The winning mentality inside OG © OG

Read Inside OG Part 1 here Read Inside OG Part 2 here

There will be no second chances in Boston next month. For the first time in the history of Valve-run Dota 2 events, double elimination has been ousted in favour of the brutal single elimination format. A bad day at the office will no longer come with a shot at redemption.

Of all teams headed to Massachusetts, it’s the boys in green who have most to fear from the change, on paper at least. The previous format played its part in OG’s remarkable year. Their victory at the inaugural Frankfurt Major came solely through the lower bracket – a safety net that no longer exists. It certainly adds a layer of pressure that previously wasn’t there and potentially alters the way that teams approach games. Running infamous “cheese strats” that catch teams unaware could come into play in what is certain to be an intriguing Major. We spoke to OG to find out if the new format has in any way affected their preparation going into Boston.

As team captain, Tal “Fly” Aizik holds the ultimate responsibility for the draft and thus the style that his team will play in any given match. He openly admits the preparation is different for Boston. “As a captain you have to make sure the team's ideas align before the tournament”. He adds “[the format] can add pressure on you. It means you don’t have a second chance. You can’t revisit a loss and figure out how to improve. You have to go into every game ready and confident in the strategies that you’re going to run.”

The mental side of Dota 2 can never be underestimated, and the Israeli is quick to emphasise the important of being in the best possible mental state. He calmly mentions “the most important thing is to prepare mentally on how to approach these games – there’s obviously a lot of pressure on single elimination games”.

It’s clear from speaking with the skipper that he wants his team to establish a fearless approach in Boston. “You have to stay focussed, go in with a clear head and never think about losing. We have to play our game, and only think about that game. Not having mental barriers, playing with confidence and still taking risks is important,” he suggests. Fly hints throughout that some teams may take a very cautious approach and sit back, which won’t lend itself to success. He rounds off our conversation with “knowing you have no second chance means you have less time wasted in preparation. You just have to go in with the ideas you have and trust your team, captain and coach.”

Boston will be the young mid-laner Anathan “ana” Pham’s first Valve event and it will be the biggest competition that he’s ever played in. Every player has a different way of dealing with pressure and the youngster talks with maturity beyond his years when discussing his approach. “I guess I don’t really deal with pressure, I just bring it along and play the best that I possibly can. Sometimes it makes me play better but equally it can also make me underperform. I just try to forget everything and focus on the game. Usually the longer it takes for a game to start, the more pressure I feel.”

The Australian feels that single elimination favours the weaker teams, saying “there’s more pressure on the better team to win or else they’re knocked out.” Of course, with ana’s inexperience comes a certain blessing: unlike other players in the line-up, professional tournaments, single or double elimination, are still a new experience for him. “I haven’t really played in many big double elimination tournaments either. I’m really excited to play in the first Valve single elimination tournament and I think a lot of unexpected things will happen.”

The mid-laners sentiment that single elimination favours the weaker teams is not one echoed by his Finnish teammate Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka. The new four position says he’s stoked about the new format. “I actually think it might be better than double elimination. What tends to happen in tournaments is teams adapt to the ‘tournament meta’ as the competition goes on. In single elimination teams can take huge risks to put pressure on their opponents. I think the whole format favours those who are willing to be unpredictable and change it up.” JerAx is another to highlight the importance of staying calm and focussed, even if you lose the first game in a series. The Finn takes a rather rational approach, stating that “every game should be treated the same – and you do your best to win.”

“You can’t think about what you had for breakfast, or what you’re going to do after the game. You kind of have to tunnel vision the game you’re playing,” discloses Gustav “s4” Magnusson when asked about how he seemingly keeps calm and collected at all times. He admits he’s a tad superstitious – telling us “I clean/brush my mouse pad before every game. It’s pretty funny actually, as I’ve seen a lot of professional FPS players who do exactly the same."

Whilst s4 has been known for being calm throughout his career, the community will fondly remember Johan “n0tail” Sundstein’s antics during the early part of his Dota 2 career. The fan-favourite often seemed animated in the booth – but concedes that he’s reigned it in now. Just a bit, anyway. He tells us “I am now a lot calmer during games. I still believe that mentality plays a bigger part in the game than anything else.” The change to single elimination is something that Johan’s on board with. “Although I find single elimination to be scary because every team can have a bad day, it’s a change that I welcome,” he says.