EPT
"Losing makes me so motivated. So I'm kinda happy we lost our first game."
EG.Arteezy at WEC
Today HotBid talked to Arteezy following their first series against Vici Gaming, about where the team is now and how they see themselves relative to the Chinese teams. Also Arteezy talked a lot about how much he loves China.
Hi Artour, it's been a while since we last talked. Last time we talked was TI. What has changed since?
We've lost every game and that's about it.
You guys aren't doing well lately.
We're winning against Americans but not Chinese.
Why, what's different?
I dunno, we're not prepared yet. We're still practicing with Fear even though he's been our coach and he's been sitting behind us and watching our games, we still not synced in yet. Of course it's more than just Fear, but it's everyone not connecting as one.
What do you think of this tournament thus far?
This tournament so far? Well the crowd turnout hasn't been good but I've been told because it's a work day. But yeah, it's China, what can I say?
What can you say? What don't you like about China?
I dunno, the traffic is really really bad, the weather is really really bad, I don't know what's going on half the time. I just walk around.
What, you don't want to move here?
No, definitely not. I remember I said after TI I wanted to come here and train in China. But now that I'm here, no way man. Absolutely not.
Why not?
I mean look at this place.
What's wrong with it though?
The traffic, the weather, the girls are good though. There are actually a lot of good girls. I was doing some scouting and there was definitely some good girls.
Maybe thats why you guys aren't winning?
The girls?
Less scouting and more practice!
Maybe you're right.
You got to go home for a little bit. Has life changed now that you guys are all world famous?
Not really, but sometimes I get noticed when I go outside like when I go downtown Vancouver I get noticed a lot by random people. It's pretty cool.
What about PPD being in the NY times? You jealous?
Did you see his comment about him losing patience or whatever? Like in the article it quotes "PPD began to lose patience with his teammates." It was me.
What happened?
The game was like over, at least to me. So I kept running down middle and just dying.
Did you guys win?
No we just lost.
So that was your fault?
Yeah it was my fault.
You guys seem to have made it. Do you think there's a sense of complacency this year?
Maybe? Like right after TI I though it was pretty good with our standin with Mason. But then I realized we should always aim for first. So I was complacent for a bit but I just said "no, let's just get first".
You guys scared of the Chinese teams at all? They seem to be getting a better now.
I think the only team we're scared of is LGD because we've never played them before. I think we already know what Newbee & VG are like. So LGD is the real foreigner for us.
Well they changed a lot of their players. But all those Chinese teams seem to retire the old guys, bring in the new guys.
Yeah, Fy came out of nowhere and he got 2nd place. So, Fy-God.
Give me your thoughts on all the new western teams.
Secret Team - I think is missing that power, I dunno. Secret Team is really good on paper something's still missing I feel. Team Tinker - seems like a better liquid. They have better players but wins don't happen. Na`Vi - Well they haven't played anyone good, all online teams plus that random CDEC team. So I don't know if they're any good yet, but I think they're definitely better than the old Na`Vi.
They seem happy now.
Yeah, they're just going through the period where they're happy. When losses happen we'll see what happens. So yeah once they play a good team, we'll see how they do.
Give me something on the new Alliance.
New Alliance? I wanna say they lost their best player, but they're winning right now so you never know. I always thought S4 single-handedly carried that team but you never know.
And what about you guys?
I don't think much has changed. With fear we have a bit more versatility, so it could be better or worse, I actually don't know.
So TI5 is a long while away, but everyone seems to base their plans around it. What's your plans this time, what would you do differently to last year?
Differently? I think we should prepare more than 1 strategy. Because at TI our strategy was, Mason goes to safe lane, I go to mid lane, Universe goes to offlane. And there's no versatility, there's nothing like dual lane offlane, trilane offlane, it's always the same players in each lane. So obviously we're going to strive to be more versatile. And also practicing should go better, we know we're throwing games.
I watch your stream. You guys play an interesting way, you play like you don't give a fuck about anything else that happens. Is it because you guys try so hard in game that when you stream pubs its like whatever?
