Dota 2 Veteran Somnus Reflects on Career, Future Plans, & Rivalry with Larl

In a recent live stream, renowned Dota 2 player Lu "Somnus" Yao, also known as Maybe, opened up about various aspects of his professional career, shedding light on his experiences, future plans, and a friendly rivalry with fellow player from Team Spirit, Denis "Larl" Sigitov. Somnus, who recently announced a hiatus from professional play and is inclining toward streaming, explained the decision by talking about his weariness from the intense demands of esports. He emphasized that the decision to play this year was driven solely by a personal desire to enjoy Dota 2, rather than for fame or financial gains.

Somnus’ statements were translated and shared on Reddit in a post titled “Somnus talked about himself, chalice and fy in stream” by one user named Proud-Principle-3452.

Somnus’ Dota 2 Journey

Reflecting on his journey, as translated by the Reddit user, Somnus shared, "I've had my fun, the excitement has ended, the passionate phase is over, I've reached a plateau." He likened it to a "sage mode," indicating a period of reflection and respite after intense involvement.

Addressing the question of potentially coaching in the future, Somnus humorously dismissed the idea. He noted, "I can't be a coach; I can't stand watching from below.  Maybe after I become a coach, after watching them practice for a few days, I'll say: Hey, that's not right, brother, you go watch, let me show you how it's done, learn a bit, haha."

Somnus also discussed his streaming experience with Yang "Chalice" Shenyi and Xu "fy" Linsen, expressing the possibility of providing commentary for the upcoming ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 tournament. He noted the importance of their veteran status and the camaraderie they share with the audience.

In a previous stream, Somnus revealed, "My most recent goal is to reach Larl's level and then surpass him." Somnus did not shy away from naming Larl as his top competitor. He commended Larl's consistent impact on the game, emphasizing the importance of making a difference under any circumstances.

Somnus also shared some insights into his team's practice sessions, interactions with other teams, and even humorous anecdotes from The International 2023. The conversation touched upon potential future collaborations, with fans expressing excitement about the prospect of Somnus teaming up with Wang "oldchicken" Zhiyong.

Somnus also expressed gratitude for the passion and support from fans throughout his career, particularly acknowledging the enthusiastic response during The International 2023. He recognized the changing dynamics in the Dota 2 community, attributing it to the maturation of players and their diverse life experiences.

As Somnus takes a step back from the competitive scene, fans eagerly await his future endeavors, whether in streaming, commentary, or potential comebacks.