Hello, my friends. As you know, recently we announced our new Dota 2 roster,
and today Yana and I are traveling to Rivne, which is 310 km from Kiev,
to introduce you to our new player, Vlad "Crystallize" Kristanek.
We want to ask him a simple, but important question:
How a simple guy from a region, without pro experience,
without connections in esports made it into one of the most popular esports clubs.
We'll get to know him today and take him to our bootcamp in Kiev.
Let's go! Take your seats.
Yesterday I visited Vlad's page and his wall is open, people started to write there...
Supporters?
Yes, they don't know him, but they support the team and wished Vlad best of luck, a lot of people did it.
Most of the way is behind, soon we'll meet our carry.
We agreed to meet here, near this shop. Here is Vlad.
— Hello, I'm Yana. — Vlad.
— Nice to meet you. — You too.
This is Oleg.
Hello!
Hello, come in, please.
My name is Yana.
I'm Motrya Fedorovna.
I'd like to ask you a question first.
Go ahead.
What did you think about Vlad's hobby?
Me? I can't say much, when he went to middle school I tried to teach him,
but now I'm happy, he doesn't go out with bad people, doesn't smoke, doesn't drink.
He's just a very kind guy, with good manners.
People praised him in school and praise him in college now.
Do you know where your son found himself?
Yes, I know, he always wanted to join NAVI, he is practicing since childhood, it's his favorite hobby.
Did you have a person, who was an example for you, who you were looking up to?
Yes, I had, it's XBOCT.
I watched his games and learned to play the same way.
As I understand, it was him, who contacted you.
Not quite.
Can you tell us this story?
I saw Monza had tryouts in your team, I wrote to a friend who had your contact details,
I told him I wanted to try as well, and I was added the same day.
How did your friends react to the whole story?
They were very happy.
Did they see the announcement or you told them yourself?
I told them yesterday.
Were they surprised?
Very surprised, I hadn't had a team for 4 months, they asked me about the team, and I said NAVI.
What team did you previously play for?
After DD, I played with Shachlo, Yol, Scandal, Rmn was there, but he left for EPG with Illidan, then we added another support.
After that, I tried to play in Comanche, but it didn't go quite well.
Also I played again for DD as a stand-in during Prodota Cup, and that's it.
I don't see you in these pictures.
There are few more pages, Yana.
But there's a class photo.
Try looking here.
I didn't have my pictures taken.
You're not in these pictures?
No.
If we are not able to take pictures, we can use this one.
Well, let's go outside for a walk.
You'll show us around and the school you went to.
You know, kids were hanging out and playing football, but now...
Yeah, we used to play football in the streets when we were kids,
but some of us had moved someplace else after finishing school, so we kind of drifted apart.
I study to become a computer typesetter.
It's not programming?
It is, but not entirely.
There are other tasks mostly with a bit of programming, writing simple programs and stuff.
Like computer science.
Yes.
I noticed you have an anime wallpaper on your desktop.
Yes.
— Do you watch it? — Yes, I've been watching anime for a year and a half already.
Well, you'll definitely make friends with Sonneiko, he also watches anime.
But with others probably not...
Have you discussed salary and other stuff?
Not yet.
What did they tell you? Who talked to you about this?
Dakota.
Dakota contacted you and said, "Vlad, you're going to the bootcamp with us." Or what?
After they said I'm joining, yes.
There was Zolotarov on call as well. The entrance is over there, by the way.
What did Zolotarov say?
That they want to give this roster with me a try and that I'll be going to the bootcamp on the 5th.
Speaking of contract, they said it was going to be a one-year contract with a 3 months trial period.
We're in the center of the city now, walking around the beautiful park.
I have a question I've been meaning to ask you.
How come they chose you?
Maybe because they liked me.
That's a good answer.
Are you worried about how you will be welcomed by the players?
It's a new environment after all, seeing videos and pictures is one thing, but being a part of it is another, are you excited?
Of course, I'll be playing alongside a Dota legend.
Guys, we're walking around the park, then we get in the car and drive back to a bootcamp in Kiev.
Today Crystallize will meet his team at the bootcamp and we'll be covering it for you.
Mission accomplished.
Hey.
Hello.
Everyone, this is Vlad.
— Hi. — Hello.
— Danya. — Vlad.
Nice to meet you.
It's me.
It's you?