Whitemon: “I feel that Bzm and ATF are like good friends, they’re just joking around in allchat”

In an exclusive interview conducted at the FISSURE Playground 1 — Dota tournament in Belgrade, we sat down with Mathew “Whitemon” Filemon, the strategic support player for Tundra Esports. The conversation occurred on February 1 following Tundra’s impressive qualification for the grand finals, where Whitemon provided candid insights into their tournament journey, team dynamics, and the fascinating interactions between professional players during high-stakes matches.

— You found yourself fighting for survival during the group stage. Was it a surprise for you and why do you think that happened?

— The group stage performance definitely caught us off guard. We anticipated a stronger start given our preparation and recent form. The best-of-one format introduces significant volatility where single mistakes can determine outcomes. Our draft execution contained some miscalculations initially, but we identified the issues quickly. Beyond hero selection, our in-game execution suffered from unnecessary aggression and positioning errors that led to preventable deaths. Through focused team discussions and strategic adjustments, we managed to correct our course and regain competitive form.

— During the qualifiers you looked like an unbeatable team compared to other European teams, Do you feel that now the level of the European qualifiers went down?

— European qualification tournaments maintain their competitive intensity with numerous skilled squads competing. AVULUS, OG, and NAVI Junior all present legitimate challenges. However, we discovered that premier tournaments offer superior developmental opportunities compared to qualifiers. The elevated competition level forces rapid adaptation and strategic evolution that qualifiers cannot replicate.

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— What’s the difference? Do you work differently or do real competitive games make you move, to become better faster?

— The distinction lies in the quality of opposition and stakes involved. Facing world-class teams accelerates learning through exposure to diverse strategies and playstyles. We analyze tournament matches extensively, discussing adaptations and implementing improvements immediately. This rapid iteration cycle produces measurable skill development that qualifiers cannot match.

— In Belgrade, you lost to Falcons, and the previous tournament. Was it kind of personal for you now?

— We maintain professional focus rather than emotional reactions to previous results. The earlier tournament loss resulted from preventable errors in critical moments, particularly in game five where victory was within reach. Rather than dwelling on past outcomes, we concentrate on current performance and strategic execution. Each match represents a new opportunity rather than revenge scenarios.

— Bzm and Ammar were in OG, and according to some information, Bzm didn’t want to play with ATF. Did he say something that this game might be personal for him?

— Based on my observations, Bzm and Ammar maintain a friendly relationship despite their competitive history. Their all-chat interactions during matches appear to be lighthearted banter between former teammates rather than genuine conflict. Professional players often engage in psychological games that spectators might misinterpret as animosity.

— So, there are still three more teams left in this event. Who would you prefer to face in the grand final the most? And who do you think will make it there?

— I would prefer competing against Parivision in the championship match. They demonstrate solid team coordination and strategic depth that would provide an engaging final series. However, tournament progression suggests we’ll likely encounter Falcons once more based on current bracket positioning [laughs].

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