Cover-Credits:
Team Liquid is a team that is known for its calm and focused demeanor. Its players, Ludwig "zai" Wåhlberg, Samuel "Boxi" Svahn, and Michał "Nisha" Jankowski, are often seen as cool-headed professionals who can handle the pressure of high-stakes Dota 2 matches. Despite this reputation, Team Liquid's captain, Aydin "iNSaNiA" Sarkohi, displayed a rare moment of frustration during their match against OG in the Berlin Major. In game 2 of the series, Insania was seen briefly slamming his desk in frustration, a rare display of emotion from a team that is known for its level-headedness.
Pro players losing their cool
Outside of the professional arena, players raging or displaying their frustrations is relatively common, especially in pub games. However, within the professional community, it is much rarer to see players openly display their emotions during a tournament. Even the infamous video of Clement "Puppey" Ivanov throwing his headset against a monitor was not during a professional game.
Insania's outburst was a reminder that even the most focused and composed teams can be pushed to the brink. It was a small moment, but it spoke volumes about the pressure that players face in high-stakes matches. Both Janne "Gorgc" Stefanovski and Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf were surprised to see Insania's reaction during the game, which shows how unusual it was for a Team Liquid player to openly display frustration.
“Oh he smashed a little bit, you saw (asking ATF)? It was a little bit. I think it was a little bit, like a light smash, you know?" Gorgc said.
In the end, Team Liquid lost the series to OG and dropped to the lower bracket. It was only for a short moment, but it shows that even the best teams in the world can experience moments of frustration and anger in professional games.
