Name: Miky Chea
Alias: XsK_Samurai
Age: 18
Location: Fresno, California
Current Team: Team Xero Skill

Hey Miky, how about starting things off with an introduction of yourself.

Hey, my name is Miky, also known as XsK_Samurai, and I play DotA at an international level for Team Xero Skill.

How did you get into DotA?

Well, my brother introduced it to me and I tried it out. My brother and I are pretty competitive once it comes to games. He was better than me at first, but I had to get better than him. And from there it just escalated.

How did you come up with the alias Samurai, any special reasons?

I’ve always enjoyed watching anime. My favorite was Rurouni Kenshin and wanted to have an alias Kenshin. But it was already taken! So I came up with someone relatively close to it.

You have come along way in your DotA Career, starting off on west then moving to IHCS2 and eventually IHCS1, how did you get to where you are today?

I’m lucky enough to have a friend that would help me get through the rough patches of playing this game. It’s all about persistence and dedication. If you put your mind to something that you want to accomplish it will happen. Good things don’t come easy though.

Can you tell us which teams you have played for in the past, and which team you are currently on? Which was your favorite?

I’ve played for several teams. To be fair, I started off with gsCO which was just a recreational team consisting of gs_Juggalo and his crew. After that we created Xero Skill. From there, I wanted to get better so I started doing more In-Houses with Clan R4PE. We enjoyed playing together and made Clan s1n with Stentorian, Astuit, and PureAcid. We couldn’t find a stable 5th so we ended up just going our separate ways. I continued while they dealt with their real lives. From there it was Flux Gaming which later turned into Just Cause Project (jCp-). And finally NaFu, where I started playing at an International level and was recruited by Check-6. Now here we are, at Team XsK again.

Who do you feel are the top five players nowadays?

It’s definitely hard to say since there are great players out there. But I’m going to think a little less unconventional and go with these players. First there’s vigoss, with his overall-aggressive play-style. Second is Loda, where he has the special ability to farm and gank at the same time. Then there’s Ars-Art who has been spectacular throughout Pride Nations and Defending. I’m going to have to say my fourth would have to be LighTofHeaveN. He has everything you want from a player. Finally, I’m going to have to pull one out of Battle.net Lordareon, Ownage-Juice. Not sure if anyone knows him, but he has a solid overall style of play.

Your name has been out in the competitive scene for quite a while, how did you get to be one of the top players?

That’s a little much to say since there are many players who are better than me. But I’ve been constantly trying to get better anyway I can. From IHCS to scrimmages, you become limited to what you can do. However, if there are things you need to work on, there are ways to get better. Always!

Throughout your DotA Career, you must have had many memorable moments, can you tell us your most memorable experience?

If I would mention only one moment, I would leave out something and would feel so guilty and awful. So I’m going to have to say that playing DotA is my most memorable moment. I’m glad to have met the people I have encountered. These characters I meet I take from them their experience, play-style, and most of all friendship.

Do you feel you have any certain strengths, or weaknesses? If so, how do you go about training to make these better?

Definitely! I do have my own style of play, but what I tend to do is try to switch characters. From all the replays and gaming experience I’ve had with the top players in the world I try to notice something they have that makes them different from the rest of the players out there. And once you do that, you can somehow adapt and change your style to the way they play. So when I’m playing I try to switch play styles. It may sound weird but it helps me play my best.

Do you play any other games competitively, or just to play, besides DotA?

Hahaha. Why yes I do. I play Warcraft III : TFT Ladder just to stay focused and sharp on my micro. And I’m not even going to lie. I play flashflashrevolution.com. I’m a total Dance Dance Revolution nerd. But both help with loosening up my fingers!

If you could tell the every day players looking to make it into the competitive DotA scene, what would it be?

Don't be afraid to make that step. If you are afraid to play a top tier player, then you are afraid to get better. You must have confidence in everything you do, especially yourself. Dedication and desire is what seperates players

Thanks a lot for your time, any last words?

Thank you for taking your time with this interview. It was definitely a great way to bring back some memories. And I would like to make a shout out to XsK_Doubledunk who is also known as Carlos. Never can you get a friend like this. Thanks Carlos. =_+