The greatest desire is still to win: DK, the forlorn kings [17173]

Dotaland note: Small feature/opinion piece reflecting on DK…

Original: http://dota2.17173.com/news/12042012/175256792.shtml

As champions of nine events in 2011, the kings DK have performed less than ideally in 2012; after winning G-1 2012 Season 1, they’ve spent a long period of time away from the top.

G-League, ACE Dota Pro League, the Dota2 International 2, the three big events of this summer all saw DK fall short of their goal. Worse, apart from the G-League, they failed to even make the finals. “A team cannot perpetually be in good form, it’s quite normal to see a drop, and participating in both Dota1 and Dota2 is a big factor as well,” DK’s manager Farseer said at the time.

At the same time as WCG China region finals were going on, DK announced that they were officially transitioning to Dota2, and this paved the path for DK to focus on preparation for the upcoming WCG World Finals.

On the 29th of November, WCG 2012 World Finals officially kicked off. In the Dota2 competition, DK was placed in a group with Orange and the Ukrainian team led by Dendi, this group was commonly seen as this competition’s group of death. In the first group stage match, DK comfortably defeated Orange, and following that they also achieved a win over Team Ukraine, thus defeating in succession both of the major threats to their advancement from the group and securing a certain spot in the next stage as leaders of their group. “Our preparations for this WCG have been excellent, we’re have a lot of confidence that we will win it all,” were the words BurNing declared after the group stage.

In the semi-finals, DK’s opponents would be team DevilMice from Belarus. This match was, like the matches before, without suspense as DK achieved a complete 2-0 victory to advance to the finals. And, with their match complete, DK enthusiastically went to spectate the other on-going semi-final match between iG and Orange.

In the finals matchup, DK once again met their rivals iG. In both G-League and The International 2, it was defeats to iG that stopped DK’s progress, and so here DK swore to overcome their adversaries… “This WCG is the first to include Dota2 competition, and at the same time is held in China, so it has special meaning. We absolutely must take the championship,” were the desires that DK.Farseer put into words beforehand.

On the day of the match, because of time constraints, the first game of DK vs iG was played in the off-stage competition area. In this game, iG used a Magnus and Brewmaster combo to successfully delay their opponents, leaving ample room for their Anti-mage to grow; and as Anti-mage got built up, iG gradually took the game to a win for themselves.

On the 2nd of December around 11AM, the second game between these two teams began to play out on othe main stage. Under the gaze of thousands of live audience viewers, iG once again drafted the Magnus Brewmaster combo, but this time it was clear that DK had made adjustments — they held an early advantage. Yet, as the game went on, iG’s overall roster superiority gradually began to show, and even though DK resolutely stood firm in defense for a time, they ultimately fell once again in front of iG……

The glories of 2011, the pities of 2012… the ‘Galacticos’ of Dota have fallen from such heights a year ago to such depths recently. Even though DK has placed decently in most competitions this year, it is certain that what they want the most is that long-lost championship title.

GEST Dota features both LGD.cn and LGD.int

Just a quick update… LGD and LGD.int both play today in the GEST Dota competition, hosted by our friends at Dotatalk… LGD.int is up first (live now) against Orange, LGD.cn will go against MUFC later in the day.

English stream at http://www.twitch.tv/beyondthesummit — Chinese stream at http://www.fengyunzhibo.com/tv/kentdota2.htm

iG vs DK shouting match at WCG… ChuaN cameo

Original: http://17173.tv.sohu.com/v/1/11681/138/MTM4MzQwMw==

In this short video, a rare direct glimpse into the sight and sounds of top teams as they compete, we see iG and DK playing at WCG 2012… then they get into a shouting match of sorts. They’re shouting commands to their respective teammates at first, then their shouts become more targeted towards what the other team is shouting. And then in the last bit, ChuaN, who is not playing for iG at WCG, gives his voice in support of iG. All in a sort of joking manner from both sides, but very intense still, and it shows the rivalry. I think I lost 3 pounds just from watching that.

Dotaland weekly recap Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2012

In a week dominated by WCG 2012 World Finals in Kunshan, China, and news of the legendary ZSMJ’s confirmed return, it has been an eventful week. WCG makes TV news in China, ZSMJ’s new team details, interviews, and more. Check out all Dotaland posts from this past week below!

For continuous coverage and translations from the Chinese Dota2 scene, follow or bookmark Dotaland.net.

Nov 26,

G-League qualifiers over, group stage groups revealed, vods

DK, LGD, and LGD.int all in same group. Vods from prelim stages.

