LizZard shares his perspective on Dota and life in an interview at OG Hub throughout ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023.
Admir “lizZard” Salkanović is a famend Bosnian Dota 2 commentator and former professional who has been across the scene for many of its historical past. From his time as a professional participant all the best way to turning into one of many mainstay abilities, lizZard has saved two issues fixed: His self-discipline in life and his love for Dota.
Throughout the course of ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, lizZard had as soon as once more grew to become the host of OG Monkey Enterprise Present, a program which he had been part of for fairly a while. As normal, his charisma saved the gang in Malaysia entertained all through the present.
On Dec. 16, esports.gg managed to get in contact with lizZard for an interview. We had been capable of study his journey as a participant and expertise, in addition to the issues that drove him ahead in life. Behind his overtly gung-ho persona is somebody who workout routines self-discipline with a grounded mindset, however remains to be capable of embrace the pure free circulate of life. One factor’s for certain; LizZard is a forward-thinking particular person and this is why:
Does lizZard ever wish to come again to the professional scene?
![LizZard on the Western Europe Winter Dota Pro Circuit panel - February 2023 (Image by PGL)](https://esports.gg/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fadmin.esports.gg%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FLizZard-on-the-Western-Europe-Winter-Dota-Pro-Circuit-panel-February-2023-Image-by-PGL-1024x576.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
LizZard on the Western Europe Winter Dota Professional Circuit panel – February 2023 (Picture by PGL)
Howdy, lizZard and thanks a lot for the interview. It has been seven years because you transitioned from a professional participant to a expertise. How’s that going for you? Would you ever wish to return to being a participant?
LizZard: “Hell sure, I might like to! I have been taking part in pubs lately. And to be actual, since my pals first launched me to DotA, I all the time felt just like the video games had been kind of simple. Except I am taking part in professional video games, it was not likely that tough. And I can see the errors that everybody else was doing. Nonetheless, in my current video games, I used to be unable to see errors from others, far more only for myself. Which means that I am in the suitable place. I am simply not as quick anymore though I nonetheless love the sport and can all the time attempt.”
By the best way, I additionally performed in windowed mode for half a 12 months and misplaced 1,000 MMR. However I am cussed and saved on making an attempt to persuade myself that windowed mode works. The second I shut it off, I went on a 20 win streak. So, possibly I will achieve 5,000 MMR now, however will I change into a professional once more? Most unlikely.”
Embodying Bruce Lee’s precept of “be water”
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In different phrases, would you say you’ve got discovered your true calling in Dota as a expertise or panelist?
LizZard: “This will sound stereotypical from me particularly since I’m going to the fitness center, however I all the time look again to Bruce Lee’s assertion, ‘be water.’ You’ll be able to usually use that in any facet of your life. I haven’t got a purpose. I really feel that the place I’m proper now’s very nice and I really like doing what I am doing, like internet hosting the OG Hub for instance. Did you see the present at this time when Slacks [Jake “SirActionSlacks” Kanner] ate a banana leaf?
“Wherever life takes you, I simply glide. That is the strategy I am having.”
LizZard’s precept in life
What else are you able to do in life the place you receives a commission to get pleasure from your self? I shed a tear throughout that phase. I am actually proud of the place I’m. I am proud of the profession selections that I’ve taken. Is that this the tip sport for me? I do not suppose so. Wherever life takes you, I simply glide. That is the strategy I am having.”
LizZard: “I do not stick stubbornly to at least one thought”
In your thoughts, have you ever surpassed the success you’ve got ever had as a participant now as a expertise?
LizZard: “One hundred percent. My dream was to make it to TI as a professional participant. Sadly, I by no means made that. However as I stated, I all the time glide. If a possibility arises, I do not look away. I do not stick stubbornly to at least one concept that’s in all probability going to hang-out me in my life. Wanting again, I am actually proud of the alternatives I made. I do not know the place I might be if I simply continued pursuing the professional participant profession.
