From Hanoi, Meet DotA Gamer Kurenai!

Kurenai is one of the best carriers in Hanoi DotA scene. Here some somethings you might want to know!

Favorite quote: “ Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” – Albert Einstein

Favorite gears: Roccat Kova gaming mouse

RGN exclusive interview:

 

RGN: When and how did gaming became part of your life?

Kurenai:

Speaking about games, I think it was about 16 or 17 years ago when my dad gave me my first PC. Well, like many other children, I wanted to play games soo much. I still remember how good I was when I played Dave or Prince of Persia.

 

RGN: Those are some old game titles, So what about DotA?

Kurenai:

Because I lived in Hai Phong for a long time before moving to Hanoi, DotA came to my life a bit later than other eSport players. Hai Phong is not an eSport central as Hanoi. When I was studying in high school, the only games I knew were WarCraft III melee, Age of Empires and StarCraft.

After moving to Hanoi and studying at FPT University, I started to pick up DotA and found it very interesting. This game was actually introduced to me by my friends and they guided me along.

 

RGN: When did you decided on becoming a pro gamer?

Kurenai:

Playing DotA became a popular trend in Hanoi back in 2007, so I became familiarize with it. I don’t exactly remember when I thought of being a pro gamer. But the idea of playing DotA at high level was influenced by NetViet tournaments. You know that, competitive feeling is way too different than staying at home crushing “pub players”. The feeling is incredibly awesome. Since then I started to play competitive matches more and more.

 

RGN: Could you tell us one of your best moments playing in a competitive DotA scrim?

Kurenai:

Perhaps it was the match when I played against team Inf in WCG 2008. I was playing Treant Protector that time. After 26 mins, I got Radiance, Travel Boots and Refresh Orb but we still lost to Inf. It was unbelievable that we could lose such a match. Up until today, the memories still lingers and I am still upset. 

 

RGN: Do you have anyone who supports your gaming career?

Kurenai:

I have many friends, they understand why I have such passion towards a gaming career and they have also encouraged me to play DotA competitively. However, there is no one staying with me along side and helping me. DotA involves a teamwork style in-game but I don’t know why I always stand alone in the end. Maybe it is because of my own style; soloing everything. I think this is the reasons that have prevented me from going far in DotA career.

My family members are aware that I am playing something called “eSport” but they do not care and never care what it is. They do not support me of course but they have not prevented me from playing.

 

RGN: How do you train for DotA on a daily basis? Do you watch videos or replays?

Kurenai:

On videos, I rarely watch them. Watching videos is just a source of entertain, like enjoying the music that plays on it. However, replays are something different. They are very useful in every ways. I watched them many times over till the extend that even I couldn’t count how many replays I had watch. Maybe 10 thousand! I had never missed any local or foreign tournament replays.

My training method is not too complex. In my team, I am a carrier, it means I have to farm, farm and farm as much as I can but also grasping the whole map to react with combats and incoming dangers.

 

RGN: Which team(s) have you played for? Any cherished moments?

Kurenai:

It was the team which consists of me, player_left and meteora [lq] 1 year ago. We were not a team anymore but we are still a family. We fought together, won together and also, lost together. Via DotA, I made many friends in compared to my real life. To be honest, I am not much sociable. That’s why gaming became a huge part of my life.

 

RGN: Because of DotA, what did you gain and what did you lose?

Kurenai:

As I said, I made a lot of friends in DotA. About what I lost, I don’t think a gamer would lose something when he started playing games. He would get more than what people think he had lost.