7 things I learned from The International 2014

The International 2014 (TI4) is the International of upsets and disappointments: giants fell, gods bled, and the underdogs shone brighter than any other previous International. However, you do learn far more from losses than from wins. What do you think this most bittersweet International taught us so far?

1. Players are here to win first and entertain second

The fans want to be entertained. The players compete to win. Unfortunately, sometimes, a team has to play a boring strategy to win.

Remember the Chinese ricing games that redefined the meaning of “late game” during The International 2012? And have you noted how social media blew up with “disgust” when Titan and Alliance ratted it out against Na’Vi? Don’t the players know how boring these strategies are?

Of course they do. Heck, even the ratting team is probably bored and stressed of what it’s doing (although it’s not an easy strategy to pull off, mind you), but the players are there to take their best shot at the $5 million first prize. If a game requires them to rat it out, then why not? It sucks for us spectators (and the enemy team), but remember, they are competitors before they are entertainers. And they are here to win.

2. It’s the better team, not the favorite team, that wins

For the guys rooting for the underdogs, this is such a sweet statement, but for the rest of us who rooted for the favorites, this stings. I was rooting for Na’Vi and Team DK mainly because they had powerhouse rosters with my favorite players. And although neither of them made it to the grand final, I’m actually lucky compared to Team Alliance’s fans. Their team didn’t even make it to the bubble brackets. Did this year’s favorite teams underperform or were the underdogs just that good? The answer to this question is debatable, but one thing’s for certain: winners are determined by the results of their performance, not the cumulative wishes of their fans.

3. Some people prefer to stay with winners

They say true fans stick with their favorite teams or players through thick and thin. However, not everyone adheres to this, whether they admit it or not. It is a fact there are people who are more attracted to victory than passion. After all, it’s easier to cheer if your team is winning. As a fan, it may be annoying when someone trash talks your favorite team just because it lost, but remember, this is the Internet, so troll or white knight at your own risk.

4. There are two sides to every upset

The losing team is sad. The winning team is happy. This is what competition is all about. As members of this community, we should watch what we say about the underdogs who upset the favorites. You may think your team underperformed, but don’t take away the fact that the opponent also worked hard for it. Nobody comes to The International with the intention of doing their worst.