Maelstorm Criticizes Grueling Dota 2 Competitive Schedule

Professional Dota 2 esports commentator Vladimir “Maelstorm” Kuzminov recently shared his concerns about the current season’s overly demanding competition schedule, particularly for Tier 1 tournaments, which he believes places excessive strain on players and teams.

Through his official social media channels, Maelstorm mentioned he had learned of Tundra Esports’ decision to withdraw from the upcoming ESL DreamLeague Season 26. He argued that this was a rational move for any team aiming to balance competitive performance with adequate rest.

“Tundra can be understood, as well as the others — tired. To be honest, I can’t figure out how they perform at all. You can play as usual, but when every day feels like a world championship, and there are one or two of them literally every month, it’s very easy to get tired.”

He further added that the congested schedule risks diminishing the excitement of matches, which are typically headlined by top-tier teams. The Russian commentator explained that player fatigue could lead to lackluster performances, resulting in imbalanced competitions.

His concerns are well-founded, as top teams are no longer limited to major circuits like ESL, the Esports World Cup, and The International. Third-party tournaments such as PGL and Blast, with equally massive prize pools, continue to attract professional players, but sustaining this relentless pace long-term without adverse effects seems impossible.