Xu “fy” Linsen has been praised as one of the great support play makers. Having started his Dota 2 career playing with Vici Gaming in 2012 with no prior experience, he has quickly risen to the captain position, leading his team to many championship titles and their greatest achievement to date – second place at The International 4. Fy’s TI5 player profile walks us through his role one the team and explains how the VG players count on their captain’s leadership outside of just calling plays on the map.
Relatively new to the professional Dota 2 scene, Xu started his career in 2012 with Vici Gaming and has been a stable part of the team ever since. In his first year with VG, the team did well in various premier and major tournaments and took part in The International 3 qualifiers. They were eliminated early and failed to qualify.
However, after a couple of changes in roster and within the organization, fy assumed the captain role and led his team to multiple victories. The greatest of them all, a highly commendable second place at The International 4, in 2014.
Despite primarily playing support for Vici Gaming, fy has won two 1v1 tournaments: the ECL 2013 Dota 2 Season 1v1 tournament, in July 2013 (where he defeated renowned players such as Gong “ZSMJ” Jian, Xu Zhilei“BurNIng”, and Chen Tianyu “cty”), and the For a Few Tangoes More 1v1 tournament at The Summit 1, in 2014 (where he triumphed over Steve “Excalibur” Ye and Gleb “Funn1k” Lipatnikov).
When Vici Gaming was first created in 2012, the newly formed team had set their sights on Xu “fy” Linsen. At that time, fy had not played a single game of Dota 2. However, Vici Gaming insisted on him joining them and made multiple attempts at recruiting him.
Xu “fy” Linsen
Their efforts paid off and fy proved his skill and worth over and over again ever since. His first time leaving the country, he grabbed the championship title in Poland, during the EMS LAN. fy’s first time playing at The International, Vici Gaming seized second place. Vici Gaming’s manager talks about fy’s accomplishments, and refers to him as one of VG’s symbols, comparing him to legendary football players Totti and Maldini (editor’s note: the TI5 profile subtitles offer an incorrect translation, DiMaggio). VG’s manager also gives merit to the entire team’s efforts and their great inter-relationships.
This is a goal that most pro players still aren’t able to achieve even after years of playing. There is no doubt he deserved last year’s rookie of the year, but I think it was also a result of the team’s effort.
Dota 2 is a team game that requires five players working together and communicating well. Individual skill is only one aspect that will make for a successful team, but the players’ ability to compliment each other on the playing field – augmenting each other’s assets and strengths or compensating for any weaknesses – is just as important.
Fy has created a cohesive bond with Lu “Fenrir” Chao. The support duo has displayed incredible combos and rotations time and time again.
Fy and Fenrir, Vici Gaming
I think Fenrir and I have the best chemistry that two supports can have. Usually, we don’t even bother mentioning mistakes. When I under-perform, he will encourage me and when he’s playing poorly, I will encourage him.
The members of Vici Gaming have a strong desire to win and much of the credit is given to fy’s role on the team as both support and captain. Always dependable and always giving the others something to count on, fy continues to be a stable, critical part of Vici Gaming.
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