In the high-stakes crucible of The International 2025 Grand Finals, where legends are forged and reputations are on the line, subtlety often takes a backseat to raw performance. Yet, even by the standards of competitive Dota 2, the remarks from Xtreme Gaming`s venerable coach, Zhang “Xiao8” Ning, regarding Team Falcons` unconventional Ursa offlane pick, were nothing short of incendiary. His blunt assessment ignited discussions, perhaps even some internal discomfort, and certainly added a layer of dramatic intrigue to an already gripping series.
The Scene: TI2025 Grand Finals, Game Four
The air in Germany was thick with anticipation. The International 2025, Dota 2`s most prestigious tournament, was culminating in a titanic clash between China`s Xtreme Gaming and the international powerhouse, Team Falcons. With a minimum of $2.6 million on the line and the Aegis of Champions within grasp, every decision, every pick, was scrutinized under an unforgiving spotlight. Xtreme Gaming held a precarious 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, meaning Game Four was a pivotal moment – a potential championship clincher or a lifeline for Falcons.
The Unexpected Pick: Offlane Ursa
As the drafting phase unfolded for Game Four, Team Falcons unveiled a pick that raised eyebrows: Ursa in the offlane position. Traditionally a formidable carry known for his burst damage and incredible Roshan-killing potential, Ursa is a hero typically seen in the safe lane, accumulating farm and items to snowball into an unstoppable force. Repositioning him to the offlane—a role often demanding tankiness, initiation, or disruption—is a strategic curveball, one that can either be a stroke of genius or a catastrophic misjudgment.
Xiao8`s Unvarnished Opinion
Following this bold draft, Xtreme Gaming`s coach, Xiao8, was asked for his thoughts on the opponent`s choice. A legend in the Dota 2 scene, known for his tactical prowess and often his candid demeanor, Xiao8 didn`t mince words. His response, delivered with the characteristic confidence of a seasoned champion navigating the deepest waters of competitive play, was startlingly direct:
“I think they will be eliminated like nobodies.”
In a world where competitive coaches often guard their opinions with diplomatic vagueness, Xiao8`s declaration was a raw, unfiltered gauntlet thrown down. It wasn`t a subtle jab or a veiled critique; it was a public execution of an opposing strategy before the game had even truly begun. Such a statement, particularly in the grand finals of the biggest tournament, carries immense weight. Was it a calculated piece of psychological warfare? A genuine, professional assessment of a perceived blunder? Or merely the honest, unadulterated opinion of a veteran who has seen it all?
Strategic Bluster or Tactical Insight?
The immediate implication of Xiao8`s statement was clear: he saw Team Falcons` Ursa offlane as a fundamental misstep, one so severe it would doom their chances in the pivotal fourth game. While Ursa can be a strong laner, an offlane Ursa faces significant challenges. Without the dedicated farm of a safe lane, and often against two or three enemy heroes, securing the necessary items to be impactful can be arduous. Furthermore, the offlane typically requires a hero that can provide utility beyond just raw damage—something Ursa often lacks in his early stages compared to traditional offlaners. Xiao8, renowned for his strategic depth, likely saw glaring weaknesses in this unconventional approach that Team Falcons perhaps hoped would catch Xtreme Gaming off guard.
The Psychological Edge
Beyond the tactical considerations, Xiao8`s comment served another purpose: psychological warfare. Issuing such a dismissive statement publicly, and especially during an ongoing series, can do one of two things: it can either deflate the opponent, sowing seeds of doubt, or it can galvanize them, fueling a fierce desire to prove the critic wrong. For Team Falcons, hearing such a blunt assessment from a celebrated rival coach moments before their most crucial game could have been a defining moment. It was a test of their mental fortitude as much as their in-game strategy.
The Verdict of the Arena
In the end, competitive Dota 2 is a brutal meritocracy, and only the outcome matters. While the original report doesn`t detail the full aftermath of Game Four, Xiao8`s definitive statement implies a strong belief in his team`s ability to capitalize on what he perceived as a flawed strategy. Whether his prediction came to pass in that specific game or whether Falcons managed to defy his scorn, Xiao8`s remarks etched themselves into the annals of The International 2025 as a moment of unapologetic candor. It served as a stark reminder that in esports, even at the highest levels, the human element—the raw emotion, the strategic gambles, and the unfiltered opinions—remains as compelling as the pixels on the screen.
