Cover-Credits:
AFK Gaming
This week on the Asian Dota 2 circuit, the unfolding events seemed more far-fetched than Dota Dragons Blood winning an Emmy. From bewildering roster swaps and culinary conundrums to peculiar name changes, the drama navigated less of a "#RoadtoRiyadh" and more of a "Journey into the Bizarre," charted as though by a Herald player doodling aimlessly on the minimap. Let's embark on an exploration of this episodic odyssey that left the community in a whirl of amusement, bewilderment, and collective head-scratching.
Aurora's Midlane Musical Chairs: The Lorenof Chronicles
The Dota 2 scene was treated to a spicy twist this week, as Aurora pulled a rabbit out of its hat, or more accurately, Artem "lorenof" Melnick out of Team Tickles, to sub for their AWOL midlaner, Armel "Armel" Tabios. Armel, who apparently had more pressing matters to attend to (rumor has it, he's perfecting the art of coddling), left big shoes to fill. Enter Lorenof, the European wildcard, who turned the tables and probably some heads too.
Valve and Armel
23savage, Aurora's carry and now seemingly part-time team spokesperson, dished on the new dynamic with Lorenof. According to him, “I think it’s pretty good (the team dynamic with Lorenof). He has his own playstyle and he is really high skilled so it’s really easy for us to adapt to him. I think having a stand-in in the midlane is easiest because you know he just plays his own game and he’s 1v1 so it's up to him in the laning.”
Further, 23savage praised Lorenof's Zen-like calm and strategic foresight, qualities that have infused Aurora's gameplay with a newfound serenity amidst the chaos of competition. The player's revelations point to a serendipitous alignment of fate and strategy, transforming what could have been a desperate fill-in into a harmonious symphony of teamwork. Lorenof's seamless integration into Aurora's lineup, against all odds, has not only dispelled initial skepticism but has also posed the question: Was this unforeseen twist a stroke of luck, or a meticulously crafted play by Aurora's playbook? Only time will tell.
The Curious Case of Armel's "Babysitting" Duty: Team Drama or Daddy Diaper Duty?
Our protagonist, Janne "Gorgc" Stefanovski once again found himself unwittingly cast in the role of Dota 2’s unofficial TMZ reporter, unraveling the mystery of why Artem "lorenof" Melnick suddenly found himself as Aurora's stand-in mid laner.
During a riveting stream, Gorgc found himself in conversation with Ivan "Kidaro" Bondarev, formerly of B8 Esports. The latter casually dropped a bombshell revelation the size of a Techies Proximity Mine. "You know the reason why they changed the mid laner? Because he didn't get along with Jabz very well." Was this a classic case of team infighting, or was there more to the story?
Gorgc, ever the voice of reason, tried to piece together the puzzle, citing the community's theory: Armel "Armel" Tabios had recently embraced fatherhood, sharing an Instagram-worthy moment with his newborn, effectively melting the hearts of his followers. The Dota 2 community had assumed Armel was on paternity leave, mastering the art of diaper changing rather than dominating the mid-lane. But Kidaro's insinuations suggested a twist in the tale: perhaps the diaper drama was just a cover for a juicy team conflict.
Cue the dramatic music as Gorgc pondered aloud, "So you're telling me it was not the baby thing?" to which Kidaro cryptically replied, "Hopefully, it is." This ambiguous response left the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering if they were witnessing the inception of a Dota 2 conspiracy theory. The discussion then took a turn towards the philosophical, with Kidaro musing about Jabz's role as the team's "most responsible adult"—a statement that, in the context of their conversation, was as reassuring as having a 10k gold lead against the comeback kings Team Spirit.
In hindsight, Aurora's official communication regarding Armel's situation in the lead-up to DreamLeague Season 22 seems deliberately vague. The organization had attributed his absence to "personal matters." This statement, broad enough to encompass everything from fatherhood to internal disputes, has now left the community hanging on the edge of speculation.
As the saga unfolds, the Dota 2 community eagerly awaits further clarification from Aurora or Armel to put an end to speculations.
SumaiL's Culinary Crusade in China
In 2023, SumaiL "SumaiL" Hassan made an unexpected trip to China joining Team Aster for The International 2023’s Chinese qualifiers, and unfortunately failed to make it to the main event.
However, it seems like his adventure in China with Team Aster was less about the Dota and more about the dining, turning his stint into an unexpected episode of "Hell’s Kitchen: Dota Edition." Piqui, Team Aster's ex-captain, spilled the beans on SumaiL's foodie woes, painting a picture of a man more in battle with his meals than with his midlane opponents.
Picture this: a Dota 2 superstar, stranded in a culinary no-man's land, where every meal is a gamble and takeout is a torturous test of patience. SumaiL, faced with the daunting task of navigating the local cuisine, found solace in the predictable arms of McDonald's and KFC – a diet that would make any nutritionist weep. According to Piqui, SumaiL's gastronomic grievances were so severe, they would have driven a lesser man to flip the dining table in despair.
Brother Su [Sumail] can’t even get enough to eat at the base every day, and you still expect him to perform well? We [Team Aster players] ate at 12 pm, he had to eat at 2 pm. We ate at 6 pm, he ate at 8 pm. If I were him, I would have flipped the table already. So, Brother Su doesn’t eat alone.“ “Brother Su… In Our China.. He doesn’t eat the food prepared by the cook at our base, so he can only order takeout. The takeout order takes one to two hours to arrive. So, it turns out we eat at 12 pm and he eats at 2 pm. And Brother Su, can’t stand eating McDonalds or KFC every day. It’s really disturbing.”Piqui
But let's not forget the real tragedy here: SumaiL's valiant struggle against the tyranny of delayed meal times and the relentless assault of fast food. It's a tale of resilience, a testament to the indomitable spirit of a man who came to China to play Dota but ended up playing a game of culinary roulette.
Bach's Name Symphony: A Tribute to Classical Music and Dota Legends
In a heartwarming tale that feels like a cozy fireside chat in the middle of a Dota 2 tournament, Zhang "Bach" Ruida, formerly known as Faith_bian, revealed the symphonic inspiration behind his name change. In a move that's part classical homage, part Dota 2 fanboy, Bach aligned his in-game alias with his love for piano and the legendary composer Johann Sebastian Bach. But here's the kicker: it's also a nod to his Dota 2 idols, two-time TI winning champions Johan "N0tail" Sundstein and Sébastien "Ceb" Debs, creating a trio that spans centuries and genres.
I like the composer Bach very much. Before I joined the Monkey Business hub show of OG… N0tail’s name was Johan and Ceb’s name was Sebastien. So the combo there is Johan Sebastian Bach. So I was like ‘Okay then I will be Bach right now’.”Bach
Bach's decision to rename himself after a composer known for his complex harmonies and baroque beats is like deciding to skip to Invoker mid after only playing Ogre Magi – ambitious, slightly mad, but ultimately brilliant. His dream of mastering the Goldberg Variations, a piece so daunting it sends shivers down the spines of seasoned pianists, mirrors the daunting challenge of making a comeback and securing a Top 2 finish at The International, five years after retiring from Dota 2. Wait, he already did that!
