The Riyadh Masters 2025 Dota 2 tournament continues to unfold, bringing not only high-stakes matches but also the occasional moment of competitive theatre. Following a recent group stage victory, Team Liquid`s offlaner, Jonas “SabeRLighT-” Volek, provided a post-match interview that quickly garnered attention, primarily for its direct address of past interactions with their opponents, PARIVISION.
Team Liquid secured another win against PARIVISION, marking the third consecutive series victory against this specific opponent. Notably, across these recent encounters, PARIVISION has been unable to secure a single map, resulting in a cumulative map score that heavily favors Liquid. This pattern of dominance provides the backdrop for SabeRLighT-`s comments.
Adding a personal dimension to the rivalry, during a previous match, PARIVISION player Andrey “Dukalis” Kuropatkin had reportedly used the phrase “Still a bot” in reference to SabeRLighT-. Such direct, dismissive remarks, while part of the competitive landscape, often linger and await a response.
After their latest win at the Riyadh Masters group stage, SabeRLighT- took the opportunity during the official broadcast interview to deliver that response, weaving in the history of the matchup and the specific insult:
“7:0, by the way, 7:0. I don’t know, I’m probably still a bot. But yeah, I think we can do even better. I hope they don`t get eliminated too early from this tournament so we could beat them one more time and make it 9:0.”
The “7:0” figure pointedly highlights the comprehensive nature of Team Liquid`s recent success against PARIVISION in terms of maps won versus lost. By ironically including the “I`m probably still a bot” line, SabeRLighT- directly referenced Dukalis`s earlier taunt, using Liquid`s current dominant form as the ultimate counter-argument.
His subsequent remark, expressing a hope for another match to push the map score to 9-0, serves as a clear statement of confidence and perhaps a playful challenge. It underscores Team Liquid`s belief in their ability to maintain their superior performance against PARIVISION should they meet again in the tournament.
The Riyadh Masters 2025 is a significant tournament within the Esports World Cup, featuring top-tier Dota 2 teams competing for a substantial $3 million prize pool. Team Liquid`s performance thus far places them in a strong position within their group, showcasing the form that enables players like SabeRLighT- to deliver such confident, post-match assessments.
This interaction is a reminder that while gameplay is central, the narratives, rivalries, and moments of personal exchange between players contribute significantly to the drama and interest surrounding professional esports events.
Jasper Hawthorne