Nov 27

SGamer interviews manager of newcomers Vici Gaming

The former pro player turned manager talks about the new team, their setup, training, and more…

Nov 28

TongFu.Hao pre-WCG interview

Part of a few pre-WCG interviews translated here…

EHOME.71 retires, leaving all to wonder about EHOME

A few days late on this, seems to have gone under the radar. But things aren’t looking good for one of the oldest names in gaming…

Nov 29

Pre-WCG interview with DK.BurNing

Part of a few pre-WCG interviews translated here…

Pre-WCG interview with iG.430

Part of a few pre-WCG interviews translated here…

ZSMJ IS BACK

The man himself confirms that he is indeed back, and building a new team with sponsors!

Nov 30

This video has ChuaN and Dendi, at WCG

Cute little interview with ChuaN acting as a translator for Dendi at WCG…

Dec 1

Chisbug reveals a little more on ZSMJ’s new team…

Three confirmed members, LGD as sponsors?

178 interview with Dendi at WCG

Dendi’s impression of China and the people, and more…

WCG 2012 World Finals in Kunshan makes Chinese mainstream TV news

Yes it did, nightly news on a main channel too…

Dec 3

Mini video interview with ZSMJ at WCG translated with subtitles

See what the god himself looks and sounds like today…

WCG 2012 World Finals in Kunshan makes Chinese mainstream TV news

Original: http://dota2.sgamer.com/video/201212/31756.html

Short clip, introduces the event and its purpose, notes that WCG promotes ‘healthy online gaming’, and then gives a little background on Chinese performance this year and last year. Main point here is that this was on CCTV-1, the main channel of CCTV, which is China’s official media entity. It was also broadcast during the nightly news, so pretty big influence.

178 interview with Dendi at WCG

Original: http://dota2.178.com/201211/148269962870.html

Q: Hello Dendi, thank you for accepting 178’s interview. This is your first time visiting Kunshan right? What first impressions do you have of this city?

Dendi: Hello. To be honest, I don’t yet have much of an impression, because I came here directly after getting off the plane.

Q: Then how do you feel about the atmosphere of the event here?

Dendi: Very nice, although it feels like there are relatively few people. But Chinese viewers are very passionate.

Q: Previously we heard that the Ukrainian team’s travel visas encountered some issues, can you explain what happened?

Dendi: Ok, because we were coming directly after playing at Dreamhack, schedules were very cramped, so at the airport when we spoke with the customs officer we were told that our visas had problems. After hearing that, we begged them and asked them in every way, and finally the second day they allowed us to go.

Q: Has this mishap affected you guys at all, are you tired at all? Does it affect your form?

Dendi: No, not at all. Conversely, we actually got quite a bit of rest time during the day that we spent waiting, we passed it quite luxuriously, so there aren’t any problems.

Q: The Ukrainian team this time is pieced together with players from different teams, how do you feel about the team’s ability level? How is your teamwork coming along, did you engage in any special training for WCG?

Dendi: These players and I go back quite far, and players like goblin are long-time veterans, lots of experience, so their ability is absolutely solid. The only thing we lack is team understanding, because time has been quite tight so we never had any previous practice. We’ll have to learn as we compete; let’s see if there will be good results.

Q: Actually, you have practiced! Just now at the Dota2 expo booth here, weren’t you guys grouped up in a match?

Dendi: Haha, that was just for fun.

Q: Then tell us about your Void just now… why did you build Arcane boots and two Blades of Attack?

Dendi: Playing pubs is just for fun, so I built whatever I felt like building, plus Void does really have mana problems!!

Q: In your latest match in WCG, your team easily defeated a Mongolian team, talk a bit about that match.

Dendi: It was alright, but the internet at the live event really is horrid. The screen was stuttering back and forth, this really affects our performance.

Q: In your group, there are two other powerhouses in Orange and DK, do you think you have a good chance at advancing from the group?

Dendi: I can’t really say, we can only try our best, and beat at least one of DK or Orange.

Q: At this WCG, which team do you think will take the title?

Dendi: DK or iG I think, Orange has a chance too. Of course we are good as well *laughs*

Q: Is this your first time participating in a WCG World Finals? What are your thoughts on Dota2’s first appearance as an official competition?

Dendi: I’m very excited, after all WCG is an old-school big name competition. As for Dota2 being added in, I can only say one thing: it’s cool!!!

Q: Next up we’re gonna head into gossip hour. Your style and personality has won quite a bit of fame and following, and a lot of Chinese girls like you a lot, did you know this?

Dendi: Haha, I didn’t know

Q: Well then, do you like China’s girls? Any considerations of finding yourself a Chinese girlfriend?

Dendi: It’s possible, Chinese girls are quite nice, for example there are many hotties right here at this venue, haha.

Q: Alright, I can only say I wish you good luck then. Thank you Dendi for the interview, we hope you will bring us more exciting play.

