OG Ari: "With Ceb gone, Nine and I have had to step up and lead in different ways"
We had the opportunity to interview OG's charismatic support Matthew "Ari" Walker before BLAST Slam I. He discusses the new roster and its potential, focusing on fostering a positive atmosphere and OG's struggles in the past year.
Let's see what Ari has to say in this exclusive BLAST interview!
Photo: @dota2ti | X (OG's Ari)The current OG roster looks promising. How is this roster different compared to the previous one?
The key difference is the absence of Ceb. With him gone, Nine and I have had to step up and lead in different ways. This shift in our team dynamic has made us all step up individually and focus on improving our gameplay.
How challenging is it to completely overhaul a team's game strategy with a new roster?
It can be particularly challenging when individuals from diverse backgrounds and teams, having different perspectives about the game, come together. It takes time to share the same vision and align yourself with others, thus making this a time-consuming and difficult task.
What potential do you see in the current roster with its new players and a new coach?
The team's potential is immense, given the individual skills of its players. The addition of Khezu as the team’s coach is a good change as his fresh perspective, drafting expertise, and problem-solving abilities, are significant for the team.
What is the communication like?
There are no issues at all as everyone speaks good English and there is no communication barrier. It is just like any other European team.
What is the team atmosphere like with the new roster?
The atmosphere within the team is excellent and everyone is excited about the new roster. We believe that hard work and cooperation can lead to good things.
What is the main difference between playing for OG and TSM?
Europe is more competitive and it’s harder to qualify for tournaments but if you do manage to qualify then it puts you in a good spot to win tournaments because you’re already beating the tough competition.
OG's philosophy is more player-centric, with the focus being on fostering a positive team environment and individual empowerment.
Photo: @dota2ti | X (OG's former captain Ceb)Then why is OG struggling to perform?
The team has faced various challenges over the past two years. While simple solutions would be ideal, the reality is more complex. The team must continually adapt and resolve issues to improve their performance.
What changes will lead to OG becoming a good team again?
Aligning on a shared vision, fostering a positive team atmosphere, building trust, and empowering each other is crucial. Consistent hard work, effective communication, thorough analysis of the replays, and commitment to the process are essential for us to succeed.
What did you learn from Ceb while he was actively playing?
Ceb has a very unique way of seeing the game. He really believes in playing as fast as possible, causing as much damage to the enemies as possible while the opponents get ready to respond. He strongly believes in fully trusting in each other without any hesitation. He taught me many things, including how to play the game effectively, be a good teammate, maximize my potential, and lead the team during challenging times.
What do you think about the format and how far do you think OG will go in BLAST Slam?
I really like the format. It's unique and makes the group stage feel important because finishing first directly qualifies you for the semifinals. The tournament's compact schedule, without multiple group stages spread over weeks, ensures that every match carries weight.
OG faces Team Falcons in today's elimination series. We hope you're ready to have a BLAST!
Stay tuned to our website for more interviews, features and the latest updates from the tournament. You can watch the streams on our website for a pleasant viewing experience.