OG’s Journey at ESL One Birmingham
Despite their exit from ESL One Birmingham in the semifinals, OG enjoyed some spectacular games in front of the UK crowd. In an exclusive interview with Dot Esports, British Dota star Ari explored how the team built a stronger mentality, improved their performance, and made mistakes in a Greggs store.
Home Crowd Support and Tournament Performance
Unsurprisingly, Ari was showered with love from his home crowd, an experience he described as ‘weird,’ ‘strange,’ but, ultimately, ‘fun.’ The player also expressed his delight at the relief from jet lag and long travel times. However, these benefits didn’t overshadow the intensity of the game. As Ari put it, “Once you’re in the game, it’s just the same thing. You’re just in the game… You don’t really think about winning. You don’t really think about the stakes. You just think about the game in front of you.”
OG’s Tournament Progress
ESL One Birmingham’s opening stage saw OG claim the top spot in Group B through consistency, winning one game against Xtreme Gaming and drawing with their other opponents. The team suffered no series losses until they faced BetBoom in the upper bracket semifinals, and they bounced back in the lower bracket quarters by dominating G2.iG.
Building Towards Future Success
“If you do well in a tournament, especially a major one like ESL Birmingham, it gives you a baseline for going forward. You can think, okay, we did well here. Why did we do well here? What can we repeat? That gives you the groundwork for going forward to future tournaments.” Ari was optimistic about the challenges to come and emphasized the importance of team structure in achieving success.
OG didn’t snatch the ESL One Birmingham title for their efforts, but their performance still warrants recognition. Despite not winning, their display of cohesive communication and a healthy team dynamic in their matches was commendable.
Team Dynamics and Leadership
OG has consistently worked towards improving their team dynamic, with Ari acknowledging that it has taken time for the team to click. He praised their team captain, Ceb, for his leadership and experience in Dota 2.
Ari’s confidence in OG is further boosted by his respect for Ceb. With Ceb’s extensive experience in the game, Ari sees him as a guiding force for the team, bringing them back to focus on the game and maintaining a strong team spirit.
A Culinary Misadventure
While Ceb leads the team on the battleground, Ari took on the role of a guide during their time in the UK. However, his attempt to introduce his team to the delights of Greggs, a popular British bakery, backfired when his manager made a questionable pastry choice, much to Ari’s dismay.
Looking Ahead
ESL One Birmingham will conclude with BetBoom facing Falcons in a dominant position after a successful tournament run. Teams will now continue their journey to Riyadh and the Esports World Cup, with Ari and OG striving to secure their place and compete for their share of the prize pool.