Boxi Talks Majors, Finals and New Dota 2 Patch

The ESL Berlin Main has been some of the anticipated Dota 2 occasions of the 12 months, and for good purpose. Day 2 of Playoffs noticed OG lose out to EG, 9 Pandas misstep in opposition to Gaimin Gladiators and eventually, South America’s final hope fell to Crew Liquid.

Among the many gamers on the primary stage was Boxi from Crew Liquid, a Dota 2 veteran with years of expertise below his belt. The ESL Berlin Major isn’t his first rodeo!

We obtained the prospect to take a seat down with him earlier than his recreation on day 2 of the ESL Berlin Main and get his tackle town, the Main and all issues 7.33b!

How are you having fun with Berlin up to now?

Boxi: Berlin has been good. I haven’t been outdoors that a lot, largely simply on the resort or the venue however I’ve been strolling round, I don’t know what the park is named, however subsequent to the Brandenburg Gate there’s this actually huge park so I’ve simply been strolling round it like 20 instances. Gotta get some daylight however 99% of my go to right here has been the park and the resort.

How is your expertise of the Main in Berlin in comparison with Lima up to now?

Boxi: The expertise in Lima was a bit of bit completely different than the opposite Majors. I believe with it being the primary time the event organisers deliberate the Main, there have been some minor hiccups however there have been quite a lot of passionate individuals concerned, individuals who actually needed to assist out and issues like that. ESL runs issues a bit of bit extra structured, there’s much less hiccups when it comes to journey or meals or the venue. I do know individuals at Peru complained concerning the venue. The primary couple of days there weren’t that many individuals there sadly however the crowd was very loud and it seemed like there have been much more. In Berlin, there are much more individuals however possibly they make rather less noise.

Peru was actually nice and it’s good to go to a brand new a part of the world. I’ve by no means been to South America earlier than. The meals and the fruit…the fruit is so-so. However I’ve by no means been to Berlin both so it’s enjoyable to go to a brand new place and the tournaments themselves. I imply each are cool, you present as much as a LAN and there are quite a lot of passionate followers!

Loads of Liquid followers within the venue. #LetsGoLiquid

Your run in Berlin has been a bit of completely different to Lima. How does it really feel to be going by way of the decrease bracket as an alternative of storming by way of the higher bracket?

Boxi: I believe in Peru we had been extra dominant or reasonably now, we’re much less dominant as a result of an enormous patch dropped and the sport modified fairly a bit. I believe generally you could lose to study as effectively about what works and what doesn’t work and I really feel like now we’ve figured it out a bit extra up to now within the decrease bracket run than we did within the group stage. In Peru, I suppose the sport was a bit of extra stale as a result of nature of the patch so there wasn’t as a lot to determine. In earlier tournaments, it was about honing what you already know.

When the patch dropped, we weren’t given quite a lot of discover. How did that change your strategy heading right into a Main?

Boxi: I believe it’s a must to be very open minded and possibly abandon what doesn’t work so nice. You want to adapt concepts which can be good or are working for different groups. In a patch that’s so new, you’re by no means going to determine all the things out immediately however in an older patch, I might say, you don’t wanna copy different groups as a lot. It’s a must to do what works for you and discover your individual methods. Now it’s extra like this factor is balanced, this factor may be very sturdy or this factor may be very dangerous. You kinda have to just accept that you just’re proper or settle for that you just’re fallacious.

You’re going to face off in opposition to both EG or OG later tonight. In case you might choose one, who would you choose?

Boxi: I believe OG looks as if the crew we’re extra acquainted with. Maybe from taking part in within the European DPC and we’ve performed in opposition to them rather a lot. However they do have two stand ins, which appears to be a buff to their crew. I don’t know, I used to be a bit of amazed that they misplaced their first recreation in opposition to EG. However then they received the second simply. It was a loopy draft in recreation one. I really feel it’s higher for us to play in opposition to one thing that’s much less wild. I want to play against OG however I wouldn’t say I actually have a choice or that one crew is healthier than the opposite, it’s about what we’re acquainted with.

After our interview with Boxi, Crew Liquid went on to play Evil Geniuses within the decrease bracket semi finals. They got here out on prime with a fast and decisive 2-0. Boxi himself placed on a powerful efficiency as Oracle and Mirana in each video games.

Now, Liquid heads straight into the decrease bracket finals in opposition to 9 Pandas. If Team Liquid win, followers will see a repeat of the Lima Main grand finals with Liquid’s full crew able to tackle GG. There’s nonetheless an extended day of Dota 2 left to play on the ESL Berlin Main!