Fnatic finally ended its part in this year’s post-International roster shuffle drama, as Southeast Asia’s number one Dota 2 team finally filled out its squad and is now ready for the upcoming major tournaments this fall.
American Jimmy “DeMoN” Ho and Filipino pair Marc Polo Luis “Raven” Fausto and Nico “eyyou” Barcelon, who are all former members of TNC Pro Team, have now brought their talents to Malaysia and will carry the Fnatic banner along with team captain Chai “Mushi” Yee Fun and Khoo “Ohaiyo” Chong Xin.
In this series of introductions, we’ll share a few facts about the trio who will now wear the Fnatic crest on their chests!
Jimmy “DeMoN” Ho
Out of the former TNC bunch that transferred to Fnatic, it is Jimmy “DeMoN” Ho who holds the most storied resume.
The 26-year-old American of Vietnamese descent has played for more than a handful of professional teams across four continents and has appeared in many major and premier tournaments, including four trips to the prestigious Internationals.
In the last International alone, Ho won an approximate $103,000 after spearheading TNC to a 7th-8th place finish in Seattle, USA. According to esportsearnings.com, the support player from USA has received more than $177,000 in prize money from 30 tournaments.
NOT A FIRST
DeMoN has already suited up once for Fnatic, back when the team was still based in Europe and needed temporary replacements for Adrian “Era” Kryeziu and Kai “H4nni1” Hanbuckers in the premier tournament Dota 2 League Season 4 in early 2014.
Ho was without a proper team during that period, having just ended his stay with the Korean squad MVP Phoenix.
Fnatic knocked on DeMoN’s door and the latter agreed to play for the former, along with Kurtis Daniel “Aui_2000” Ling and the short marriage was successful after the team won second place and took home $15,000 in prizes.
ROLLER COASTER RIDE
Before Jimmy “DeMoN” Ho became the experienced veteran that he is now, he started his pro career with a little known squad called Team hi2u.
“DeMoN” exuded great potential as a support when hi2u played in a competition sponsored by Danish team Meet Your Makers, so the European squad picked him up in 2010 and gave him a taste of the big leagues of Dota 2.
In what DeMoN recalls as the most memorable moment of his career, his playmaking with the hero Puck during the International 2011 not only helped MYM finish fourth in the tourney, but also showcased Jimmy’s talents in Dota 2’s biggest stage.
Incredibly, MYM disbanded just eight days after the first TI, but four of its former players did not have to wait long to be in another team as Ho and three of his teammates got picked up by American side Evil Geniuses, who was, by then, was just entering the Dota 2 scene after numerous success in other esports including the first Dota.
Ho spent two years with EG, despite the lack of success in premier and major competitions. They placed tied for 9th-12th in TI2, and even failed to qualify for TI3.
DeMoN admitted that he lost motivation near the end of his stint with EG, which released him in September of 2013.
But instead of feeling down and out, DeMoN relentlessly rebuilt his career and worked his way back as a top competitor in the world of Dota 2.
“It was then I came to realize what I needed to do to rebuild myself as an individual. You can never be too comfortable,” said Ho to Red Bull in 2014 as he recalled his EG days.
JOURNEYMAN
After spending two years with a single team, DeMoN’s career has become like that of an NBA journeyman’s, helping one team get over the hump to win many accolades before transferring to another side and doing the same thing all over again.
“My goal is to again be the player I once was but in a very unique fashion this time,” said Ho in the same interview with Red Bull. “[I want to] influence and motivate others to always continue moving forward despite the struggles and pain you may go through”.
He created the team Take Five on September 29, 2013 and won RaidCall EMS One Fall Americas, but disbanded the team and joined the UK side Dignitas, who he will help to win the MLG Full Sail Invitational, though Dignitas will disband soon after the competition.
When no European or American team came calling, DeMoN travelled to Asia, his third continent, and joined Korean MVP Phoenix. He won the premier tourney Nexon League Season 2 but left after a month, then joined Fnatic for one competition as mentioned earlier. He also suited up once for Team Cloud 9 in the Monster Energy Invitational.
On February 2014, he joined Team Dog and bagged a number of small monthly challenges before being called by another big squad in Team Liquid in April of that year.
With Liquid, DeMoN once again competed in the International, but they finished 9th-10th after losing to LGD Gaming in TI4. He left Liquid on July 29th that year before playing once for European sides Natus Vincere and Virtus Pro.
On February 2015, DeMoN spent a month with FIRE before signing with Canadian side Summer’s Rift, winning a number of small tourneys before leaving in August 2015 and creating the team High Council of Wizards and Priests after TI5.
After the Council saw little success, the team disbanded and DeMoN then played for Monkey Freedom Fighters, though he will leave just after two months to join As1-.
NEXT CHAPTER
Ho had short stints with EverNovaS and Views before he played in his fourth continent when he signed with Infamous, a Peruvian team.
But he left after just one month to join the Filipino team TnC Pro Team, who had much potential but always came up short in the qualifiers of major and premier tournaments.
Under Ho’s guidance, TnC not only qualified for TI6, but they also finished 7th-8th place whilst knocking out tournament favorites Team OG in their second day in the lower bracket.
Days after the post-TI shuffle began, TnC shocked fans and rivals alike after it ended their feel-good story and disbanded.
On September 7, 2016, three members from TnC left and joined the two remaining members of Fnatic.
It seemed a perfect fit, but only time will tell whether DeMoN can live up to his dream of pushing others to improve, and if he can push an already successful team like Fnatic, who finished fourth in the last TI, to even greater heights.
