their strategies.
Support player rue summed up the team’s mindset:
"We’re ready to fight and show everything we’ve got. Our goal is to at least make the top four, and we’ll see what happens next."
The ESL One Bangkok 2024 tournament runs until 15 December, featuring 12 of the world’s best teams competing for a prize pool of $1,000,000.