820: from nowhere man to stellar pro

This article takes a look at the forces and motivations behind EHOME's longstanding captain. He is not without his gritty flaws and all too human imperfections - but, what is remarkable remains how he has emerged amidst the glamour and traffic of Chinese competitive DotA as an enduring personality nonetheless.

This is the fourth year of 820's professional career, and he is already 23. Let us capture in words the fleeting moments and events that have transpired throughout his career - be they highs or lows, gains or losses, and the lessons we may learn from them.

The Awkward First Years:

The year is 2006, and it is November in Chengdu. Then, 820 already had considerable recognition within China's own professional circuit. Along with his teammates, he represented his team GL and participated in China's first offline DotA competition - the CPL offline finals. GL was one of China's strongest DotA teams back then. After submitting to IFNT in the recently concluded U9 DotA invitationals, it looked like they were hungry for a championship. Who could blame the young team for being so ambitious and willing?

As 820 reminisces, he admits that back then he was a conceited chap who did not see his teammates as his companions, but rather as accessories and as 'means to an end.' The price he paid for his arrogance manifested in a loss to university team HUST, and they did not make it to the finals of CPL. After that bitter loss struck him, he reflected on it and mended his ways. Still, he ultimately believed that that one day he would see himself standing on the podium, standing far above the rest.

On His Way To Glory:



In 2007, during the offline finals of CPL, the team fielded a strong roster, which boasted the transfer of Snoy from PLU and LongDD from Nebula to GL. Tossgirl had also returned from his studies in Australia to take a break and offer new perspective on GL's strategies. And, because DotA back then was a relative young sport, the innovative ideas and experience that Tossgirl brought to GL gave them a stranglehold over China's professional DotA circuit.

And it was here when 820's career as we know it officially began. In June of 2007, GL squared off with IFNT in a best of three match, of which the victor would earn the sponsorship from WE. The first two games resulted in a draw, dragging it to a third. In the third game, GL emerged champions on the back of a spectacular performance by 820 using silencer. They earned WE's sponsorship and, representing China and their organization, participated in the 2007 Asian Championship Games (ACG) held at Singapore.

As with 820's dream to be crowned a champion, he found himself standing at the peak of competitive DotA. GL took their first international title at ACG 2007, which was also the first for a Chinese team. Unfortunately, however, WE could not provide sufficient sponsorship, and GL did not meet their target of being China's first professional gaming club.

The Fun Begins:



It was only in 2008 when 820 finally set foot on a professional gaming career with full sponsorship. After representing EHOME in a few national events, he decided to join Shanghai's local clan CaNt as captain, while his former teammates Snoy and dclxjdc went to EHOME.

During the 6 months stay with CaNt, the rivalry they shared with EHOME garnered them a CIG first place, and the macro (always looking at the big picture) approach to captaining he adopted versus his low-key profile earned the the adulation of many fans. At ACG 2008, EHOME, which then included Snoy and dclxjdc, successfully defended their title, and it was after the competition where 2009 and LongDD left (to Ks.Int and CaNt respectively) the team, only to be replaced by 820 and 357.

EHOME still had to deal with the addition of 820 and 357, and this problem adapting to its players playstyles lost them their opening match at MGC 2008 to LongDD's CaNt, which many had dubbed as 'LongDD's revenge'. Falling to the loser brackets, they faced the 'then-invincible' Fnatic, and got eliminated in the first round.

But it was not long before EHOME participated in SMM 2008, and they were an unstoppable force, earning them the championship and officially starting an era of Chinese DotA domination. As 820 stood on the podium, he stood there eerily calm. After the glory of SMM and their achievements, EHOME returned to China and began a merciless wipeout of all the Chinese top teams they faced in the following month or two, winning several titles including: first at WGT, GOA 2, etc. 820 and his teammates had instigated an almost cruel reign of EHOME supremacy.

Back then, 820's parents were very much opposed to the idea of him going professional, and often admonished him for his decisions. But, because 820 had been a computer fanatic since he was a child, and had always emulated the careers of professional gamers, he would always appear to bend over to accommodate his parents and family but eventually succumb to gaming. He did this until he earned his first championship and brought back a paycheck, and while his parents were still not agreeable to his career choice, they no longer opposed it.

The Middle Years:



During the spring of 2009, we witnessed the clash of China's top two teams, EHOME and 7L, in the G-League finals. EHOME fell miserably.

After this, Snoy and GK announced their plans for retirement one after another, and EHOME fell into a deep slump, and this became very apparent at one point in time, when the team had only 820, 357 and DC listed on their roster. What ensued from this was an extended period of finding the right replacements, and the team could not do so in time for ACG and was eliminated in the loser's brackets finals by KS.cn. The dream of scoring an ACG championship hat-trick was shattered.

