Benhur "Benhur" Lawis, a popular Dota 2 player from the Philippines, officially joined Reckoning Esports on January 21, 2021, after playing for the organization at the SEA 2021 DPC Season 1- Open Qualifier #3 and #4 in the beginning of January. Even though they were unable to qualify for the first season, Benhur and Reckoning Esports stuck together and are now gearing up for the second season which begins in a couple of months. In an exclusive interview with AFK Gaming, Benhur talked about the DPC format and the new Overwatch system, Reckoning Esports’ goals and aspirations, his time with Mushi, and more.
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A talk with Benhur from Reckoning Esports
Q: Can you introduce yourself to those who may not know you?
Hello, I'm Benhur. I'm 23 years old living in the Philippines. I started my career as a professional Dota 2 player way back in 2016. I've played for notable teams like Mineski, Happyfeet, Admiral, Neon Esports, DeToNator, IO Esports, Smart Omega, before joining my current team Reckoning Esports.
I also won in a tournament in India, The Cobx Masters 2019 with Skem, Sam H, FLYSOLO, and RR.
Benhur's first breakthrough team was Mineski for whom he played for about six months in 2016.Image Via Mineski Facebook
Q: Walk us through the circumstances that lead you to join Reckoning Esports.
I was looking for a team after disappointing results in SEA Open Qualifier 1 and 2. Teehee reached out to me and I tried out with Reckoning Esports. Even though we could not qualify for the DPC event, I enjoyed playing with the team and decided to continue with them! We are focusing on winning tournaments and qualifying for the next DPC event.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your goals and aspirations with Reckoning Esports.
My personal goal with Reckoning is to qualify for the SEA DPC Upper Division. But our main goal is to qualify for TI10.
Q: Since Reckoning is an Indian org, any plans of visiting/bootcamping in India once the Pandemic is done?
I would love to visit India once again. The last time I visited was for the COBX Masters, I never had the chance to visit and explore Mumbai. I hope the pandemic will end so I can meet and play together with the team.
Q: How has the Pandemic affected you as a player and the rest of the team?
The Pandemic hit me hard and I had lost my motivation to play, as I was stuck in my house. I've usually played in Bootcamps where the environment is very different. Your teammates and support staff motivate you every day to get better! Adjusting to the pandemic took some time, but now I'm ready and feel motivated to do better with Reckoning Esports.
Q: What are your thoughts on the DPC system? Anything you like or dislike?
I think the new DPC system allows a lot of tier 2 and 3 teams to get a lot of exposure. This also gives them realistic goals to achieve and allows them to climb up the ladder. The only thing I dislike about it is to play the Open Qualifier as most of them are bo1s and you might get cheesed out.
Q: What should Valve change before the next season of the DPC?
I don't know to be honest :D
Q: Apart from those in your team currently, who is the most mechanically skilled player you’ve played with? What sets them apart?
I think Gabbi and Nikobaby, two of the carry players I've played with come to mind! They have their own strengths and understanding of the game. I think their sheer motivation and grind have helped them reach where they are.
Both Gabbi and Nikobaby are now considered as one of the best carry players in the Dota 2 scene and have become staple players for TNC Predator and Alliance.Image by Adela Sznajder via DreamHack
Q: What other factors are necessary for a player to go pro except for raw mechanical skill?
Personally, I think a willingness to learn, discipline, passion in what you are doing, and hard work.
Q: What are your thoughts on the new Overwatch system? Do you think it can help tackle toxicity in pubs?
As a professional player, I don’t think it affects high MMR pubs too much. But it might help the lower-level pubs to eradicate griefers and hackers.
Q: You’ve played with both Mushi in the past, what are your most memorable experiences with the legend?
I had the opportunity to play with Mushi! That was around last year. Playing with him was a joy in itself and I got to learn a lot about the game from him. He treated me and the others like his brothers.
Q: Do you watch Anime? What is your favorite anime at the moment?
Yes, I watch a lot of anime in my free time. My current favorite anime is Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu. The storyline for it is very gripping. But my all-time favorite is High School DxD. I would recommend it to avid Anime fans.
Do you have anything you want to say to your fans?
Salamat (Thank You) to the people supporting me. I stream Dota2 every day so make sure to drop by and follow my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/benhurdota. Thank you for supporting me and Reckoning Esports!
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