Tjernobyl: I’m standing with Misery of LGD.int and Ducky of… nothing at the moment. So Misery what do you think about your performance in this tournament?
Misery: Obviously, it’s not so good, could’ve been way better but, yeah, it was pretty bad.
[To Ducky] You’re standing here, laughing at him. I mean, what up, bro?
Ducky: I just knew the answer he would give. Of course, he’s not satisfied, when you go out before the prize money, there’s only one answer, right?
Tjernobyl: I guess that’s how it goes, yeah. What do you think of China, how do you like it there?
Misery: I like China, actually, I’ve been there many times but living there is pretty rough, it’s different from going there for a month than go back. I like it there but in the long run it’s too much.
Tjernobyl: I spoke with Dendi because he’s been in China four times, I think. I told him I’ve never been to china and he was like “Don’t”. Ducky, you’ve been there for a while now too, right?
Ducky: Yes, this was my second time in China, and it was really hot, that’s the first thing. I think it was 42 degrees Celsius and sometimes air conditioning gave out. I don’t know, it’s interesting but it’s also an uninspiring environment when you work and live in the same place which is harmful in the long run. I was there for one month and I think that was my maximum. But I can imagine being there for eight months, that would be a little tough.
Tjernobyl: Were you working there?
Ducky: Yes, I was there to help LGD.int find new motivation and inspire them to think differently and basically work around the team work. Of course, you also get a grip of the players and so we had talks about how to play, I was looking at their games and telling them what they did well and not so well, from my perspective, so that they can improve from there.
Tjernobyl: How was having Ducky as a coach?
Misery: It was great because before he came, we were really down, period. He helped us come on top again but he could help us only so much. The rest comes down to us and our performance.
Tjernobyl: Do you know what you’re going to do next after the end of The International?
Misery: I am considering starting a new team with Ducky over here. I know he’s already made some plans and talked to some people. I don’t know what’s going to happen but I know he’s been working on some things.
Tjernobyl: Is it Ducky’s Dream Team 2.0?
Ducky: It will be really hard to get Loda to come to the team and we really want to have Misery and Loda together again because of their good synergy. But it seems like he;s doing pretty well without being on Ducky’s Dream Team but maybe if they lose next time he will be really mad and I’ll approach him. Right now, we’re talking to some Russian here, like ArtStyle and Lightofheaven, and we don’t know who the fifth player will be but, yeah, it will be interesting.
Tjernobyl: Maybe you can add Tobi as a player, I heard he’s interested in joining.
Ducky: I haven’t seen Tobi play. Maybe we can use his analytical skills a lot but maybe we should try him out.
Misery: Yeah, we can go back to the old-school times and have try-out trials and everyone that wants can sign up and we can play a few practice games together and see who fits the most.
Tjernobyl: Like 1v1 mid qualifier or something…
Misery: Yeah, that’s a good idea.
Tjernobyl: 1v1 support only, even.
Misery: Yes, like ward wars or something. Enigma 1v1 jungle.
Tjernobyl: Ducky, have you been missing competitive gaming?
Ducky: No, I actually wasn't missing it but no that I am back I do miss it a lot. You come here and see a lot of people going crazy and you just imagine yourself sitting there with your team, boosting your ego. Obviously, you miss sitting in front of people, really performing, but at the same time there are a lot of other things in the world, also very interesting, and I think when I had to make my decision it was like either or so I just totally quit and haven’t played a game of Dota in two years before I came in China. I did it so because I know the minute you start playing it’s addictive, at least to me, it’s like drinking Coke. So I’ve been busy with other things, I’ve missed it but I also enjoyed not playing, it’s on both ends.
Tjernobyl: So you don’t regret your decision?
Ducky: No, I don’t regret it. I had the luck of getting into very interesting education that brought me all around the world doing various projects. I feel like the knowledge and skills I gained in those two years I can apply to other settings and I wish I knew those when I had a team because it’s a lot about leadership and team building and other things that are very important. I mean, look at the teams that are here: I can definitely see a pattern in those that play well, it’s not only about how they play but also a lot about mentality and the perspective they have on the game. They can balance expectations with this perspective and I think this is what brings them above other teams.
Tjernobyl: Do you get recognized a lot on the streets, Misery?
Misery: Yeah, we had some episodes where we would go buy food and when we got back two minutes later there are people taking pictures of us and posting them on QQ, going like “OMG, we just saw LGD on the street”…
Ducky: *When* you were on the street!
Misery: Yeah, that wasn’t so often. It’s very hot and it’s just China so you lose motivation to go out.
Tjernobyl: What about you, Ducky, do you get any fans?
Ducky: I think recently I had one guy writing to me on Facebook. So no, I don’t get recognized that often but I think all the old players they all do so maybe I didn’t have a lot of fans but the players have been very friendly so that’s a nice tap on the shoulder. Means I must’ve done something right.
Tjernobyl: Maybe you have a lot of haters though?
Ducky: I think in the community there were a lot of haters. I think that’s how it goes when you’re not the most skilled player. Obviously, I had qualities that made me attractive to players so in the end it’s fine, people can hate all they want. Other players can get the fame and I all fine with that. Like Misery here, he got a lot of glory and he’s the one taking all the hits so that’s fine.
Tjernobyl: Misery, what was your favorite team to play for in your Dota career.
*Ducky viciously points at himself at this point*
Misery: Obviously Ducky’s Dream Team. Why else would I be going to Ducky’s Dream Team 2?
Tjernobyl: Hm, I guess that was an obvious question. Or are you under Ducky’s gun?
Misery: No. *laughs*
Tjernobyl: So how do you like the event so far, compared to others in Europe, China, Dota 1?
Misery: I think everyone can agree to the fact that TI is the best thing there is, even compared to Chinese tournaments. G League was upper cool but this is whole other level in all its aspects.
Tjernobyl: Your favorite thing about G League is the awkward posing, I am sure.
Misery: Yeah, before the tournament we had to make some video. “Use your imagination, be cool”. That’s all they could say, because they don’t speak much English.
Tjernobyl: What’s up with that posing anyway?
Misery: I think they’re trying to make Dota a professional sport whose players look really cool?
Tjernobyl: Do you think you managed to pull off looking cool?
Misery: Come on. I always look cool.
Ducky: I second that, they look awesome in photoshoots. I was even at one of those. It looks like in China, when you don’t know what to do you say “Let’s have a photoshoot”. One time they’d be in T-shirts, another they’d suit up. In the one month I was there, they had two photoshoots which I think is a lot. But yeah, I do think Misery always looks good. And so do Asian girls.
Tjernobyl: Was that the reason you stayed in China for so long?
Ducky: I don’t know. *looks at Misery* Was that the reason?
Misery: Maybe.
Tjernobyl: That’s why western people get signed by Chinese organizations, obviously.
Ducky: It’s the hair.
Tjernobyl: Are you being photographed a lot because you look so European?
Misery: Yeah, I would walk on the street and old people would turn around and be like “Look at that guy, he’s not Chinese.” And they would ask for a picture and not because I play Dota but because I am European guy.
Ducky then says something that’s “almost Swedish” and Tjernobyl challenges him to say something in Finnish-Swedish. Swede-Fins should take a look.
