Team Falcons’ ATF opened up about the true cost of chasing greatness in professional Dota 2, describing how the relentless grind required to become a world champion has completely changed his relationship with the game.
In an exclusive interview with BLAST ahead of BLAST Slam IV, the 20-year-old TI 2025 winner reflected on the sacrifices that transformed him from a 3,000 MMR player in 2019 into one of Dota 2’s most celebrated champions just six years later.
“I have sacrificed school, college, university, whatever you want to call it. I have no social life, and I’ve sacrificed my health too,” ATF said, openly acknowledging the toll that his career has taken. His words carried the weight of someone who has paid for success with every part of his personal life.
For him, the pursuit of mastery came at the cost of joy. “Playing this much Dota isn’t enjoyable. In 2019, I was just 3k MMR, and had to grind really hard to reach this point,” he admitted, reflecting on how constant training turned a passion into a profession defined by pressure rather than fun.
The Jordanian player credited his family for their support throughout his rise. “My family has sacrificed a lot for me to reach this point,” ATF shared, noting that his journey wouldn’t have been possible without their support. Because he was under 18 when he started competing, his brothers often had to travel with him, and his mother managed travel logistics and visa applications.
“They did a lot behind the scenes, even more than I probably realize,” he said. When The International 2025 arrived, they were there for him. “They came just to watch me, not to enjoy TI as fans,” he recalled. That deep sense of family involvement also magnified the emotional weight of competition.
ATF confessed that losing The International 2024 hit him harder than anything before. “When we lost TI last year, I was really disappointed in myself. My mental state was so bad that I didn’t care about anything else but to win TI,” he said. For him and his family, anything less than victory at TI 2025 “would’ve felt like a disappointment.” When the Falcons finally lifted the Aegis, ATF described it as the culmination of years of pain, sacrifice, and effort: “So finally winning it meant everything.”
Even after achieving what every Dota 2 player dreams of, ATF’s mindset has evolved. His priorities have shifted toward financial security over legacy. “My goal is to farm as much money as possible. I don’t really have a specific tournament goal or a number of TIs I want to win,” he said with disarming honesty. “Of course, we want to win everything, but for me, it’s not about counting titles anymore. I just want to keep winning and make as much money as possible.”
He also credited his growth to playing alongside experienced teammates. “When you play with experienced players, you start to see the game from different perspectives. You pick up things you never thought about before,” ATF explained. His standout moment at The International came during the final against Xtreme Gaming, when his unexpected Ursa pick in the fourth game turned the tide of the series and helped secure the championship for Team Falcons.
ATF’s story is a raw reminder of the personal price behind esports glory. His reflections paint a vivid picture of what it takes to reach the top of professional Dota 2: a journey defined by sacrifice, resilience, and the bittersweet realization that success often transforms the very passion that started it all.
Published: Oct 14, 2025 04:43 am