watson on communication in the carry role: “You can’t just play in silence; you have to take control.”
Kerry Team Yandex Alimzhan “watson” Islambekov spoke in an exclusive interview with OFFSTAGE after winning BLAST Slam VII about his experience playing with Dmitry “DM” Dorokhin, reminisced about his time with Gaimin Gladiators, and discussed the importance of communication in Dota 2.
About DM
Well, they can communicate more with Saks about the lane and their heroes. I think that’s the biggest difference [from Evgeny “Noticed” Ignatenko. — Ed.], that they can talk to each other. I think there’s more to it than that.
On playing for Gaimin Gladiators
Well, I can say I didn’t have any offers besides the “Gladiators,” and they were winning all the majors back then, took second place at The International, and won the Riyadh Masters 2024. So I just didn’t have any other offers.
[How hard is it in general to join a team that already has its own style?] I don’t know, when I first joined, the coach immediately told me: “Play the way you know how.” Well, that’s how we played, and we didn’t start telling each other what to do, what not to do, and so on.
[What’s the difference between GG and Team Yandex?] It’s more relaxed here, maybe because everyone gets along well with each other. At Gladiators, everyone got along well too, but when we were losing by a ten-thousand-gold lead, the voice chat got pretty intense. Here, there’s always something going on; there’s no apathy in the games.
On the importance of communication in Dota 2
A lot depends on the carry role. You can’t just play in silence; you have to take control. You have to build the game so that the team helps me, so that I can have a good game. That’s it.
- Read also: DM on the pro scene: “But I don’t think it’s dying out. Dota is in very good shape in the CIS.”
Team Yandex became the champion of BLAST Slam VII in Copenhagen, Denmark, defeating LGD Gaming 3-1 in the tournament’s grand final. The team took home the competition’s top prize—$300,000 for the players and $100,000 for the club.
