“Team Spirit did not win second TI with the same roster. So to me, it’s not the same”. Ceb on his love for trash-talk and beefs, ATF’s limitations, and OG’s mission

Understanding how professional gamers process feedback reveals crucial insights about high-performance psychology. Ceb’s approach demonstrates how elite competitors can leverage negativity as performance enhancement rather than allowing it to undermine confidence. This mental framework separates championship players from merely skilled participants.

— You said that you personally find it motivating when people flame you. How does it work for you and if there are any cases when it was the opposite?

— Competitive psychology varies significantly between individuals. While some athletes experience performance degradation under criticism, I’ve developed the ability to convert negative energy into competitive advantage. When opponents question my abilities, it generates additional determination to demonstrate their assessments are incorrect. This psychological mechanism provides energy and competitive fire that drives improvement.

When I began my esports journey, skepticism surrounded both my potential and the industry itself. Many viewed me as someone wasting time rather than building a career. Operating in this environment of constant doubt required developing resilience against external pressure. This became fundamental to my competitive identity – I’ve never operated with widespread support, only facing consistent challenges. This environment forged the competitor I’ve become.

The source of criticism determines its impact. Constructive feedback from respected teammates who genuinely care about my development carries weight because it comes from a place of constructive intent. However, random external opinions lack substance and serve only as additional motivation sources.

This psychological approach explains why I actively cultivate competitive rivalries – they provide additional motivational resources. Understanding this distinction helps players develop healthier relationships with community feedback.

Practical Tip: Create a mental filter separating constructive coaching from random criticism. Reserve emotional energy for feedback that comes from credible sources with demonstrated expertise.

— The scene talked so much about this meme beef between Quinn and RAMZES. Doesn’t it mean that we aren’t in a good spot in that sense, since it’s not even a real beef?

— Community dynamics naturally utilize available narrative material. However, I would prefer more substantial, engaging rivalries that don’t create genuinely problematic situations. There’s inherent tension between wanting compelling storylines while ensuring nobody experiences real harm from competitive banter.

Storytelling enhances entertainment value. The quantity and quality of narrative elements surrounding matches directly impacts viewer engagement levels. Historical examples demonstrate this principle effectively.

During the EG-OG rivalry development, I witnessed firsthand how narrative anticipation transforms match significance. The community anticipation surrounding those games reached levels exceeding The International finals in some contexts. This type of competitive theater represents excellent entertainment value for spectators.

Currently, 9Class from Tundra has made comments about our team. Naturally, this generates additional motivation for our next encounter. I’m confident viewership will increase for that specific matchup.

Within competitive contexts, these dynamics remain enjoyable rather than serious conflicts. While competition carries importance, nobody’s wellbeing is genuinely threatened. This allows for creative expression within established boundaries.

Common Mistake: Players often conflate competitive banter with personal attacks. Maintain clear distinction between criticizing gameplay and attacking character.

— You have a lot of experience building rosters. Let’s say there are three parameters: individual skill, communication, and team chemistry. How would you rate them? And which is the most important for you?

— Foundational competency requires baseline individual proficiency. Teams cannot compete at elite levels without minimum skill thresholds across all positions.

However, assembling five position-best players rarely produces optimal results. Once reaching necessary skill levels, other factors become increasingly important for sustained success.

Character evaluation represents my highest priority in team construction. Communication effectiveness and team cohesion typically emerge from individual personality traits rather than representing independent variables. Assessment focuses on interpersonal dynamics, teammate behavior patterns, professional work ethics, and overall competitive mentality.

No newly formed team immediately operates at maximum potential. Development requires collective learning, mutual adaptation, overcoming difficult periods, and studying opposing teams. This improvement trajectory only becomes possible with appropriate character foundations.

Throughout my career, I’ve observed immensely talented players who continue competing but never reach their theoretical ceilings. Meanwhile, less individually skilled competitors consistently outperform them because they possess superior competitive mentalities.

Many misunderstand competitive strength as aggression manifestation. True competitive excellence involves being an exceptional teammate. It encompasses professional conduct, supportive capabilities, and gameplay proficiency. Championship players represent balanced combinations across all these dimensions.

The world’s best players aren’t selfish individuals disregarding team welfare – that represents inaccurate perception. Dota victories cannot be achieved individually against competent opposition. Success requires coordinated team effort.

Optimization Tip: When evaluating potential teammates, assess how they handle adversity during losing streaks. This reveals more about their competitive character than performance during winning periods.

