ari: "Taking breaks doesn't always make you a better player"

1win Team support Matthew 'ari' Walker talked about the need for rest for professional players, and also talked about whether he faces anxiety when performing in tournaments. The eSports player shared his thoughts during the live broadcast of the Esports World Cup 2026.

Everything is individual. Some people need breaks more than others, and it also depends on your situation. For example, if you take a long-term view, you definitely need breaks to avoid burnout. You can't just play non-stop for a year or several years in a row.

Taking breaks doesn't always make you a better player. If you want to perform well in a tournament, especially a big one like The International, you need to train a lot. Perhaps during the rest of the year you can slow down the pace a little and take more breaks so as not to burn out. It all comes down to finding balance.

Personally, I don't need breaks very often. At least I don't need them now. I just want to keep playing and stay in game shape.

On the first day, when you find yourself in a new environment and everything is a little different from what I’m used to, I play worse and don’t feel completely comfortable. But by the second day and beyond, I’m already getting used to it, I’m returning to a normal state and I’m not nervous at all.

Earlier, Jingjun 'Sneyking' Wu told which teams are the most difficult to prepare against. Team Falcons support noted that difficulties arise during preparation for little-known teams.