win.gg
Win.gg Dota 2 N0tail claps back at Team Secret after smack talk towards OG

N0tail claps back at Team Secret after smack talk towards OG

Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina Published 09/10/2020

The OG vs. Team Secret rivalry is getting better every day.

During ESL One Germany, Johan “N0tail” Sundstein was asked about the social media shade Team Secret has been sending his way over the last few months. N0tail was generally dismissive of the matter and basically said that the record between the two teams speaks for itself.

“I would say there’s always been a build-up every year…especially after [The International 2018], it was like ‘Secret, holy shit man, they’re showing everybody.’ I think there was a big chance for this rivalry to have already happened if they didn’t suck so much at TI. So now we’re here and we’re trying to not suck so much between TIs,” N0tail said.

The tea has been spilled ????@SirActionSlacks asked @OG_BDN0tail about @teamsecret‘s twitter banter ????

Also will @OGesports vs @teamsecret be the next “El clasico”?

???? https://t.co/jKNcjqCY84#ESLOne pic.twitter.com/IyUkMN9Eev

— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) October 6, 2020

Though N0tail was sporting on the matter, he betrayed a bit of frustration with Secret’s recent domination of OG.

Why isn’t Team Secret vs. OG one of esports’ top rivalries?

Team Secret and OG have a whole lot of history. Aside from the fact that the two have been right at the top of the European Dota 2 scene since OG’s formation in 2015, N0tail, longtime teammate Tal “Fly” Aizik, and future OG manager Evany Chang had a bitter breakup with Secret stemming over pay disputes.

This provides the framework for an all-time great esports rivalry, but Secret vs. OG has never really taken hold despite this. Part of this is because Team Liquid, now Team Nigma, has historically been on pace with both OG and Secret. From an interpersonal drama perspective, OG’s biggest rivalry to date has been with Evil Geniuses due to the heartbreaking split of N0tail and Fly ahead of The International 2018.

Things have changed a bit in 2020. Team Secret has taken a page out of League of Legends teams’ playbook and begun to performatively talk smack towards other competitors. OG has been a regular victim of this, with Secret regularly barbing OG when they get the better of a showdown. 

Guess it’s… pic.twitter.com/lNVO48oVr4

— Team Secret (@teamsecret) September 6, 2020

This is deserved to some degree, as OG has made a point of trying to irk opponents in-game by spamming chat wheel sounds and other features. Fair is fair in this regard, and OG should expect this in response.

N0tail doesn’t seem to mind this, but he acknowledges that the big problem with the OG vs. Secret rivalry is that OG hasn’t been performing up to Secret’s level of late. Secret has won their last eight showdowns in a row

“Twitter banter is always good…I think with Secret, we could have some good shit start especially if we can take some games off them in the next best-of-five.”

Steven Rondina Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

View full profile
Read Also
Team Yandex stop the magic, defeating LGD in BLAST Slam VII finals Dota 2
Team Yandex stop the magic, defeating LGD in BLAST Slam VII finals Michael Hassall Team Yandex have defeated LGD Gaming in the grand finals of BLAST Slam VII in a dramatic 3-1 series that saw both teams pushed to the limit, but ultimately Yandex come out on top. Concluding the last major tournament before teams head to the Esports World Cup and The International 2026 next month and in August, Yandex were able to counter the momentum of LGD that had brought them into ...
BLAST Slam VII Finals Predictions and Picks – Can LGD make it all the way? Dota 2
BLAST Slam VII Finals Predictions and Picks – Can LGD make it all the way? Michael Hassall LGD Gaming in the top three of a tournament!? What is this 2021? BLAST Slam VII has been one of the most surprising tournaments of the year, and has capped off the pre-EWC and TI season with some of the most thrilling gameplay we’ve seen in months. And the finals are set to be even more exciting. With just three teams left there’s a lot on the line, from the ...
Easiest Dota 2 Heroes for Beginners – Best Picks to Learn the Game Dota 2
Easiest Dota 2 Heroes for Beginners – Best Picks to Learn the Game Simon Day We can all agree that Dota 2 is a complex game, but starting with the right heroes can make the learning process much smoother. Choosing one of the best Dota 2 heroes for beginners is key to building your skills and enjoying your matches. That’s why it’s time to explore the heroes that are easy to understand, effective in the game and great for learning the fundamentals. Without going into ...
BLAST Slam VII Playoffs Preview – Visa issues transform the playoff picture Dota 2
BLAST Slam VII Playoffs Preview – Visa issues transform the playoff picture Michael Hassall BLAST Slam VII is the last major tournament before teams lock-in and compete at the EWC and The International, and as a result, we’re seeing a tournament with some unique outcomes. With teams seemingly treating this as a last-minute tune-up before the championship clashes of the next two months, a South American team has topped the table and some of the best teams in the world are either without players ...
TI-Champions Tundra Esports exit Dota 2 as roster transfers to 1win Dota 2
TI-Champions Tundra Esports exit Dota 2 as roster transfers to 1win Michael Hassall Tundra Esports has revealed it’s leaving Dota 2 after six years and a victory at The International 2022. The UK-based organization has announced its roster will transfer directly to 1win for future events. The announcement, posted on Tundra's socials on June 1, confirms rumors and earlier social posts from 1win which hinted at a new lineup. With the move, however, questions about 1win’s existing EEU roster and attendance at The ...
A full weekend of TI15 tickets will cost you just $280 – If you don’t mind the view Dota 2
A full weekend of TI15 tickets will cost you just $280 – If you don’t mind the view Michael Hassall Alongside the team invites for The International 2026, Valve today (May 26) unveiled the pricing and details of how to purchase tickets for TI15, and the price is the lowest in years. For years we’ve seen the price of The International Prize, with a peak of around $700 as a lowest price for a full weekend for both 2023 in Seattle, and 2024 in Copenhagen. But after a fall in ...
Valve has announced the TI15 invites: Here’s why some team names are very different Dota 2
Valve has announced the TI15 invites: Here’s why some team names are very different Michael Hassall It’s around three months until The International 2026, TI15, and Valve has just unveiled the direct invites and qualifier invites to the event, but eagle-eyed fans will notice some strange names in the team lists. Valve unveiled the invites in the small hours of the morning on May 26 (late evening on May 25 for their HQ in Bellevue, Washington), detailing the seven direct invites, regional qualifier invites, and some ...