Cover-Credits:
Chinese mid-lane star Lu "Somnus" Yao (aka Maybe) may already be eyeing a return to pro-Dota 2, despite only retiring after the conclusion of The International 2022. During a recent livestream, Somnus reportedly stated that he finds competing in scrims much more enjoyable than playing in public games, according to Chinese Dota 2 news aggregator @Tr1H4rd3rDota2. He intends to compete in the open qualifiers of the Dota 2 Pro Circuit 2023 (DPC 2023) Tour 2 as a result.
However, he clarified that this would only be a “fun stack” and that he did not intend to practice and compete with full intensity.
Somnus shares his roadmap for DPC 2023 return
According to @Tr1H4rd3rDota2, Somnus expressed his frustration with playing pub games in a recent livestream, stating that he finds it boring. He stated that he prefers scrimming with other professional teams, but with the DPC 2023 season approaching, many of the players he usually scrims with are too busy to practice with him. However, Somnus has a plan to team up with some free-agent streamer friends after the first DPC Major of the season and begin to scrim against professional teams for two BO2 matches every day.
He intends to begin executing this plan after the Chinese Spring Festival as it is currently too hasty to implement and he does not yet have a complete plan or goal for the project. He is also unsure of who will join him in this endeavor.
While Somnus stressed that this is mostly for fun, he is open to participating in tournaments if the opportunity arises. In fact, he plans to compete in the open qualifier for Tour 2 of the DPC and hopes that people will be able to see them there. If things go well, he stated that they may even have the chance to participate in international tournaments.
However, Somnus made it clear that people should not have high expectations for his team, as the main focus is on having fun rather than being a professional team. He also emphasized the importance of not putting too much pressure on his teammates and requested people to not troll his teammates, but to focus their attention on him, if they happen to have a poor performance
Somnus admitted that he came up with this plan because he has been feeling disheartened lately. He explained that streaming a few public games per day was not enough to keep him motivated. He feels that competing in the professional scene gives him a sense of purpose and helps him to become stronger, something that streaming does not provide. While he recognizes that streaming can be a fulfilling career, he feels that it is a waste of time and lacks the meaning he desires in life. He added that he is eager to find new challenges and will work hard to make this plan a reality.
