flamewheel Profile Joined December 2009 FREEAGLELAND 1619 Posts #1 Just grabbed a short interview with Loda before they play the finals.



Congrats on sweeping the group stage and moving straight into the finals! How are you feeling today?

We're feeling great, and I'm really confident. We've proven so much as a team and we didn't expect to do this well, but at the same time we knew that we had to make use of the chance of going to G-1. We knew that we had to perform to get a good feeling of where we stand, as this tournament will decide how we prepare for TI3. Depending on results we might decide on bootcamping in China or Europe.



Thoughts on being called more stable than eastern carries?

I feel extremely honored, of course. The Chinese have always been very nice to me. There's no better thing than when they give you praise, because it means much more when the Chinese casters say it. The casters are all really good players and have a deep understanding of the game.



Is this your first time coming to China? What are your thoughts on Shanghai and the venue?

This is my second time in China; I was here four years ago in Beijing. I like Shanghai, and it has a lot of nice buildings. The air quality is better than Beijing's, but Sweden is still, of course, much better.



People are friendly and overall this experience has been really great. Fans are extremely enthusiastic and really support us. Some fans that I've here have been supporting me for five years or longer. I'm grateful to have the chance to be here. The venue is awesome; it's a large place and I really like that it's free for the Chinese to be here. It's easier to get a big crowd and production value is very high-quality. I don't understand Chinese at all but I love it.



It's currently game 2 of LGD vs Orange. The winner moves on to play you for the trophy. Who do you want to face, and why?

We'd rather play Orange because their playstyle is a bit more suited for us. They are more western than LGD and it's easier to predict how they move around the map. LGD's playstyle is annoying in the way they rely on Visage and Shadow Demon to control the trilanes. LGD is also really strong in 5v5 fights, as all their players are extremely clutch.



From the games you've played in G-1, which one was the most interesting for you?

The most interesting one was the one against LG. We really felt that we were at best even going into the game, or that LGD had the upper hand since they had been stomping every other team thus far. That game was very important, and we showed that we can always adapt our playstyles and play what we think is best, and it paid off. Cancer paid off.



If you win the finals, how will you celebrate? Will it coincide with celebrating Akke's birthday?

The thing is that we're leaving tomorrow at 9 in the morning so we have to get out of the hotel early. But we're going to try to have some time to get some drinks. Some other Chinese players wanted to go out but we're not going to go so hardcore this time.



Is there a set date you'll move into the team house? What's the plan for preparing for TI3?

There's no set date, but we've been discussing back and forth for a long time now. Last update is that we wanted to go to G-1 and see how it went, and use the results to determine where we're going (China or Europe). There's no set date but it should be up and running very very soon after coming home, as our sponsors are already looking at options.



What do you want your legacy in Dota to be?

Of course, I want to be remembered as one of the players that could compete with the Chinese on their home turf. This has been my lifelong dream in Dota. The game has been progressing a lot and it's much harder to be very special as a carry. I'm quite famous for going for high-risk-high-reward heroes. But most of all, I want to be remembered as a person who truly knows how to build a team. I don't only look for talent, but also look for people that will make a team work. I've learned about moving forward from losses. Overall, I'd rather be remembered for my way of making teams play well than me as an individual.



Have you considered wearing a Monster cap after the recent sponsorship?

No. damn, i was two days from retirement