As the group stage of the Riyadh Masters 2025 concludes, part of the expansive Esports World Cup held in Saudi Arabia, a notable voice within the Dota 2 community has offered a less-than-glowing review. Alexey “Lex” Filippov, a respected caster, shared his initial thoughts, expressing a sense of disappointment regarding the competitive level and the event`s presentation so far.
High Stakes, Low Energy? Caster Lex Notes “Autopilot” Performance
Lex`s primary critique centers on the perceived intensity of the matches. Despite Riyadh Masters being positioned as a premier tournament with a significant $3 million prize pool, he feels the overall atmosphere doesn`t yet match the gravity of a “main tournament” of the season. A key reason for this sentiment appears to be his observation that many of the participating top-tier teams seem to be playing “on autopilot.”
This assessment suggests a surprising lack of peak performance or innovation from squads expected to be at the forefront of competitive Dota 2. While Lex praised Team Liquid for their apparent consistency, he noted others struggled. Parivision, for instance, were described as looking “lost.” On a more positive note, Heroic garnered unexpected praise, performing at a level Lex believes puts them among the top six teams currently – a significant step up from their prior standing. Virtus.pro, however, received a notably bleak assessment, with Lex resorting to the somber phrase, “don`t beat a lying person,” indicating a performance level he found difficult to even elaborate upon.
Organizational Quirks: A Trip Down Memory Lane?
The criticism wasn`t limited to the in-game action. Lex also commented on the organizational aspects of the tournament. His impression evoked a feeling of “coming back to 2015,” suggesting a lack of polish or unexpected issues more characteristic of earlier esports events. Despite the immense scale of the Esports World Cup, which features a staggering total prize pool across numerous titles, Lex felt the Dota 2 segment specifically felt “raw” and, notably, lacked “soul.” He acknowledged the scale is present, but the execution, in his view, has been marred by “enough blunders.”
It`s a curious juxtaposition: an event backed by colossal investment, aiming to set a new standard for esports festivals, yet drawing comparisons to the logistical challenges of a decade past. This highlights the inherent difficulties in launching and running an operation of this magnitude flawlessly from day one.
Hopes Ride on the Playoff Stage
Despite his pointed feedback on the group stage, Lex concluded with a hopeful outlook for the knockout phase. He expressed anticipation that the playoffs would inject the necessary energy and competitive fire, allowing the tournament to “pick up pace.” The high-pressure environment of an elimination bracket often compels teams to elevate their game and can sometimes iron out early organizational kinks.
Lex`s candid remarks provide an early, critical perspective on the Riyadh Masters 2025. While the tournament boasts unprecedented scale and financial backing, this veteran caster`s view suggests that both the on-screen performance and the behind-the-scenes execution still have significant ground to cover to meet the lofty expectations associated with such a landmark event.
