Leading up to the DreamLeague season 22 tournament, we had the opportunity to chat with Ivan “MinD_ContRoL” Ivanov about his decision to join Tundra Esports and how he feels about mid-tournament patches.
Credit: ESL
Sophie McCarthy: You recently joined Tundra Esports in the past month or so. Can you tell us how that came about?
MinD_ContRoL: I made the decision to join Tundra at the end of December, about two months ago. After the International, I was considering whether to stay with Nigma or join a new team. Ultimately, I chose to join Tundra. The timing was right as there weren’t any major events in November or December, which made the decision easier.
Regarding the team composition, I played with 9Class in a tournament and was impressed by his skills and attitude. We had multiple options, but knowing that Topson was already on the roster convinced us to join Tundra. With the addition of Whitemon and Pure, we completed the team.
Sophie: It sounds like a great team dynamic. How are you preparing for your first S tier tournament with this roster at DreamLeague Season 22?
Credit: MinD_ContRoL
MinD_ContRoL: We are focusing on preparing for each team we face individually. Our strategies and hero picks will vary based on the opponent. Unfortunately, we couldn’t boot camp due to travel restrictions, so we’ve been scrimming online to make the most of our preparation.
Sophie: With the recent patch drop, do you prefer changes before a tournament or during it?
MinD_ContRoL: It depends on the situation. While new patches bring excitement and freshness, they can also disrupt established strategies. As a pro player, it’s important to stay flexible and adapt to changes quickly.
Sophie: Do you anticipate any significant shifts in the meta with this latest patch?
MinD_ContRoL: The buffs to items like Helm of the Overlord may lead to the resurgence of certain heroes like Lycan or Beastmaster. Meanwhile, the nerf to Mage Slayer could impact hero picks at the tournament.
