xiao8:
Environment is not supportive enough for new players
Q: Hello Master 8, thank you so much for agreeing to meeting us. You just had a baby. We SGamers wish him good health and your family happiness and warmth. Can we know the name of the TI20 Champ Little 8? Do you have any career plans for him? Can we see two TI winners in one family?
A: I won’t divulge the name yet. I think I will support whatever interests he has when he grows up. I will be even more supportive if he’s interested in esports.
Q: Which new player do you think will make a great captain?
A: I don’t think there are many new players (to begin with). I don’t think the environment is supportive enough. Among the old players, I think LaNm will do great.
Q: Do you have plans to come out of retirement aside from playing pubs? What about 430?
A: The case should be that I won’t come back. But 430 will consider if the team is good enough.
Q: What about this studio of yours? Are you still hiring?
A: It is just the F4’s (Xiao8, Mu, 430, Sansheng) company to deal with bills and accounts. There isn’t anyone else.
Q: You don’t play PUBG. In fact, you don’t play anything except for Dota and poker?
A: I like to play dota more and I feel there is much to be studied. Also, Dota brings me more than fun.
Q: How do you view the streaming business, which seems to be on the way down? Do you have some new plans? Did you retire for other reasons other than familial?
A: The big environment going worse indeed, but I have no new plans. I decided to be a full-time streamer and spend more time with my family.
Q: During TI7 Liquid went from a loser-bracket team to invincible. What is the reason, do you think, that all 3 Chinese teams? What did they lack in drafting against Liquid? What is the difference between Chinese and a foreign team in terms of overall strategy?
A: It would be very verbose if we go to the details. But generally speaking is Liquid was the better team. They have better strategies and tactics. Also they played 3 Chinese teams in a row so they were warmed up. And it was an odd-numbered year.
Q: You are in very good form (on leaderboard), any secrets to keeping it up?
A: It is OK. Practice makes up for my lack of talent.
Q: As a TI-winning offlaner, can you analyse and comment on Xxs?
A: A player with great potential.
Q: Does F4 have plans aside from casting games?
A: We are very much on our own at the moment aside from casting. We might organise some interesting activities afterwards. Also CDEC Masters is have a new season. We might try it out together.
Q: SGamers gave you many nicknames. Which of them do you think is most interesting and which one do you think you want to be called with?
A: … I am fine as long everyone is having fun.
Q: When you stream in the afternoon you will find there is not much high-MMR games. We know you are now smurfing Sticky’s (T/N: xiao8's wife) account but do you have any more plans in the future? Like playing foreign high-MMR games?
A: I am going to spend time with wife and son so I would miss high-MMR games in the evening. But it is a lot of fun to go smurfing. A lot of players will try to gun you down.
Q: As their captain you played with good players like Maybe and Monet. A lot of SGamers think they are Dota’s future pillar. Can you give a short comment on them?
A: I think TI7 is the best TI for Maybe so far. Monet’s play was very exciting both as a team player and individually.
Q: Retirement and becoming a caster has become a major pathway for a player. As more players retire and become a caster, what do you think the competition produced by it? What else can they do after retirement?
A: Malign competition is good. We can improve together. Aside from being caster/streamer, they can also be coaches, managers, trainers and do other stuff.
Q: LGD is looking for an offlaner (T/N: Interview originally published on 3 Sept), whom do you think is suitable for LGD?
A: I don’t know any particular name. But I’d suggest they get a new player with good potential.
Q: Thank Master 8. Any words for the SGamers?
A: Bros, flame me less.
Source: http://dota2.sgamer.com/news/201709/167772.html
Translator: Shrinkzxo
Editor: rabidch
