Ceb answered quite a lot of questions in the winner's interview post OG's series against beastcoast at the ESL One Stockholm Dota 2 Major 2022.
Interviewer
How is the dynamic within the team after subbing in for Misha?
Ceb
The guys are great and obviously I am close to many of them already, so they are no strangers to me and vice versa, so that felt natural.
I feel like they are young and inexperienced, and I am on the other side of the spectrum; old and experienced.
We both haven’t been doing these big LAN’s in a while in a way .. that’s how it feels. I’m just part of the group, excited, and it feels like my first LAN.
Interviewer
Did you prepare for the last minute swap-in for Misha at all or was it just a last minute thing?
Ceb
We had discussed the option because we were trying to think ahead and obviously understood that visas can be an issue given the war [Russo-Ukraine] situation.
We thought about options but I was not “Option A”. I was down for it, but didn’t know if I would be ready to and it was also not the same role.
We [OG] kind of stopped talking about it, but then a week ago it was happening [subbing in for Misha]. That was when I realised it was actually happening and started freaking out, and then I just started spamming pubs with Pos. 5 heroes to get the groove.
Interviewer
Did you manage to get in any scrims or was it just straight non-stop pubs?
Ceb
Non-stop pubs and 4-6 scrims. It was good since I got a lot of experience and massive help from Misha [Captain] and Chuvash [Coach].
It’s funny because everything is swapped around. I feel like the newbie getting in with the team telling me, “hey this is how things are done”.
The macro Dota is natural for me but when you play a specific role at this level, there are a lot of micro things you need to know, which is quite hard.
Interviewer
What are those micro things?
Ceb
Laning phase, warding, item builds, rotations, etc. – every single decision you make is impactful.
Interviewer
How is it trying to jump into the team developing their own ideas since both of you [Notail and Ceb] don’t interfere much within the team?
Ceb
I don’t have the will to force any ideas but the Dota I play and the playstyle that we had with the other OG’s [TI8 & TI9 winning roster] is so deep into my DNA that whether I am trying or not to do it, it just happens.
I’m actually focusing on toning it down and trying not to disrupt anything and support in whatever way I can.
First I was very quiet, and now I’m finding the right balance in not disrupting but also adding value. It’s definitely not my Dota in a way, but I’m learning it positively, and now it feels more comfortable.
Interviewer
How do you feel about the teamfight surrounding Yuragi’s Monkey King after he picked up the Desolator, when beastcoast were collapsing on your team? Was that Yuragi being confident?
Ceb
The three core players are very instinctive when they play, and it reminds me a lot of Ana in a way.
They don’t break down everything in a fight. They just go with the flow and you just have to be in the zone with them and understand.
Dota speaks for itself where you have to just tag along and read the fight well.