You can say that I guess. No, I don't really try in scrims. Recently I've been so demotivated, but losing makes me so motivated. So I'm kinda happy we lost our first game. I mean it sucks losing but it wakes everyone up and reignites that fire you had inside of you.
Give me some bold statements or predictions.
EG will get top 2 for next TI and we will be better than Cloud9 for sure.
But you guys already placed higher than Cloud9 so that's not a bold prediction.
Yeah but it's different rosters now so...
You think Cloud9 is better without Sing?
I think they had personal issues so it's going to be better. Like old Na`Vi and new Na`Vi. With new people coming into the mix it'll be new connections.
You can't name anyone out of EG, but i'm going to give you some rapid fire questions. Best Mid?
Fata.
Best safelane carry?
EternalEnvy.
Are you gonna name everyone from C9?
It's because I just watched them play.
Best offlane?
Yao.
Best support duo?
Fy, do I have to say Fenrir? I don't think he's that good. I'll just say MMY and LaNm.
Well you can give me one of each.
Then Fy and MMY.
So you like the Chinese supports? Why?
Yeah. They're way better. I think the cores in china are weaker compared to the western scene but the supports are really strong.
Why, what's different?
I guess all the supports in China have been playing different roles for a long time and then they switch to support role. And with support role you need to really know the other roles to adapt to what to do on the map.
So you don't think PPD & Zai could play cores?
No, I think they can. Zai could play a really good core, cause he played core in HoN. PPD could play a good core, he just needs time.
You guys don't seem to like the bus conditions, what did you think about it?
Oh my god. We were told it was a 2 hour ride and it turned into 4 hours I think. It was miserable, I hate this place.
Did you enjoy the Pringles that you bought?
It wasn't even Pringles, i don't know what it was. There was Pringles next to Lays Stacks and I ended up picking the most random one. I don't know what's wrong with me. It was the first.
Have you eaten chicken feet yet? We're gonna go to a restaurant and eat chicken feet.
Ok, if we lose I'll do it.
I'm serious, I'll go with you. We'll eat some chicken feet, we'll eat some ants.
What kind of ants?
The insect kind.
I know, I mean like fire ants?
No, regular ones. The fire ants cost extra.
Wait, is that a real thing? You serious?
Yeah. We're gonna eat some blood soup. They take blood and turn it into cubes like tofu.
What??? Charlie told me about a vodka equivalent here.
Bai Jiu?
yeah, that stuff, i want to try it after we win.
Alright, you guys have one match left.
Hopefully more.
Give me your shoutouts and callouts.
Shoutout to my sponsors Monster Energy, HyperX, Razer, Astro Gaming, CyberpowerPC, Need for Seat, and BenQ.
Shoutout to the fans in China. Shoutout to the fans in the western scene cheering the western teams on. And calling out Liquid`Bulba.
Shoutout to the fans in China. Shoutout to the fans in the western scene cheering the western teams on. And calling out Liquid`Bulba.
Well he's on Team Tinker now, it's Tinker.Bulba now.
Wait did he get released?
Yeah.
Team Tinker Bulba, you suck man. Learn more heroes.
Oh yeah? He sucks as a support?
No, I'm just kidding he's a good guy. Good player.
He's leading his team now, he's a captain.
Yeah he captained Liquid at TI as well. He almost carried them to top 8. It was close.
It was very close
Lost arrow.
That was the biggest throw I've ever seen.
Dota 2 man. that's all i can say.
That was the Qojqva 40-20 on OD. DDZ 3-1 on invoker at like 10min and we lost.
Dota 2, that's all I can say.
Alright, thank you very much. We'll talk again I'm sure. Probably, maybe if you qualify to ESL one, we'll eat somewhere in NY.
Oh, I'm down. I heard NY has really good food. On you?
Ahhh, I dunno man. You guys finished 3rd.
What? I got no money.
What? I got no money.
I got nothing.
You're taking me out. I'll pick the place though.
Charlie's going to pay for it.
Ok, we'll get charlie to pay for it. I'm sure his super sick manager salary will cover it. Alright thank you, and good luck in the next round.
Yeah I hope so, I hope we win.