So, after all I’ve to say I surpassed my professional profession by being an analyst and every part. I’ve achieved far more, going to so many majors and TIs. I suppose there’s slightly little bit of remorse for not making it to TI as a participant. However moreover that, I am very proud of every part that I went by way of.”
On having household’s assist for a profession in esports
Referring again to one of many interviews you’ve got achieved in your previous, you talked about how your loved ones was not totally on board along with your profession as a participant. Has that modified since you’ve got grew to become a expertise?
LizZard: “Oh yeah, I am a Bosnian so after all my household was not on board. Really, I used to be sort of good at Warcraft, and that is the place my esports profession began. I gained a few native tournaments and actually needed to compete extra in that sport. My household needed me to deal with my research, however I might relatively play Warcraft and nothing else. They’d even plug out the electrical energy to cease me [laughs]. I began taking part in Dota throughout my college days and I nonetheless get the identical response. Although I’ve to say my household supported me immensely as a result of I did not have an issue financially. So I used to be blessed to have a really caring household, brother and fogeys who psychologically supported me.
And sure, I feel that has modified since I grew to become a expertise. I am creating wealth, I am shopping for stuff and I am offering. I don’t depend on them. I imply even again after I was a professional participant, I nonetheless acquired a pleasant wage for Bosnian requirements. So that they did not actually thoughts that a lot. They simply minded the preliminary interval by which you are actually a broke-ass pupil.”
LizZard’s harsh reality on discovering a profession as a participant
Mother and father in lots of elements of the world, particularly amongst older generations have little data on esports and would view it with some stigma. In your opinion, how would you advise others {that a} profession in esports is viable?
LizZard: “Whether or not in Dota or simply esports normally, I might say the identical factor. I would not attempt being a professional participant except I made one thing and proved one thing to myself already. I used to be rank one on the leaderboards and I used to be nonetheless doubting myself. Ought to I stream or not? Ought to I attempt to go professional or not? For my part, I do not suppose that it is best to waste an excessive amount of time should you do not see that you’ve got the expertise. And you’ll simply see that statistically. Are you ranked prime 100? Or are you at the very least rising actually quick by way of the ranks in a single 12 months like going from 2k to 6k. Are you younger sufficient? Simply do not sit there and mislead your self that you’ll make it.
“It’s a must to be loopy in regards to the sport, it’s important to like it and also you additionally need to have one thing in it for your self. Be actual with your self. I feel that is crucial.”
LizZard’s advise on contemplating a profession path in Dota
I imply this may be too actual, however do not waste your time making an attempt to go professional if you do not have what it takes and discover out quickly should you aren’t bettering quick. As an alternative, I wish to twist this towards a optimistic spin. Benefit from the sport! It is not all in regards to the competitors. Like myself, I actually needed to play it on a regular basis, and I actually needed to be the very best. It’s a must to be loopy in regards to the sport, it’s important to like it and also you additionally need to have one thing in it for your self. Be actual with your self. I feel that is crucial.”
On turning into as a bunch on the OG Monkey Enterprise Present
Certainly! Thanks for such an amazing advise, LizZard. Subsequent, I wish to speak about OG Monkey Enterprise Present [MBS]. You have been part of this program for at the very least 12 episodes. How did you find yourself turning into a staple visitor of this present? Are you considered one of their important hosts now or one thing?
LizZard: “No, we similar to working collectively. And so long as that is the case, we’ll proceed doing it. How I ended up in OG MBS is mainly as a result of I do know somebody who is aware of somebody. The man producing this invited me at some point to be a visitor of the podcast. On the time, I used to be casting until 5:00 a.m. and the podcast was at 8:00 a.m. And I nonetheless confirmed up nonetheless and it labored out. After that, I do not know what occurred however they wanted somebody to host this system in Berlin, and considered me from that podcast after I was wanting lifeless drained.