— When old OG roster disbanded, were you worried that putting a young squad in the hands of a young unexperienced captain might be a risky idea?

— The decision certainly involved risk considerations. However, we conducted thorough evaluation rather than making uninformed decisions. We analyzed player profiles extensively before determining their capability levels.

Retrospective analysis indicates the project achieved success metrics. The team demonstrated strong competitiveness within European circuits, challenged top-tier organizations, qualified for premier tournaments, and achieved event victories.

We anticipated continued development into championship-caliber teams. However, external factors complicated progression significantly.

The Ukraine conflict created substantial complications we never adequately resolved due to Ukrainian and Russian team members. Both groups experienced significant impact from the situation. Tournament participation became consistently problematic with ongoing visa complications.

Building competitive teams requires balancing multiple factors beyond raw talent. The most successful organizations understand that sustainable excellence emerges from systematic approaches to talent development and team dynamics management.

Time Estimate: Developing cohesive team chemistry typically requires 2-3 months of consistent practice and competition.

Team development follows predictable patterns. Initial phases focus on individual skill assessment and role specialization. Intermediate stages develop communication patterns and strategic coordination. Advanced teams exhibit intuitive understanding and adaptive capabilities during high-pressure situations.

Common organizational mistakes include overvaluing individual statistics while undervaluing interpersonal compatibility. Championship teams consistently demonstrate that character and competitive mindset ultimately determine long-term success more than isolated mechanical proficiency.

In-depth Analysis: Successful team building requires understanding player motivation sources beyond competitive results. Some players thrive on proving doubters wrong, while others perform best with supportive environments. Understanding these psychological differences helps create optimal performance conditions.

Advanced team optimization involves creating environments where players can develop both individually and collectively. This requires balancing immediate competitive needs with long-term development objectives.

Organizations must also consider external factors affecting team stability. Geopolitical situations, travel restrictions, and personal circumstances all impact competitive performance consistency.

Understanding these principles helps explain OG’s approach to roster development and talent cultivation within the competitive Dota 2 landscape.

I’ve completely reclaimed the captaincy role and now bear full responsibility for all Dota team operations. My primary objective involves reconstructing this organization back to its proper competitive standing—consistently winning major tournaments or at minimum being a formidable threat in every competition we enter. I want opposing teams to view us as legitimate championship contenders whenever we register for events. This remains an ongoing development process requiring substantial effort from everyone involved. We’re making steady progress toward that championship standard, though significant work remains ahead.

— It appeared ATF represented a crucial component of that roster, receiving significant praise. Following TI11, he departed the organization. Could you elaborate on the reasoning and process?

— Honestly, his strategic impact within OG wasn’t as substantial as perceived. While Ammar demonstrates exceptional proficiency within specific parameters, his capabilities remain considerably constrained. He executes a limited selection of strategies with remarkable excellence. Consequently, building your team composition around those strengths can yield powerful results initially. However, when elite teams develop effective counter-strategies, your tactical foundation collapses entirely. Against world-class competition, you cannot operate under the assumption that your specialized hero selections remain unstoppable. Top-tier opponents inevitably devise methods to neutralize such approaches, which is precisely where we encountered limitations with him.

Competitive metagame fluctuations also frequently disadvantage his particular skill set. Currently, the gameplay patch strongly favors his preferred heroes. Should the metagame shift away from his strengths, your team encounters serious competitive disadvantages. For example, The International metagame centered around Wraith Pact strategies featuring Broodmother, Beastmaster and similar heroes. These compositions fell completely outside his established hero repertoire, demanding significant adaptation.

We recognized his fundamental inability to adjust his gameplay approach. His limitations became apparent under competitive pressure. I believe he can only thrive within teams that comprehensively understand his specialized requirements and construct their entire system around him. This necessitates teammates capable of modifying their own playstyles to accommodate his needs.

This explains why his tenure with Nigma alongside SumaiL and other roster members was destined for failure. He requires being the central focal point of team strategy because he lacks versatility or perhaps sufficient skill to fulfill alternative roles. Within Falcons, the dynamic likely functions effectively because skiter demonstrates exceptional adaptability. He’s accustomed to adjusting his gameplay to complement 33 possesses a highly distinctive playstyle. Now he’s adapting to support Ammar’s approach, producing successful results for their organization.

