Group Falcons’ ATF opened up about the true value of chasing greatness in skilled Dota 2, describing how the relentless grind required to change into a world champion has fully modified his relationship with the sport.
In an unique interview with BLAST forward of BLAST Slam IV, the 20-year-old TI 2025 winner mirrored on the sacrifices that remodeled him from a 3,000 MMR participant in 2019 into one among Dota 2’s most celebrated champions simply six years later.
“I’ve sacrificed college, school, college, no matter you need to name it. I’ve no social life, and I’ve sacrificed my well being too,” ATF stated, overtly acknowledging the toll that his profession has taken. His phrases carried the burden of somebody who has paid for fulfillment with each a part of his personal life.
For him, the pursuit of mastery got here at the price of pleasure. “Enjoying this a lot Dota isn’t pleasant. In 2019, I used to be simply 3k MMR, and needed to grind actually onerous to succeed in this level,” he admitted, reflecting on how fixed coaching turned a ardour right into a career outlined by strain quite than enjoyable.
The Jordanian participant credited his household for his or her assist all through his rise. “My household has sacrificed quite a bit for me to succeed in this level,” ATF shared, noting that his journey wouldn’t have been attainable with out their assist. As a result of he was below 18 when he began competing, his brothers typically needed to journey with him, and his mom managed journey logistics and visa functions.
“They did quite a bit behind the scenes, much more than I in all probability understand,” he stated. When The Worldwide 2025 arrived, they had been there for him. “They got here simply to look at me, to not get pleasure from TI as followers,” he recalled. That deep sense of household involvement additionally magnified the emotional weight of competitors.
ATF confessed that dropping The Worldwide 2024 hit him tougher than something earlier than. “After we misplaced TI final 12 months, I used to be actually disenchanted in myself. My psychological state was so unhealthy that I didn’t care about anything however to win TI,” he stated. For him and his household, something lower than victory at TI 2025 “would’ve felt like a disappointment.” When the Falcons lastly lifted the Aegis, ATF described it because the end result of years of ache, sacrifice, and energy: “So lastly successful it meant every little thing.”
Even after reaching what each Dota 2 participant desires of, ATF’s mindset has developed. His priorities have shifted towards monetary safety over legacy. “My purpose is to farm as a lot cash as attainable. I don’t actually have a particular event purpose or numerous TIs I need to win,” he stated with disarming honesty. “In fact, we need to win every little thing, however for me, it’s not about counting titles anymore. I simply need to hold successful and make as a lot cash as attainable.”
He additionally credited his development to enjoying alongside skilled teammates. “If you play with skilled gamers, you begin to see the sport from completely different views. You choose up stuff you by no means thought about earlier than,” ATF defined. His standout second at The Worldwide got here through the last towards Xtreme Gaming, when his surprising Ursa choose within the fourth sport turned the tide of the sequence and helped safe the championship for Group Falcons.
ATF’s story is a uncooked reminder of the personal value behind esports glory. His reflections paint a vivid image of what it takes to succeed in the highest {of professional} Dota 2: a journey outlined by sacrifice, resilience, and the bittersweet realization that success typically transforms the very ardour that began all of it.