Dendi: Thank you. Nihao, wo ai ni (spoken in Chinese by Dendi here, means Hello, I love you)

Chisbug reveals a little more on ZSMJ’s new team… three confirmed members, sponsored by LGD as well?

Original: http://fight.pcgames.com.cn/warcraft/dota/interview/1211/2700000.html

Q: Hello, CH! Long time no see!

CH: Indeed, it truly has been quite a while.

Q: As ChuaN-god’s replacement for iG here at WCG, how do you feel?

CH: I think quite honored, after large-scale competitions like WCG aren’t many, and I’ve really been hungry for a return to the battlefield, to enjoy the rush brought about by competing.

Q: Yesterday, ZSMJ confirmed at the Perfect World Dota2 expo booth that he was returning to competitive Dota, can you talk about how your new team’s creation is coming along?

CH: Indeed, ZSMJ first contacted, and I was very glad to help him. Our goals are the same. Right now the team only has three players, [in addition to myself and ZSMJ], the other player currently is a Zhensan (Dotaland note: Zhensan is a Warcraft 3 mod similar to Dota, using Romance of the Three Kingdoms lore) player named Show. We’re currently searching for the other two players. The hope is to complete the team by the end of the year.

Q: Have you found sponsors for the new team?

CH: The team’s sponsor situation is exceptionally stable, the base will be in Tianjin. Currently the team name also has LGD in it, it will take the format of LGD.XXX (the specific details beyond this cannot be revealed yet)

Q: Speaking of, thinking back to originally when iG’s new roster excluded your name, what was the feeling like?

CH: To be honest, really sad and disappointed. The only thing I could do while sitting at home with nothing to do was to play a few pubs, at that time the ladder system had just debuted, I remember I was ranked top 10 or so.

Q: Well, we wish for you to continue your efforts and good luck in your career!

CH: Thank you, this is why I’ve come back!

This video has ChuaN and Dendi, at WCG

Unable to play in WCG, ChuaN is hanging out. Here he’s been recruited as an emergency translator as GTV’s Xiaoyou attempts to interview Dendi! I make no judgment of the interviewer. lol. Dendi shows off his limited Chinese skills, all in all good fun.

Rough transcript below (actually not that rough).

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDgyMTM4NDE2.html

Rough transcript (including the obvious English parts for completeness):

0:18 Xiaoyou: Here we are fortunate enough to get an interview with NaVi’s Dendi, representing the Ukrainian team in Dota2 at WCG, a player that everyone loves. First off let’s have him say hi to everyone!

0:33 Dendi: Hello, I am Danil Ishutin, I play for NaVi, at this WCG I play for Ukraine.

0:42 Xiaoyou: Oh, I forgot to mention, this here we have ChuaN who is serving as our special translator, give him a shot. Okay, good, thank you to him for the hard work.

0:49 Xiaoyou: *laughs* Really, the two of them have a great relationship, we can all see this. Anyway, we’d like to ask Dendi, how many times have you visited China?

0:55 Dendi: Twice before, yeah…

1:02 Xiaoyou: Then can you speak any Chinese?

1:04 Dendi: Yeah of course — Nihao (means hello), wo ai ni (means I love you)… … …

1:09 Xiaoyou: *laughs* Well, thank you! I’m so touched that I’ve knocked this thing of my mic…

1:14 Xiaoyou: So he’s said everything I want to hear, and now I’m blushing >.<

1:20 Xiaoyou: Now that this is your third time here, can you tell us your impression of China?

1:22 Dendi: Mmm, it’s pretty good. Only been here one day so far this time.

1:34 Xiaoyou: Then… you like China?

1:40 Dendi: Yeah! Of course! *nods*

1:44 Xiaoyou: *laughs* I really want him to say a bit more! Then let’s ask him his impression of the girls here in China.

1:54 Dendi: China girls are very cute.

2:00 Xiaoyou: Ohh, yes, I see. *embarrassed* When he said that he glanced at me!! Nah, just kidding.

2:04 Xiaoyou: Okay, let’s ask some real questions. You’re here for the Dota2 competition, representing Ukraine. Then, were there any special preparations before coming here to compete?

2:16 Dendi: *ooooh points at ChuaN accusingly (he thought ChuaN mistranslated on purpose to ‘steal’ practice secrets, joke of course)* Well, we have some strategies in mind but we didn’t practice at all.

2:30 Xiaoyou: Ah. So when he pointed at you just now, it was because you are iG and he was accusing you of trying to sabotage them?

2:36 ChuaN: Yeah.

2:36 Xiaoyou: Ohh. We can see that Dendi is indeed very smart. Okay then, now I want to ask a bit about iG. At TI2 in Seattle you guys ended up losing to iG to take 2nd place, did you do any extra analysis of iG afterwards?