For our strategic objectives, we determined that with Ammar, we would only achieve a specific competitive ceiling without potential for further advancement. We concluded that achieving world championship status remained impossible with him on our roster. That represented our collective assessment. Consequently, roster changes became necessary.

— You determined you wouldn’t prioritize one player above team success?

— Precisely. Understanding this dynamic proves crucial—had we defeated every competing team with him, we certainly would have retained him. However, we observed that certain organizations possessed comprehensive understanding of how to counter his strategies and exploit his gameplay weaknesses. When facing such situations, your team must demonstrate adaptability, and if incapable, your competitive potential becomes restricted. We refused to accept such limitations.

— Examining competitive results reveals noticeable deterioration following his departure. What caused this decline?

— Unfortunately, timing coincided precisely with geopolitical conflict escalation. Analyzing the period following Ammar’s departure reveals that roster never fielded identical five players across any tournament series. Therefore, performance issues remain completely unrelated to his roster departure. Due to external circumstances, we competed using substitute players extensively—MinD_ContRoL, then Kitrak-, followed by additional stand-ins, eventually requiring my own substitution participation… That competitive season represented an exceptionally challenging period. We never successfully fielded our practiced starting roster at any tournament. Consequently, any competitive outcomes during that timeframe hold minimal relevance.

We exerted maximum effort despite complications. Significant distractions emerged from constantly addressing logistical crises rather than focusing on team development. Continuous international travel, last-minute problem resolution, uncertainty regarding player availability and visa approvals consumed our focus. I sincerely hope we never encounter similar circumstances again.

— Could superior management systems have potentially prevented some issues?

— Possibly, though certainty remains elusive. You must consider that individual team members experienced direct personal impacts from ongoing situations. They endured profoundly difficult personal circumstances that continue affecting them currently. Regardless of perspective, when half your roster originates from affected regions, substantial organizational impact becomes inevitable.

Honestly, I lacked direct involvement in those decisions—those responsibilities fall under management jurisdiction. Consequently, I don’t possess complete information. I didn’t conduct comprehensive audits of all actions taken and implementation methods. I rely on professionals executing their responsibilities competently. I believe they performed adequately, I hope they did. From external observation, comprehending the substantial complication increase proves straightforward. This undoubtedly constituted a valuable learning experience. I’m confident that should we face similar challenges again, we’ll possess enhanced strategic approaches for management.

— Team Spirit management expressed interest in bzm. Why didn’t that roster transfer materialize?

— I reviewed Yatoro’s interview statement claiming “OG didn’t inform bzm [about our inquiry]”, I don’t recall if he included “perhaps”. Individuals should verify information accuracy thoroughly. Obviously, OG represents the premier organization for professional players, so immediately upon receiving offers, players gain full awareness. Bzm learned about Spirit’s invitation within hours. We absolutely never concealed this information from him. He simply declined the opportunity fundamentally.

During that period, Spirit encountered competitive struggles, well before their championship resurgence. Additionally, he would have needed Russian language proficiency—while possessing basic understanding, insufficient for comfortable communication, representing significant consideration for him. Meanwhile, OG demonstrated exceptional performance—we recently triumphed at Stockholm, achieved top-4 placement at Arlington, he experienced tremendous satisfaction with our roster, enjoying excellent team atmosphere. He simply elected to remain, straightforward decision.

— Can you discuss the Taiga circumstances? How did you provide support and manage the situation?

— You possess extensive experience constructing competitive rosters. Considering three evaluation parameters—individual mechanical skill, communication effectiveness, and team chemistry—how would you prioritize them? Which represents most significance?

— Individual technical proficiency establishes the foundational requirement. However, I don’t advocate assembling five position-specific elite players—that approach rarely succeeds. You require baseline individual competency, certainly essential.

What I value most profoundly involves what I term “character”. Communication dynamics and team chemistry represent consequences of that fundamental quality. This encompasses their personal integrity, teammate interactions, behavioral patterns, work ethic standards—comprehensive assessment.

Because ultimately, no roster assembles in perfected form ready for championship contention. They must learn collectively, adapt mutually, endure difficult periods, learn from competing teams. That developmental trajectory only becomes achievable with appropriate character foundations.

I’ve observed tremendously talented players continuing competition today—they possessed potential for world championship dominance, appearing in every grand final annually. Yet they never achieve that potential. Meanwhile, players demonstrating inferior individual mechanical skill consistently outperform them competitively. Because they represent superior competitors fundamentally. These individuals might demonstrate strong Dota capabilities, yet remain fundamentally weak competitors.

