Hi there and welcome to the NAVI Dota2 channel.
I'm joined by Ivan ArtStyle, who is the new... What's your job title at NAVI exactly?
- I don't know. - You don't? - No.
Xaoc told us he was looking for someone who would be in charge of the entire Dota2 branch at NAVI, and since you're also coaching our new roster,
could you please expand on how you see your role here?
Frankly, it all happen rather spontaneously - I was invited twice but I didn't really want to.
I had a young team and I asked Aleksey to help us a bit, and in turn, he wanted to bring me here to work with this roster.
I actually wanted to get back into NAVI and do something with this team.
It's not that the CIS scene is dying - it has two good young teams, though it really feels bad not seeing renowned players like No[o]ne, Solo and others at TI.
- No old-schoolers at TI this time around. - Yeah. - We have to fix that.
No NAVI at this TI either, unfortunately. But that's not the point right now.
Does it feel good being back at NAVI? Does it evoke any feelings?
Yes. It comes with a lot of responsibility and just like xaoc said, we've been given a good opportunity,
though I do realize there have been a lot of issues that need to be addressed by Solo and No[o]ne as well as NAVI after bombing out of the qualifiers.
We're gonna do our best to fix that.
The terms are really exciting and I guess I can share them with you.
Go ahead!
I don't want anyone to think we're coming here just to get paychecks because our wages are gonna depend on our results.
So you can either be happy with us doing poorly and not getting paid, or support us as we're going gonna try and do our best to deliver.
It sounds like something you say to wrap up an interview. I mean, you do need the support.
The previous roster was signed on a trial basis, what's it like now though? What goals and deadlines have you and Solo set out?
To be honest, the selection process took us a while - about 6 weeks because we wanted it to be a sure thing.
We were working out every possible scenario of what some would or would not like.
There was a story of ALOHA leaving FTM because he'd lost motivation.
A lot of people might wonder why ALOHA, but believe me, when we were looking for a position 4, he was the first one all the players and myself thought of.
So, it's our choice and we realize what we're doing.
I think we're gonna motivate ALOHA and he's gonna be just fine.
We hope so!
Another thing, I don't want anyone to think it's just a former FTM trio with Solo and No[o]ne, or the latter two getting back together after VP.
We're starting from a clean slate and have to build everything from the ground up.
Let's put your present aside and talk a bit about your past with VP.
You haven't really been interviewed a lot lately so I figure every NAVI and your fan might like to get some insights.
You had a successful coaching stint at VP with major tournament wins and achievements.
Could you go over the differences between VP and NAVI?
Maybe in terms of the vibe, atmosphere, approach to the game or coaching requirements?
Is there anything you can think of now?
Do you want me to go back in the day?
Yes, let's dive right in.
Everyone stacked well and everything clicked right into place - we were just putting in the work and having fun playing the game and enjoying what we were doing.
I hope we can replicate that because we have a lot of experienced individuals on board who know how to do that.
Everyone's incredibly hard-working, and I think we won't disappoint you with our results.
You got to work with the legendary roster with Solo who is one of the best and most decorated captains in the CIS.
Do you agree that there's a shortage in this position in the region?
How did you interact with Solo at the time and how does the process look like now at NAVI?
Speaking of the captain shortage, yes, it's there.
Especially considering it has to be a full support doing this role because core positions have other things to do
and since the game is so demanding now, you can't afford to get complacent.
Solo hasn't been doing so hot this year just like everybody else on the team, however, you don't know him as well as I do.
- Clearly. - I know that he's a hard worker and know what it takes him to stay the course.
Trust me, him being on top and now dropping to the bottom really makes him want to prove he's still got it.
- He's a senior player now, isn't he? - Yes.
Do you think he's still motivated to keep going and still as passionate as ever about Dota?
- We can't ask him directly now. - Yeah, you can talk to him when it's possible and find out.
Sure, he still is. We've dedicated most of our lives to this game and even the terms we have here at NAVI prove that.
We're going to work for results and get paid what we earn.
What was your coach and captain interaction with Solo like at VP? And what's it gonna be like now?
Who's gonna be responsible for what? Drafts? Analyzing opponents?
We're starting our practice in 7 days and we're gonna do everything from scratch.
We don't know how it's going to be like yet. I used to work with GeneRaL and I know he's a highly impulsive player.
He's not like Pasha who was just doing his job - they're two completely different players and personalities.
Solo, No[o]ne and I haven't worked with GeneRaL here yet and No[o]ne hasn't even played with him before, and the same goes for Solo and Alik who play the same lane.
So we're gonna have to figure out how we're gonna play, what we're gonna do and what our goals are going to be.
