In the often-humble world of professional esports, a dose of confident bravado is always refreshing. Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Hertek, the celebrated offlaner for Aurora Gaming in Dota 2, has recently delivered just that, unequivocally declaring himself the “strongest Chen player in the world, no jokes.”
This audacious claim, shared via the LEGENDWP DOTA 2 Telegram channel, comes with a challenge:
If you have a brain and watch a couple of official games, you`ll understand everything. <…> I thought Chen `three` should be played. I played a couple of games — it didn`t really work out, to be honest. The hero has too little lane damage.
Such a statement isn`t merely a boast; it`s an invitation – or perhaps a dare – for the Dota 2 community to witness his mastery of one of the game`s most intricate heroes.
The Enigma of Chen: A Niche Pick
Chen, for the uninitiated, is not your typical carry hero. He`s a micro-intensive support, a spiritual shepherd of neutral creeps, capable of healing allies, pushing lanes with summoned minions, and providing global presence. Mastering Chen requires exceptional multitasking and map awareness, making him a niche pick often reserved for players with a specific, almost monastic, dedication to the hero. His complexity means he rarely sees consistent play, making any claim of global supremacy on him particularly noteworthy.
TORONTOTOKYO`s Dual Role and Discrepancies
What makes TORONTOTOKYO`s declaration particularly intriguing is his primary role. Known as a formidable offlaner (position 3), a player who often dictates the pace of the lane with aggressive plays and disruptive abilities, his expertise on a complex position 5 support like Chen seems to have been a well-kept secret, even from himself, it appears.
According to Dotabuff statistics, TORONTOTOKYO has indeed showcased remarkable prowess on Chen, boasting a 69.2% win rate across 13 official matches. However, these performances weren`t in his usual offlane dominion. Instead, all 13 games were played as a position 5 support during his tenure with BetBoom Team. This raises an interesting question: if he`s the world`s best, why only a baker`s dozen of official games, and all in a role he doesn`t typically inhabit?
The Offlane Experiment: A Reality Check
Hertek himself revealed that he briefly contemplated playing Chen as a position 3 offlaner. “I thought Chen `three` should be played,” he mused, but then conceded, “it didn`t really work out, to be honest. The hero has too little lane damage.” A pragmatic assessment, perhaps tempering his universal claim with the cold reality of hero limitations in specific roles. Even the self-proclaimed king must acknowledge his subject`s practical boundaries, finding the hero`s utility more suited to supporting from the backlines than dominating the treacherous offlane.
Beyond the Claim: Passion and Perseverance
This latest assertion isn`t an isolated burst of confidence. TORONTOTOKYO has previously delved into philosophical discussions about player burnout, noting his personal enjoyment of every match and his resistance to fatigue from tournament play. This underlying passion and deep immersion in Dota 2 might just be the crucible from which such unwavering self-belief emerges. It suggests a player who is not merely performing, but truly living and breathing the game, pushing boundaries even within his own hero pool.
The Gauntlet Thrown: What`s Next?
So, is TORONTOTOKYO truly the world`s strongest Chen player? The official statistics, while impressive, offer a glimpse rather than a full portrait. But in the world of esports, sometimes a bold declaration is all it takes to shift perceptions and inspire awe – or perhaps, a few challenging counter-picks in upcoming tournaments. The gauntlet has been thrown; now, the world waits to see if the king will solidify his reign and bring his unparalleled Chen to Aurora Gaming`s upcoming battles. Spectators, prepare your brains; you might just learn something.
Finley Holt