Many mistakenly believe strong competitiveness involves aggressive behavior—that represents fundamental misunderstanding. Exceptional competitiveness manifests through outstanding teammate qualities. It involves demonstrating professional excellence. It encompasses supporting surrounding teammates effectively. It also requires exceptional Dota proficiency. Thus it represents composite evaluation across all dimensions. With comprehensive excellence, you achieve world championship status naturally.

However, world championship status doesn’t belong to selfish individuals disregarding team welfare. That represents inaccurate perception. You cannot single-handedly win Dota matches against elite competition. Victory only becomes possible through coordinated teammate efforts.

— Can you talk a bit about the Taiga situation? How did you try to help him and how did you handle it?

— When rumors about potential gambling issues surfaced, we immediately launched a comprehensive response. Recognizing the severity of competitive integrity concerns, we engaged specialized investigators and coordinated with every tournament organization where we participated. We provided complete transparency with all available information, committed to full compliance with any requirements, and actively sought guidance on optimal handling procedures. We consulted legal experts and directly involved Valve in the process.

Throughout the investigation, the player consistently maintained he hadn’t gambled on Dota matches or team-related outcomes. While we wanted to trust his assurances, the situation demanded verification beyond personal promises. Our examination revealed no compromising evidence of Dota betting, and we received clearance from all relevant parties.

Despite the clean investigation results, the episode fundamentally damaged team cohesion. The breakdown stemmed from the lack of disclosure about personal struggles, though we acknowledge he may have felt vulnerable during a difficult personal period. Ultimately, we made the difficult decision to bench him as the situation became unmanageable. Though I haven’t spoken with him recently, our commitment to support him as both former teammate and friend remains absolute.

The experience was particularly challenging as we’d never encountered similar circumstances before. While I can’t guarantee our approach was flawless, I’m confident we exhausted every possible avenue to address it appropriately. Our primary objectives were maintaining competitive integrity while simultaneously providing maximum support and protection. Balancing these competing priorities often presents significant difficulties in execution.

— Faith_bian said that if there were new young players on the Chinese pro scene, he wouldn’t come back. Could you say that your comeback happened in a similar way?

— My situation differs significantly. I continue competing because I genuinely believe I can defeat any opponent in the current landscape. I would immediately step away if I felt incapable of competing at the highest level. If I assessed teams like Spirit or other top contenders and concluded they were beyond my capabilities to overcome, or if I couldn’t contribute to team victory against elite competition, I would have zero competitive interest. Such participation would represent wasted time for both myself and teammates.

I participate because I’m convinced I can still achieve world-class performance. Naturally, I dedicate substantial time mentoring teammates, helping them comprehend top-tier strategies and developing methods to counter dominant teams.

— So it’s not about a lack of captains?

— When I identify someone superior to my capabilities, I immediately defer to their expertise. I refuse to accept mediocrity, especially representing OG. If we identified a superior candidate for any position, particularly captaincy, and I recognized their enhanced capabilities, I would instantly transition roles. For me, OG’s success outweighs my personal participation by immeasurable margins.

— Did Spirit’s second win at TI add motivation to you? Were you feeling that they are stepping on your toes?

— It provided some additional drive, certainly. However, deeper reflection revealed they accomplished this achievement with a different roster composition. Therefore, from my perspective, the accomplishment differs fundamentally. I believe maintaining identical five-player lineup versus incorporating roster changes represents completely different competitive achievements. In that context, as I perceive it, no other organization has secured two TI championships. Individual players have multiple victories, but no other team has achieved this milestone twice. Because they modified their lineup and required two years to construct a championship-caliber team again. This contrasts sharply with a team achieving back-to-back victories with consistent personnel.

That being acknowledged, they also triumphed at Riyadh. They rank among the most accomplished squads in competitive history, undoubtedly. They command my perpetual respect. I greatly admire their competitive approach. They demonstrate exceptional performance and serve as tremendous inspiration. Consequently, observing their matches consistently generates motivation through their exemplary competitive standards.

— Once you said that the motivation of old-school players is not at the same level, but they’re superior to the youngsters in terms of understanding of Dota. But don’t older players end up stuck in the past sometimes?

— Adaptation varies significantly among veteran competitors. The game has undergone transformative evolution, rendering most historical strategies obsolete in contemporary play. Certain hero synergies, conceptual frameworks, or strategic approaches retain viability, but successful implementation demands sophisticated understanding of optimal timing windows.

