Dmitry “Korb3n” Belov, manager of Team Spirit, recently shared why esports organizations often prioritize young players when building Dota 2 rosters. According to him, the age of a team Players are often scrutinized closely, especially for high-ranked players who are older and have not yet established a reputation in the professional arena.

During a stream on Twitch, Korb3n shared his views:

"Yes, age matters not just because of the number, but also because of what it implies. Imagine you are 30 years old, completely unknown, but you are a highly ranked player. Naturally every People will wonder why you didn't rank high or become famous 10 years ago. That's why organizations often pay attention to age, no matter what anyone says.

However, Korb3n emphasizes that there are also exceptions. He gave the example of Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Hertek, a player who debuted in the professional arena at a young age but quickly proved his outstanding talent in Dota 2.

"But there are also special cases. TORONTOTOKYO joined Yellow Submarine and then won at The International. How old is he? 23 or 24? I don't remember exactly, but the point is that he is not too young when he entered the professional scene, but his 'career age' was low. He played extremely well, so overall age doesn't always matter. But organizations anyway Still considering it."

This shows that the esports industry tends to favor young players, as they are often considered easier to train and adapt to the rigorous demands of the professional arena. However, exceptional talents like TORONTOTOKYO have proven that skill and performance can sometimes trump age in assessing a player's value.

Background:

Previously, Dmitry “Korb3n” Belov commented on The International 2025 tournament, suggesting that Valve could increase the prize fund this year, making it one of the biggest events in Dota 2 history.