posted by Jaywalker

This is the story of a team's formation, fall, reformation, effort, and success.

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- Formation -

Kuronity, Matrim, syndereN, pepp3, Grunt.

- Fall -

Team Shakira in Dreamhack Winter 2011

I think the old Western Wolves didn't work out, or lets say it didn't work as well as we wanted it to was because of many factors. First of all, dedication and practice. We did practice but not as seriously and professionally and did not focus on the right aspects of the game. Some players also had skill problems and did not practice on their own. Finally, I guess we lacked experience and understanding of the game, but that came with achievements, more matches, and wins. I think the old Western Wolves didn't work out, or lets say it didn't work as well as we wanted it to was because of many factors. First of all, dedication and practice. We did practice but not as seriously and professionally and did not focus on the right aspects of the game. Some players also had skill problems and did not practice on their own. Finally, I guess we lacked experience and understanding of the game, but that came with achievements, more matches, and wins.

- Sébastien '7ckngMad' Debs

- Reformation -

When I was still in Western Wolves, syndereN contacted me because he was trying to rebuild mTw, but I told him I wasn't interested. However, wW started to go downhill. With Mad, we used a lot of time to figure out what was going on, and it seemed that people were less motivated to the game, and simply stopped coming to practice. We decided to start from scratch, and when synd was available, we contacted him. When I was still in Western Wolves, syndereN contacted me because he was trying to rebuild mTw, but I told him I wasn't interested. However, wW started to go downhill. With Mad, we used a lot of time to figure out what was going on, and it seemed that people were less motivated to the game, and simply stopped coming to practice. We decided to start from scratch, and when synd was available, we contacted him.

- Titouan 'Sockshka' Merloz

Socks and I have been in the same team for quite a while now, approximately one year. We always aimed to 'build' a top team, that could play at the top European level at least. Of course, participating in The International was part of our project. With wW being really unstable and not showing the results we wanted, we had to try very different players to change the roster. Although the changes did not work, everytime we tried a different roster we learned something.



We thought of Kebap first because we played some games with him, and it became obvious quickly that he would fit well into the line-up. He is a great player, with huge experience. Even more importantly, he is a good support player, and that's very rare. As for syndereN, we didn't think about him at first because he had a team. But we noticed that his team wasn't working, and Socks played some scrims with him and we both noticed that he was not only really good, but also a very good captain, keeping calm under any situation and that's something we lacked in wW.



Socks and I asked Kebap and synd if they were interested in joining the team we were about to create. We told them from the beginning that the aim of this team would be to play at the top level, and would require intensive practice and dedication to the game for at least one to two monthes. Socks and I have been in the same team for quite a while now, approximately one year. We always aimed to 'build' a top team, that could play at the top European level at least. Of course, participating in The International was part of our project. With wW being really unstable and not showing the results we wanted, we had to try very different players to change the roster. Although the changes did not work, everytime we tried a different roster we learned something.We thought of Kebap first because we played some games with him, and it became obvious quickly that he would fit well into the line-up. He is a great player, with huge experience. Even more importantly, he is a good support player, and that's very rare. As for syndereN, we didn't think about him at first because he had a team. But we noticed that his team wasn't working, and Socks played some scrims with him and we both noticed that he was not only really good, but also a very good captain, keeping calm under any situation and that's something we lacked in wW.Socks and I asked Kebap and synd if they were interested in joining the team we were about to create. We told them from the beginning that the aim of this team would be to play at the top level, and would require intensive practice and dedication to the game for at least one to two monthes.

- Sébastien '7ckngMad' Debs

Things hadn't been going well with the old mTw. We had been trying various things and players out, but it simply didn't work. Sometimes you need change, and Socks and Mad contacted me as wW had also been having some trouble. We tried playing some games together and I was really satisfied with the dedication and motivation of the players, so I decided to go for it. Things hadn't been going well with the old mTw. We had been trying various things and players out, but it simply didn't work. Sometimes you need change, and Socks and Mad contacted me as wW had also been having some trouble. We tried playing some games together and I was really satisfied with the dedication and motivation of the players, so I decided to go for it.

