Malr1ne on Team Falcons: “I wouldn’t say anything has changed; we’re just playing one tournament after another.”
In an interview at the Esports World Cup 2026, players from Team Falcons and Team Spirit discussed their preparations for the grand finals and their second-place finishes in tournaments.
On preparing for the grand finals
Larl: It’s just a regular game—no special preparation. I just play, and that’s it. <...> You just play and give it your all. No need to overthink it.
On how the team has changed over the past year
Malr1ne: Our approach hasn’t changed, but there’s less stress overall. Except for Ammar [ATF]. I wouldn’t say anything has changed; we’re just playing tournament after tournament. At first you’re excited, then you get tired. As for Riyadh, I respect that tournament, and I enjoy playing in it, but let’s be honest—TI is more important as an achievement that people value more. Riyadh is second on the list.
ATF: Nothing’s changing on the team—it’s still the same five NPCs, plus one more as a coach. We’ll give it our all and play the game like robots. If we lose, we’ll disband the team; a win will lower the chance of that happening.
On finishing second in the competition
Malr1ne: I’d rather finish 3rd or 4th than 2nd. Third place is best because you stay in the tournament until the last day, but you don’t stop at second—you’re just one step away from victory.
ATF: I’m grateful for second place. I don’t understand why everyone says they don’t want to finish there. I appreciate it—just let me play on the last day, in the grand final. Whether we get crushed or come close to winning—it doesn’t matter. The hardest part is only when you’re the one who caused the loss in the grand final.
The 2026 Dota 2 Esports World Cup is taking place from July 7 to 19, with a $2 million prize pool. The festival was originally planned to be held in Riyadh, but the organizers later moved it to Paris.
