In the high-stakes world of professional Dota 2, confidence is often as crucial as raw mechanical skill. Yet, few players articulate their self-belief with the stark directness recently displayed by Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Hertek. The offlaner for Aurora Gaming has made an audacious claim: he believes he is the best Chen player in the entire world. This isn`t mere bravado; it’s a statement accompanied by a rather blunt challenge to skeptics.
The Audacity of the Claim: Mastering Chen
Chen, the Holy Knight, is not a hero often found at the top of competitive pick rates. He is a notoriously micro-intensive support, requiring players to command multiple summoned units alongside the hero itself. His strength lies in global presence, healing, pushing power, and jungle efficiency—abilities that demand exceptional awareness and execution. To declare oneself the absolute best on such a hero is to lay down a gauntlet, suggesting a mastery that transcends mere proficiency.
TORONTOTOKYO`s rationale is straightforward, if not entirely modest:
“On Chen, I am the strongest player in the world, no jokes. If you have a brain and watch a couple of official games, you will understand everything. (…) I thought that Chen should be played as an offlaner [`three`]. I played a couple of games — honestly, it didn`t quite work out. The hero has too little damage in the lane.”
This candid assessment offers a glimpse into a pro player`s experimentation and strategic thought process. While confident in his Chen prowess, he`s also pragmatic about the hero`s role limitations. His brief foray into playing Chen as an offlaner (position 3) revealed the hero’s inherent weakness in early-game lane aggression, ultimately reaffirming Chen’s traditional strength as a supportive, resource-gathering position 5.
Statistical Evidence and Role Specialization
While the claim of being “the best” is inherently subjective and difficult to quantify definitively, TORONTOTOKYO does have some numbers to back his conviction. According to Dotabuff, a prominent Dota 2 statistics tracker, he boasts a respectable 69.2% win rate across 13 official matches played on Chen. Crucially, all these matches were played during his tenure with BetBoom Team, where he exclusively utilized Chen in the position 5 support role.
This data points to a specialized mastery. A 69.2% win rate over 13 games, while not an overwhelmingly large sample size, is certainly a strong indicator of proficiency, especially for a hero as intricate and situational as Chen. It also underscores his understanding of where the hero truly shines within a professional team composition—not as a frontline damage dealer, but as a strategic enabler from the safelane support position.
Beyond the Micro: The Mindset of a Pro
This bold declaration from TORONTOTOKYO arrives amidst broader discussions within the esports community regarding player longevity and mental fortitude. Interestingly, the player himself has previously reflected on the concept of burnout, a common challenge in the demanding professional gaming landscape. He noted that he genuinely enjoys every match, which prevents him from experiencing the exhaustion that often leads players to step away from competitive play prematurely.
Perhaps this unwavering enthusiasm is the bedrock of his confidence. To consistently perform at an elite level, especially with a hero as demanding as Chen, requires not just mechanical skill but also an intrinsic passion for the game. His willingness to experiment, even if it leads to a strategic dead end for a particular role, highlights a perpetual learning mindset essential for adaptation in Dota 2`s ever-evolving meta.
Conclusion: A Champion`s Confidence
TORONTOTOKYO`s assertion as the world`s premier Chen player is a fascinating blend of self-assuredness, strategic insight, and statistical support. While the title of “best” will always be debated among fans and analysts, his confidence serves as a potent reminder of the psychological warfare inherent in high-level esports. It challenges opponents, entertains audiences, and, most importantly, reaffirms the dedication and belief that drive players to push the boundaries of what`s possible in the digital arena. The next time Chen appears in a professional match, especially under TORONTOTOKYO`s control, eyes will undoubtedly be watching for the manifestation of this bold claim.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Rupert Fairfax