- Troels 'syndereN' Nielsen

I felt that our results was ok for a new team. After the first practice with both syndereN and Kebap, I have always been confident in the team. We did well in some small cups, like 4PL where we beat CLG and reach the final against M5. We also finished well in the first season of StarLadder. But for us it was always clear, we had to practice a lot to catch up with the top teams and we knew we needed time. I wasn't nervous or anxious, the merger to me was a good thing. I felt that our results was ok for a new team. After the first practice with both syndereN and Kebap, I have always been confident in the team. We did well in some small cups, like 4PL where we beat CLG and reach the final against M5. We also finished well in the first season of StarLadder. But for us it was always clear, we had to practice a lot to catch up with the top teams and we knew we needed time. I wasn't nervous or anxious, the merger to me was a good thing.

- Titouan 'Sockshka' Merloz

For a completely newly merged team, I think our results were good. We got off to a good start beating some of the strong teams of the time, while of course also losing some. That's how it always goes. As to whether it was the 'right' decision, it was really clear to me that this team was the one with the most potential. For a completely newly merged team, I think our results were good. We got off to a good start beating some of the strong teams of the time, while of course also losing some. That's how it always goes. As to whether it was the 'right' decision, it was really clear to me that this team was the one with the most potential.

- Troels 'syndereN' Nielsen

"Will the new mTw even last?"

"Will the new team perform well?"

"Will this be a new journey for mTw?"

Sockshka, Funzii, 7ckngmad, Kebap, syndereN.

Troels '' Nielsen,Titouan '' Merloz,Sébastien '' Debs,Thibault '' Calonne,Rene ‘' Werner. These names are well known throughout the community now, after their sensational triumphs. First it was winning, then securing an invite to, and finally the champions of. But the start of the story does not include all five members. It started with a completely different team, and it started withAfter a two year absence, the community could finally rejoice when it was announced on November 1st, 2011 that Dota 2 will be featured inagain. Dota 2 was a very new game, and very few established teams were present. Four teams were invited:, and. 4 more teams would join from the BYOC qualifiers.Looking back at this list of invites, there is no doubt that this year's 12 team invites looks much more formidable.Perhaps the biggest name of the teams attending the BYOC qualifiers was. The team had fourplayers and the former captain of(which becomes SK).WHB consisted ofTroels '' Nielsen,Petter '' Nyström,Sebastian '' Sundström,Björn '' Forsberg, andRickard '' Vuolikainen. And just like this, a fairytale took place in DreamHack Winter 2011. A BYOC team defeated SK in the semifinals and Fnatic in the finals.It should also be noted that 7ckngMad, Funzii, and Sockshka were all members of Team Shakira which finished fourth, little do they know that they will one day be teammates with the Danish captain.Winning DreamHack was a big achievement, and shortly after the tournament it was world reknowned gaming organisationthat decided to sponsor WHB. Known for their success in games such as Counter Strike, mTw had decided to test the waters in Dota 2.The future looked great as the newly sponsored team exhibited dominating performances, notably during the first group stage of, finishing with a 5-0 score.Sadly, those days will not last. Just as the meta-game changes, teams began to adopt new strategies whilst mTw could not do so successfully. The second group stage ofsaw them go 0-5, and knocked out of the competition. Something was wrong, and change was needed.Reformations came as mTw droppedSebastian '' Sundström andBjörn '' Forsberg, picking upMichael [B]'Tulex'[/B] Zima andTobias [B]'BENTZER'[/B] Bentzer. Despite having bold goals, the team never truly gained momentum and could not perform. It was then when the French trio fromdecided to discuss a possible merger with syndereN.After long periods of steady play, Team Shakira was rewarded with the sponsorship from Western Wolves. wW was always participating and achieving decent results in tournaments, however the French always lacked a certain ingredient to breakthrough to the top.[I][/I]The original wW team had consisted ofTitouan '' Merloz,Sébastien '' Debs,Thibault '' Calonne,Petiet '' Pierre-Baptiste, andL'Hotellier '' Antoine. Dhany was replaced later withNorman '' Zörner, but the team was still not able to achieve the results they were hoping for.With both mTw and wW not working out, a possible merger was discussed.The new team certainly had potential and practiced a lot. mTw's impressive work ethics began to win fans over and their performances improved dramatically. Their first breakthrough came withhosted by. They were able to defeatandand win $1000. Although arguably not featuring the best teams, the triumph was a mental boost that mTw needed.Amidst all questions, five men continued their journey of reformation. As the team continued to work tirelessly, performances and synergy began to improve. mTw's journey would reach its climax as they compete in The International West Qualifier, and DreamHack Summer 2012.ends here, but the real story begins in part 2. Stay tuned!