Newer competitors often lack exposure to certain strategic dimensions or historical gameplay patterns. Some players remain confined to conventional 2-1-2 lane distributions, lacking experience with trilane configurations or midlane dual setups. Consequently, they sometimes overlook innovative tactical possibilities. My extensive competitive experience provides awareness of numerous viable approaches.

Today’s Spirit versus LGD match featured 1 versus 1 safelane matchups with 3 versus 3 engagements elsewhere. Experienced players like Miposhka or y` comprehended the strategic implications and anticipated game developments. Introducing inexperienced players would result in strategic disorientation, though their inherent talent and instincts would enable basic functionality, just not optimized performance.

Conversely, some veteran players demonstrate stubborn adherence to outdated concepts. They fail to recognize the game’s complete transformation and the necessity for continuous adaptation to evolving metagame trends, playstyle innovations, and strategic perspectives.

— You have a lot of experience building rosters. Let’s say there are three parameters: individual skill, communication, and team chemistry. How would you rate them? And which is the most important for you?

— Foundational mechanical proficiency represents the initial prerequisite. However, I don’t subscribe to the theory that assembling the five highest-rated players automatically creates championship teams. You must establish baseline individual capability, then shift focus elsewhere.

What I prioritize above all is what I term competitive character. Communication effectiveness and team synergy naturally derive from this foundation. It encompasses personal integrity, teammate interactions, behavioral patterns, and professional work ethics.

Ultimately, no team achieves immediate perfection upon formation. Sustainable growth requires collective learning, mutual adaptation, overcoming adversity, and analyzing opponent strategies. This developmental trajectory only becomes possible with appropriate character alignment.

I’ve observed exceptionally talented individuals who remain active competitors, possessing theoretical capability for consistent championship contention, yet perpetually underachieve. Meanwhile, less mechanically gifted opponents consistently outperform them because they function as superior competitors. These players might demonstrate strong mechanical proficiency but exhibit fundamental competitive deficiencies.

Common misconceptions equate strong competitiveness with aggressive behavior, but genuine competitive strength manifests through exceptional teammate qualities, professional conduct, supportive capabilities, and comprehensive game understanding. Championship performance requires balancing all these elements. The world’s best competitors aren’t selfish individuals disregarding team success—that represents a distorted perception. Dota victory cannot be achieved individually against competent opposition. Success requires coordinated team effort.

— What would OG do if tomorrow Dota loses the big prize pools and the scene will start to die?

— Our competitive participation stems from genuine passion rather than financial motivation. We engage in games we authentically love and believe demonstrate exceptional competitive quality. Consequently, we would maintain Dota involvement regardless of financial incentives. However, if the game experiences decline with deteriorating tournament quality, diminishing team interest, or gameplay degradation, then reconsideration might occur. But as long as Dota maintains excellent gameplay and high-level competition, financial considerations become secondary.

— But how do you manage that in terms of finances?

— This represents our organizational challenge, explaining our intensive operational efforts. Many organizations diversify across numerous titles, consolidating all content through unified channels to maximize audience growth. We recognize the business rationale for sponsor attraction through diversified content. However, we wouldn’t derive pride from such approaches. We are genuine esports enthusiasts. I respect dedicated community members and wouldn’t presume generalized content preferences. We aim to build initiatives we genuinely value. If we can establish sustainable business models through these efforts, we’ll pursue them. If sustainability proves unachievable, we would discontinue operations rather than compromise principles.

We didn’t establish OG to create commercially successful enterprises. We envisioned how an authentic organization should operate—how it treats competitors, establishes team environments, structures contractual agreements. Because we’ve experienced competitive careers and endured challenging circumstances. We dreamed about which games we’d compete in and why, and how we’d approach these titles. That original vision continues guiding our organizational existence.

— What do you want to focus on in the next year?

— We prioritize competitive excellence across all our represented titles. Significant emphasis on talent development, naturally, so we’re exploring expansion opportunities. I believe establishing regional presence represents crucial organizational development. We aim to enhance fan value creation, particularly during tournament engagements. We’re developing OG Hubs initiatives, implementing them at every tournament. These spaces allow community connection, entertainment experiences, and shared competitive viewing. Whether fans possess tickets or face accessibility challenges, they can always access OG Hub facilities where staff provide comprehensive support.

