SVG on XinQ: “I don’t think Vici Gaming would have made it to The International without him.”

Commentators Avery “SVG” Silverman and Austin “Cap” Walsh discussed Vici Gaming’s support player Zhao “XinQ” Zixing and the Natus Vincere team on the Not For Broadcast podcast.
On XinQ
SVG: Some might say it’s pretty hard to predict which players will make the decisive plays that help a team qualify for TI, and what exactly makes the difference in those moments. And some can’t, Austin. Some just can’t. Someone might say that XinQ has been the most valuable player from China over the past two years. That’s a pretty bold statement, but I’m sure there are people who think so and continue to hold that opinion. Can you think of anyone, Austin?
Cap: You mean, who said that? Fogged probably did. I know Fogged really likes XinQ.
SVG: In any case, I like being right, and I feel once again that in this qualifier cycle, my assessment of this player as China’s most valuable has proven correct. I don’t think Vici Gaming would have made it to The International without him. He’s a communication leader and a very clutch player. Even when he’s not at his best, he still makes the plays that win games. So kudos to them for picking him up. I’m glad I’ll get to see my buddy XinQ at TI again—it’s always a pleasure. And, Austin, if you could just admit that I was right, I’d appreciate it.
Cap: No, thanks.
SVG: Okay, never mind, let’s move on. God, you’re a terrible friend. Do you even realize that? You don’t support me at all. Everyone thinks they support me, but they don’t.
About Miposhka as Team Spirit’s coach
Cap: Did you see that Miposhka is back at Team Spirit as a coach?
SVG: I think you could tell from the drafts. Their drafts are once again more about making Yatoro a super-carry, like they used to be. She’s clearly gone back to that approach, and it’s probably good for her. If he’s really in charge of everything—and it seems like he is—then Team Spirit looks solid. They don’t look unbeatable, but they’re consistent.
On Natus Vincere in the qualifiers for The International 2026
SVG: Natus Vincere looked like they were struggling in the elimination round—this team right now is just… It seems like they’ll either fall apart or make some changes. They’ve failed in several qualifiers, and it feels like they’re regressing rather than improving. So I don’t know. Expectations for MOUZ may have been too high, but they won two maps and lost to Yellow Submarine and NAVI, and NAVI then lost to HULIGANI (L1GA TEAM). So, it seems like she’s really falling behind. And the team also looks like it’s in disarray.
Earlier, commentators Avery “SVG” Silverman and Austin “Cap” Walsh discussed the “Dark Carnival” event, the state of PvE content and cosmetic items in Dota 2, as well as the impact of these decisions on the atmosphere leading up to The International 2026.
Photo: Valve.