Can you describe the other members of the team? What about Alik? He plays the carry role and he's the only one who remained from the previous NAVI roster.
Alik has been shining as a carry for over a year or a year and a half now and he's been noticed by a lot of teams, including us at VP.
We were considering him back when he was on FTM, so there's never been a problem with him,
and No[o]ne actually joined NAVI specifically to play with Alik.
I've already mentioned ALOHA - everyone had thought of him.
As for GeneRaL, the CIS region is pretty scarce on good position 3 players who really stand out.
I think everyone who watches Dota2 knows who GeneRaL is, so we'll see, and I believe he's gonna do well.
What I can say about our Dota roster is that we have really good positions 3 and 4, as well as 2,
and we need to work out a way how our 1 and 5 can lane together, because I've noticed V-Tune likes to play hard carry heroes a lot,
whereas Solo prefers to go on and fight, which takes a more active core.
We're gonna work on that.
When do you start?
On the 15th [of September].
- You start practicing on the 15th, right? - Yes.
Have you played together before? Matchmaking?
Regarding matchmaking and playing online, we want to meet in person at the bootcamp for the first time and get on the grind.
We're gonna bootcamp for a while, and answering about Solo's motivation and whether he prefers to sit at home with his family and run his business,
one of his conditions is that he wants us to have two-three months long bootcamps, plugging away, like we did at VP.
We basically used to live at bootcamps and would only go home when we needed to.
We are falling behind the Dota trends big time now because everyone has been shuffling around this past year and dropping out of the qualifiers,
and if we want to make it to the next TI, we have to put in a lot of time and effort.
Speaking of what the player selection process was like as we touched on that a little bit, it was you who was picking out the players?
Like, you were brought in and tasked with putting together a NAVI roster around No[o]ne and V-Tune?
Yes, that's right, around No[o]ne and V-Tune.
It was a bit challenging because we've all been keeping in touch,
and Vova and I did even when NAVI were doing poorly and bombed out of the qualifiers.
Everyone was keen on getting Solo on board - even before the previous players were removed.
So Aleksey joined when the roster was still intact and then we started to consider our options.
Since NAVI messed up with their previous rosters and reshuffles, we weren't able to get what everybody wanted, and someone had to compromise.
In the end, we got what we got.
Did you consider keeping RAMZES as an offlaner?
As far as I know, we and RAMZES realize that he wants to be a carry rather than an offlaner, that's why he's switching his role.
I reckon he's had enough of the whole situation,
and the conditions at NAVI were a bit different initially, so everyone was gonna be held accountable, and that's why we made that decision.
Let's talk about the current affairs in Dota. Did you watch ESL and keep an eye on the teams?
Tundra impressed everyone having won that tournament.
What do you think about TI being postponed, which creates a long gap between the tournaments you could compete in?
Does it make sense to analyze how other teams are doing in these mid-season tournaments?
VP were doing really well before they faced Tundra, like really stomping everyone.
Again, we don't know how seriously they were taking this tournament and whether they wanted to win the whole thing,
which would make them one of the main contenders and force others to prepare specifically for them.
Maybe them losing will actually do them good because every win at TI goes a long way in securing a higher place and more prize money.
That's why I think it's better they take the backseat and other teams won't prepare much for them, so they could surprise everyone at the event.
What do you do if you have to play the qualifiers for TI in June and the tournament itself is going to be held in October?
Someone like Tundra has gained form over this time and won a tournament.
Tundra didn't make it to TI.
Yes, but they could have qualified.
I was analyzing Tundra's games and I predicted they would win, and they could've easily beaten OG but they dropped the ball at one point.
It was 3-2, a really close final, but had it happened, OG would've missed out on TI.
Nigma had already been out of the competition at that point, placing third.
Do you think TI will feature the actual best teams?
I told you before, I'd like to see Nigma because after all it's Miracle, KuroKy, MinD_ContRoL, they are all decorated players, and they should be present at TI.
Tundra is on the rise now clearly, TNC obviously.
As much as I love our CIS guys, I'd like to have some of our semi-legends, or whatever you call them, who could do really well at TI.
I personally think that there's no better midlaner in the world than No[o]ne.
- So yeah, that's about it. - I agree.
What's the team up to now? Why are you in Kyiv? When does the bootcamp start?
I've already told you. Right now we are doing media and interviews, and the bootcamp starts on the 15th.
Everyone's sorting out their affairs, wrapping up their vacation and other stuff, and we're getting down to business.
Alright, I wish you good luck, Vanya.
- Thanks. - Thank you for doing this interview.
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