We produce Monkey Business content because it facilitates cross-community connections involving casters, players, and fan interactions. We’re contemplating fan perspectives—what experiences would they genuinely enjoy? Can we develop sustainable models that don’t compromise organizational integrity? We pursue such initiatives.

Therefore, our organizational direction focuses on creating innovative community projects and enhancing regional presence. During travels to Southeast Asia or South America, we encounter tremendous community energy and passion, yet observe minimal infrastructure development. Perhaps we can contribute meaningfully.

— Imagine you have unlimited resources. What dream about the organization would you like to accomplish?

— I envision establishing dedicated venues for hosting proprietary events. Where we could transform online competitions into immersive live experiences. Creating comprehensive fan experiences—appealing venues where communities connect across regions and nations. Incorporating supplementary entertainment like guest appearances or musical performances alongside live competitive matches. That would represent extraordinary organizational achievement.

Mastering Dota 2 demands embracing a mindset of perpetual growth and self-awareness. The journey involves recognizing that expertise develops gradually through consistent practice and maintaining perspective about your current limitations. Each gaming session represents a fresh start where you acknowledge your shortcomings and systematically work toward incremental improvements.

“The reality of competitive Dota is that every session begins with acknowledging your deficiencies,” Ceb explains. “You commence each day feeling inadequate, then progressively refine your abilities through focused effort. The subsequent day introduces entirely new challenges requiring adaptation. This continuous cycle of development, education, and refinement never truly concludes for dedicated players.

This approach requires balancing confidence in your existing knowledge with openness to learning unfamiliar concepts. Veteran competitors understand that certain strategic insights only emerge through extensive experience across multiple game patches and meta shifts.

— Imagine facing a critical draft disagreement with a younger player who champions alternative strategies. How do you navigate this situation?

— When players fundamentally oppose your strategic vision during the drafting phase, the damage is often already done. Forcing competitors into roles they don’t understand or believe in typically yields negative outcomes regardless of theoretical advantages. Resolution must occur before matches commence through either comprehensive understanding or absolute trust in your decision-making.

“I’ve made this error previously,” Ceb admits. “Our initial qualifier defeat with the new lineup directly resulted from delegating excessive draft responsibility to individuals. I discovered that many players lack the holistic perspective required for optimal team composition,” he continues. During drafting sessions, I visualize lane dynamics, rotation patterns, gank opportunities, teamfight synergies, and scaling trajectories – essentially forecasting the entire match from initial spawn to late-game conclusions.

Most competitors focus appropriately on their specific hero mechanics and lane assignments. They shouldn’t be expected to account for every strategic variable. There exists a crucial dimension where players must simply trust that my strategic assessment will prove correct despite their immediate perceptions.

However, in the scenario you described, I would ultimately defer to their proposed approach. Victory remains achievable even with suboptimal drafts if team coordination and execution remain strong. Unless you face complete strategic counter-picking, competent players typically suggest viable alternatives that may simply represent suboptimal rather than fundamentally flawed choices.

— This competitive season featured the signings of Wisper and Ari. What motivated these specific acquisitions?

— Both players commanded tremendous respect for their competitive capabilities. While initially unfamiliar with their team dynamics, their Dota gameplay demonstrated undeniable power and potential.

“Once we engaged in discussions and began collaborating, we recognized they possessed not only exceptional gaming skills but also outstanding teammate qualities. We feel incredibly fortunate and grateful to have them integrated into our organization – both individuals bring remarkable value to our competitive efforts.

— You referenced the conflict with 9Class. Was he under consideration for your team?

— Instead of Ari? We evaluated him as a potential candidate but disapproved of his public match behavior patterns. Our organization struggles to respect individuals who frequently engage in toxic communication – we fundamentally oppose such conduct.

Witnessing his post-match conduct solidified our position. Successful teams require members to take pride in their colleagues, and I cannot feel proud of someone who disparages their team following defeats. This represents poor sportsmanship and conflicting values that I cannot endorse. As his hypothetical teammate, I would likely experience embarrassment regarding such actions.

“Competitive Dota demands complete trust in your teammates during critical moments,” Ceb emphasizes. “You’ll inevitably require their assistance during challenging situations, needing to rely on them unconditionally. Consequently, we determined that collaborating with someone exhibiting such behavioral patterns wouldn’t align with our organizational standards.

— You and N0tail have maintained involvement since OG’s inception. What responsibilities do you shoulder as co-owners?

