Rafli “Mikoto” Rahman has been enjoying popularity as one of the Dota 2 community’s favorite players, thanks to his outstanding performance in Saudi Arabia last month. Many people are now considering him and his team, Talon Esports, as the next dark horse for The International 12.
Talon Esports has earned 1120 points throughout the Dota 2 Pro Circuit SEA and Dota 2 Major competitions this season, making them the sole Southeast Asian representative to receive a direct invitation to the tournament. However, while fans are waiting to hear what the team has in the store for the grand tournament, Mikoto revealed that he is contemplating retirement if he achieves tremendous success this season.
During a live streaming session on his YouTube account a few days ago, a viewer asked Mikoto about his goals for the Dota 2 competition, especially the upcoming TI 12. He responded by saying that if he wins this year’s TI competition, he wouldn’t want to do anything else afterwards.
“When it comes to life after The International, I’m thinking of nothing else. If I win a major competition like TI or the Riyadh Masters, I’ll definitely consider retirement,” he remarked. “After that, my life will revolve around having fun, and the money can be used for things like long-term investments.”
He also mentioned that there are several factors prompting him to reconsider pursuing a career in esports tournaments for an extended period of time. One of them is the stress of competition, which he acknowledges is both physically and psychologically exhausting, as well as the frequent overseas trips every few months. He prefers to carry on with his daily live streaming from home and relax, rather than spending a lot of time outside.
Nevertheless, he is open to the idea of continuing to compete, even after reaching the pinnacle of his profession, especially if offers come from the European top dogs.