2:53 Dendi: We tried to realize what went wrong, and so on, yeah.

3:03 Xiaoyou: At this competition, who do you think is your biggest threat?

3:08 Dendi: ChuaN is my bodyguard! Eh, DK, Orange, and iG… but without ChuaN, iG’s chances are … *shrugs laughingly*

3:22 Xiaoyou: Indeed. So without ChuaN iG is not threat to them, is that what he means?

3:34 Dendi: No I’m joking, iG is strong of course…

3:38 Xiaoyou: Okay, at last, because there are many many fans that really love Dendi, we hope that Dendi can say some words to all those fans of his.

3:47 Dendi: … I love you too! *smiles*

3:51 Xiaoyou: Oh… is that all? I want him to say more, because this competition is an important one, how about he says some stuff to add oil for his own team here?

3:59 Dendi: Yeah, we understand that it is big, and we will try our best. *shrugs*

4:13 Xiaoyou: And we also hope that he will achieve his results, and not let all us fans down!

4:20 Dendi: Yeah, thank you.

4:25 Xiaoyou: Okay then. We hope everyone plays well. This was an on-site report brought to you by GTV.

ZSMJ IS BACK

Original: http://dota.178.com/201211/148172451477.html

ZSMJ is at WCG in person, and 178’s reporters got an interview with in and asked about his forming of a new team, let us see what he has to say.

178: Thank you for accepting our interview ZSMJ. Long time now see, want to say hello to everyone?

ZSMJ: Hello everyone, I am ZSMJ. Very happy that I could be at the WCG Finals here.

178: You’ve been retired for a fair amount of time, can you reveal anything about your life after retirement, have you gotten used to a Dota-less lifestyle?

ZSMJ: For the past bit of time I’ve had a steady job, so I’ve been passing my days as an ordinary person. No matter if my choice is to play professionally or to retire, the choices are my own, so I can get used to it all.

178: Lately, rumors of your return to the Dota scene have attracted widespread attention, have you decided to come back?

ZSMJ: Yes. Here I can give everyone a definite answer, and my new team is under construction right now.

178: What were the reasons behind deciding to come back? Is it because in your heart you could never let Dota go, or Dota2’s massive prize pool competitions?

ZSMJ: Actually it’s none of those. It can only be said to be an alignment of the stars, a well-timed return of a friend, who successfully talked me into it, which ultimately allowed me to decide to return.

178: Can you reveal anything about the process of forming your new team?

ZSMJ: The final 5 man roster hasn’t been confirmed yet, because in the current scene it’s still quite hard to find suitable people. Personally speaking, once the team is formed, then the only goal is to strive for championships, nothing else.

178: How much experience have you had with Dota2, have you already gotten used to it?

ZSMJ: Started playing it about a month ago, getting used to it requires a process, and I firmly believe that as long as I continue practicing, I will for sure become good at this game.

178: Previously there have been vods of your Dota2 play, and there were comments saying that your ability had declined, do you feel the same way?

ZSMJ: I don’t feel so. Perhaps expectations for me are too high, resulting in a gap between that and reality. But really, this is a process for me to get back into it, plus Dota2 for me is starting from scratch, added to the time that I had been retired, so of course there will be a period of time I need to find my form. I believe in myself, and I ask everyone to also believe in me.

178: How much time do you spend now on Dota2?

ZSMJ: Apart from eating and sleeping, all I do is play Dota2. I am a very focused person, if I decide to go do something, it can be the only thing I ever spend my time on.

178: In matchmaking have you bumped up against other professional players? What is your win rate like against them?

ZSMJ: We all win some, lose some I think. Because you still have to look at my pub teammates’ performances. Players like those from iG, DK, LGD have all had more time with Dota2, so they’re certainly more experienced with the game than I am. What I can do now is to simply take every match seriously, get used to Dota2 more quickly, I believe hard work will pay off.

178: In the past you had released a few Dota first person commentary vods, have you had thoughts of becoming a commentator?

ZSMJ: I can say with certainty, no. My first person vods are completely done out of my own interest, to thank everyone for supporting me. But now I’ve decided to come back, so my focus is entirely on practicing, so in the future I probably won’t be updating any vods.

178: Okay, thank you 马甲哥 (Majiage, his Steam name for quite a while, means ‘vest dude’ literally, but also means ‘sockpuppet bro’  — thanks reddit user Rice_22). At the last, say a few words for all your fans.

ZSMJ: Thank you to everyone for still remembering me and wondering about me. This year of ordinary life has allowed me to learn a lot. No matter what, the most important thing is following your interests, and you must have passion for it. I will not let your hopes down. Once my new team is confirmed, I hope that you will support us all too.