Dota 2 remains the most lucrative esports title for any player hoping to make it professional as a gamer and Arteezy is one of the best at the game. The almost annual The International tournament has consistently broken records on the most awarded prize money for an esports event. It's a surefire way for any player to make it to the top of the earnings leaderboard with just one TI win. However, there's a legendary player that somehow managed to make his name known despite the absence of a TI title.
Enter Arteezy
Artour “Arteezy” Babaev is a veteran Dota 2 player with a lot of wins under his belt. He has yet to claim the coveted Aegis of Champions but his record is not to be scoffed at. Arteezy, sometimes RTZ, currently ranks 22nd on the all-time player earnings leaderboard for Dota 2. He has taken home approximately $2,257,053.21 in earnings since debuting in 2013. So just how did this Canadian player rake in all that prize money?
Arteezy Top 5 Dota 2 Results by Cash Prize
- The International 2018 – $536,175.80
- The International 2019 – $240,310.40
- The International 2014 – $207,691.00
- The International 2015 – $165,866.52
- The International 2017 – $74,063.80
It's partially because of the large prize pools that several Dota 2 tournaments put up. The primary reason for Arteezy's massive earnings chest is the frequency of tournaments he's attended. He has fought in a little over 100 tournaments both offline and online.
Arteezy has fought under different team banners over the years, chief of which belongs to Team Secret and Evil Genuises. Arteezy has been known to go back-and-forth between Secret and EG for several years. Out of the around 100 events and tournaments, Arteezy has secured over 30 championship victories with various teams. When asked about his views on competition, the Canadian Dota 2 star had this to say.
“I think whenever I get into these games, first thing, I think you should always play to win, because playing to lose, you’re always going to hinder yourself. You play a bit scared. If you’re just playing because you don’t want to lose, you’re not using everything you have in your arsenal.”
Arteezy's steadfast view on professional Dota 2 is what has helped him win so many tournaments and events. It is interesting to note that he has yet to take home even any Major championship wins. Evil Genuises managed to take home the crown at The International 2015 when he was not part of the roster. Yet he is still one of the top players of the game. His Dota 2 path just proves one doesn't need to consistently top the professional rankings to be considered a successful player.
Building a Dota 2 legacy
It takes countless hours of training and practice to become a successful Dota 2 professional. Many aim for the peak but fall short of actually appearing at The International. It's no different for Arteezy, who constantly looks to better himself as long as he competes. Arteezy discussed the importance of taking a break from intense training when asked just how much Dota 2 he plays personally.
“I play a lot usually. When I get home from a long boot camp, I have to stop myself from playing Dota 2 because I don’t want to burn myself out. … I eventually got pretty bored of it and I’m getting back into Dota 2 right now.”
Arteezy's advice is hard to ignore given his many tournament and event wins despite the lack of the TI title. It would seem the number one important thing for any Dota 2 professional is to love the game immensely. This would also go for other esports titles regardless of platform. Arteezy's commitment to bettering himself has shown in his performances. He continues to play with passion and dedication alongside his teammates on Evil Geniuses.
Moving forward
There are over 60 Dota 2 professionals that have taken home over $1 million in cash prizes. Many of the top players in the game haven't even made it to the grand finals stage at TI. If Arteezy is any indication, Dota 2 players can be successful as long as they keep competing in tournaments.
Arteezy has currently competed for around seven years in professional Dota 2. It's difficult to see the Canadian Carry drop out of the scene any time soon. It would be safe to assume that we can still see Arteezy raking in the wins and the prize money for many more years. There are always tournaments and events to take part in for one of the biggest esports titles in history. Who knows, we might even see Arteezy raise the Aegis of Champions one of these days. We're sure that Evil Geniuses fans would love to see that.
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