However the comic story is, he is Croatian and I am Bosnian. So we’re in neighboring international locations and we’re near Romania, the place TI10 was held. COVID was nonetheless there on the time, however sadly lots of people had already flew into Romania although they could not get any tickets as the sector was closed to the general public. He [Ivan Chadnar] reached out to me and requested if I can share that. He wasn’t part of OG again then. Ivan is a good man by the best way.”
Anyway, he requested me if I might assist him promote some form of hub he was organizing the place they may go and watch video games collectively. Particularly for these stranded in Romania with nothing to do. So I helped him out slightly bit there. After which in a while I feel we held that connection. So karma, I suppose, I do not know. However then once more, I actually like doing this and up to now I feel they’re having fun with it too. So hopefully it continues.”
LizZard’s fitness center routine and train suggestions
![LizZard working out on the beach (Image by <a href="https://x.com/lizZardDota2/status/1561793400822648832?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">lizZard</a>)](https://esports.gg/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fadmin.esports.gg%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FLizZard-working-out-on-a-beach-in-what-seems-to-be-a-beach-in-North-America-Image-by-lizZard-1024x576.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
On this episode, you talked about that you’re a fitness center bro. Are you able to share your routine and a few secret work out suggestions?
LizZard: “My fitness center routine proper now’s far and wide. I’ve had some accidents so I do what I can just about to remain in form. In the intervening time, I am simply specializing in calisthenics. I’m going to the fitness center, placed on a weighted belt and do as many pull-ups as I can. I put 20 to 40 kilograms, do 5 pull-ups and repeat it till I am lifeless. That is just about it. Earlier than I did a number of squats and lifeless lifts. I might say pull-ups, lifeless lifts and squats are the very best three you are able to do for your self. That is all it’s important to do. You are going to be huge in a 12 months or at the very least you are going to see modifications.
After all, it’s important to care for your self by doing a little rotator cuff, stretch or mobility workout routines. Simply so you do not damage your self. And take it sluggish and self-discipline your self. I feel self-discipline is essential in every part in life.”
How do you encourage and self-discipline your self?
LizZard: “Motivation is a non-factor. I do not know, possibly I am simply lacking some mind cells that individuals need to preserve motivated. However the best way I see it, it does not matter if I am drained or not. I must get my ass up and simply go. That is it. Once I get there, I will take into consideration my motivation. You are going to have so many days in your life by which you can not go due to numerous causes. Motivation is not one. You are going to be damage, you are going to be touring or you are going to be sick. Something can occur and most definitely will occur in some unspecified time in the future in your life. So, take day by day which you can and use it.
“Something can occur and most definitely will occur in some unspecified time in the future in your life. So, take day by day which you can and use it.”
LizZard on focusing extra on taking up every day at a time relatively than discovering motivation
Objectives for 2024 and phrases to his followers
The 12 months is coming to an finish. What are among the targets you want to accomplish in 2024?
LizZard: “I wish to perceive myself higher and be happier. I am nonetheless glad, however I simply wish to be higher to the folks round me. Be taught to pay attention extra and speak much less, although that is one thing I’ve to do right here at work [laughs]. Simply normally, change into higher at every part. Moreover that, no actual targets. As soon as once more, like I stated, I actually by no means in my life stated this 12 months I am going to do that and that. I actually by no means made a purpose for the brand new 12 months as a result of I glide. However you realize what? I’ll work out on the primary of January.”
Very good! Lastly, what do you want to say to your followers on the market?
LizZard: “I’ve followers [laughs]? Thanks for supporting me. I get your messages. I attempt to reply as many as I can. If I do not, I am sorry. I am making an attempt to stream once more so you may be part of the stream. I hope you’re having fun with the OG MBS as nicely. Carry on watching it and thanks for following. Each fan who I’ve met up to now has been nice. So carry on being your self. Carry on being good. And I want you a Merry Christmas, glad holidays and glad new 12 months.”
Thanks lizZard on your time in taking this interview and on your abundance of vitality that’s really contagious.
You’ll want to catch lizZard not solely on OG MBS but additionally his private streams and social on the following:
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