— We maintain awareness of all significant organizational developments. Our role involves guiding staff to understand how we would approach situations if handling them personally. We clearly communicate role definitions, priority structures, operational objectives, and the fundamental mission driving our organization forward. They subsequently execute these responsibilities representing our interests, which they accomplish exceptionally well.

Consequently, we participate across numerous operational areas. Naturally, we monitor competitive performance closely since that represents our primary passion. However, we also engage in communication strategies, community engagement initiatives, and fan-focused content development.

“We strive to maintain pride in everything OG represents,” Ceb states. “From that perspective, every organizational action carries significance for us.

— What would OG do if tomorrow Dota loses the big prize pools and the scene will start to die?

— Our competitive participation isn’t motivated by financial considerations or business objectives – that represents a crucial distinction for our organization. We compete in games we genuinely love and believe demonstrate exceptional quality and competitive integrity.

“Therefore, we would continue competing in Dota,” Ceb affirms. “However, if the game’s quality deteriorates or competitive standards decline significantly, then perhaps we would reconsider. As long as Dota maintains its competitive excellence and engaging gameplay, prize pool fluctuations remain irrelevant to our participation decisions.

— But how do you manage that in terms of finances?

— That represents our operational challenge, which motivates our intensive efforts. Many organizations diversify across multiple gaming titles to expand audience reach and sponsorship opportunities.

“But we wouldn’t feel proud of that approach. We represent esports enthusiasts first and foremost. I wouldn’t discuss Rocket League with Dota fans – I respect their specific interests and preferences.

At the heart of OG’s philosophy lies a fundamental principle: we refuse to compromise our values simply to expand the organization’s reach. What might seem unconventional is that our motivation for founding OG wasn’t business success—it was a vision of what an esports organization could truly represent. Our dream encompassed everything from player treatment standards and team atmosphere to contract structures and game selection criteria.

— What drives OG’s decision-making process?

— We’ve walked in players’ shoes and endured challenging circumstances ourselves. This firsthand experience shaped our understanding of how organizations should operate. The games we choose to compete in and our approach to competitive integrity all stem from this original vision. That foundational dream continues to guide every decision we make today.

— What strategic objectives are you prioritizing for the coming year?

— Our primary focus remains competitive dominance across all games we participate in. We’re committed to nurturing emerging talent while expanding our developmental programs. What’s particularly significant is OG’s global fan distribution—we recognize we’re not consistently delivering value to supporters worldwide. Currently, meaningful engagement primarily occurs during tournament travels when we can connect directly with local communities.

Our goal involves establishing tangible presence across international regions. This represents a major strategic initiative for our organization’s evolution.

Creating genuine community value stands as another critical priority. We’re passionate about our fanbase and dedicated to continuously improving their experience. This commitment manifests through initiatives like our regular OG Hubs activation during tournaments.

These dedicated spaces allow fans to gather comfortably, enjoy refreshments, watch competitive matches, and build connections. We aim to provide reliable tournament experiences where attendees know they have a welcoming environment, regardless of ticket availability or other challenges. Importantly, these initiatives transcend brand promotion—they’re about celebrating Dota, Counter-Strike, and the broader esports ecosystem.

The Monkey Business show represents another dimension of our community engagement. This platform brings together diverse community members including casters, professional players, and fans for shared enjoyment.

Our approach involves constant innovation: if we were spectators ourselves, what would enhance our enjoyment? Can we develop these experiences in ways that align with sustainable business practices? This balanced approach guides our development strategy.

Ultimately, our mission centers on developing innovative concepts and projects that benefit fans and communities broadly. Increased regional presence also forms part of this strategy. During our travels to Southeast Asia or South America, we encounter incredible energy and passion, yet observe limited infrastructure development. Perhaps we can contribute meaningfully to addressing this gap.

— If resources were unlimited, what organizational dream would you pursue?

— My ultimate vision involves establishing dedicated venues for hosting our own premier events. Imagine transforming select online competitions into full-scale live experiences where we craft comprehensive fan journeys. Envision attractive locations where supporters from across regions or entire countries can connect.

We’d integrate additional entertainment elements like guest appearances or musical performances alongside live competitive gameplay before enthusiastic audiences. That represents the pinnacle of what we could achieve for the esports community.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » “Team Spirit did not win second TI with the same roster. So to me, it’s not the same”. Ceb on his love for trash-talk and beefs, ATF’s limitations, and OG’s mission "There's a lot of stress in playing with somebody that you care about and not winning".