Later, with the announced return of GK to the competitive scene, the addition of former 7L player DGC and 3 Kingdoms player Dai (X!!), EHOME had finally confirmed its roster.

When EHOME participated in the offline finals of the Chinese World Cyber Games (WCG), their strategy of phantom lancer, with a double roam combo of vengeful spirit and lion blew their competitors and audiences away. Adding on to this the powerful farm performance of 820, EHOME's near-perfect performance at WCG easily clinched them the gold.

They once again stood at the top at the finals of EOG in September. When WCG ended, 820 was struck with a high fever, but he insisted on participating in EOG, displaying a 'do or die' spirit throughout the competition and persisted to their team's victorious end.

Just as fans were expecting EHOME to enter the history books as the most successful team in DotA history, 820 and his teammates made a foolish and strategically flawed decision - to continue their near perfect gank strategy. With the current version's metagame evolving, as well as the top team's knowledge of warding and anti-gank strategies improving, the success rates of adopting a full blown gank approach to win games were diminishing. Furthermore, a single-carry strategy could no longer match up to a three-core strategy.

EHOME was severely punished for their obstinacy - although winning over all other teams, they lost to their Chinese counterparts at SMM 2009 and could only be satisfied with a third placing. At AWL, they placed worse. GK soon left the competitive scene again, and DGC diverted to Nirvana.cn.

The Return Of The King:



We are fast approaching the roster most of us are familiar with. In early 2010, Burning and KingJ enter the team. In the first few official matches of their restructured roster, we saw 820 stepping down from carry and it attracted the criticism of spectators. Many expressed their doubt over 820's control over the team, mentioning that he was no longer the driving and all-powerful force he once affirmed but was now more of a 'support-ive' one.

820, the support player, hence began as we know it. With accurate ward placement, good laning-phase harassment, as well as a dynamic presence in teamfights with his spells, many players started to question who could be considered the best support player, whether it was DGC or 820.

Once the roles within the team had stabilized, we saw EHOME constantly raising the bar, be it with the strategies and tactics they create or their execution of them. When they managed to get a slot in the Chinese ESWC qualifiers, they surprised everyone by beating the seemingly unbeatable LGD and earn themselves tickets to Paris. And, in a clean sweep of the teams that participated, EHOME reclaimed their throne and asserted the return of the king.

Their success followed with ten championships - of these, 820 remarks that SMM 2010's was especially grueling, and because so, especially meaningful. During their preparations for the competition, their results were not exactly reassuring, and they found themselves falling behind other Chinese teams. But, they bounced back from the defeat to Nirvana.cn in the group stages, found their groove and claimed the championship they deserved once again.

When 820 was touted as the best player of all time, he personally felt unworthy of the prestige and regard - all he had in mind was to play his own game to the very best and enjoy what he had achieved.

After SMM 2010, EHOME took an extended break, and during this period, he relaxed, went shopping, had fun, and minimized his exposure to DotA. He felt that in Beijing meant that he had to work hard and be determined for his efforts, but since he was at home, he could let loose and enjoy himself.

Unfortunately, his hiatus in early 2011 presented him with more stress than repose.

A New Reign - The Roster Of 2011:



While EHOME's fans were discussing and envisioning the achievements that the SMM 2010 grand champions roster would make in 2011, a sudden announcement from Burning and KingJ of their departure to DK left all stunned. Immediately, there were rumors surfacing of 820's possible departure as well, but he ultimately prided loyalty to the club over leaving, and promised a new and reformed EHOME - this time with his old teammates LongDD and Lanm.

At the start of the year, 820 had already planned to switch to being the team's carry, because he believed that a professional DotA player cannot remain devoted to the game forever playing a supportive role, and a player should only do so for at most a year. After which, he should attempt other roles within his team, as painful or difficult as making that switch might be.

But, once he found out his teammates had left, 820 had no choice but to bite the bullet and take over as hard carry; he knew making such an immediate switch was detrimental, and so he increased his amount of training in the hopes that he will be able to settle comfortably in his new position.

With the conclusion of StarsWar 6, it looks like EHOME are back on their game. But with the sudden departure of LongDD and arrival of Crystal, how will this new team fare against the other Chinese teams like LGD - especially with the eminently impulsive solo-mid player now on their roster?

It seems as though every spring brings an end to a chapter in EHOME's history books and begins another. For 820's career, it is no different. One is only allowed to ask, what does the future hold for him and his team?

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SGamer - Original Article