watson

Alimzhan Islambeko, better known as watson, is a Kazakhstani carry player for Gaimin Gladiators. He is one of the most notable carry players in the world, courtesy of a spectacular pub presence and an impressive competitive performance. At watson’s age of 22-years-old, he already cemented a plausible Dota 2 career.

Watson had a humble start in the CIS region, first playing for a Kazakhstani team KHAN in 2019. He was then picked up B8 - a milestone in his career as he played alongside his Dota 2 inspiration, Dendi. 

Although he has competed in many high-profile matches, most of the Dota 2 community knows him for his pub status. Watson was the long-reigning king of European Dota 2 pubs, continuously holding rank #1 for a long period. Although the ranking has shuffled more often recently, knocking him out of the top spot - he remains among the top players in the world’s most competitive server.

Watson Dota 2 Team History

Watson has been active in the Dota 2 competitive scene since 2019. While many players often swapped teams, watson played in only seven total teams in his career. 

• KHAN [October - November 2019]
• Galaxy Team [May - June 2020]
• B8 [March - October 2021]
• B8 (Inactive) [October - November 2021]
• HellRaisers [November 2021 - March 2022]
• HellRaisers (Inactive) [April - December 2022]
• Entity [December 2022 - July 2024]
• Cloud9 [July - October 2024]
• Gaimin Gladiators [October 2024 - Present]

Watson's Best Achievements

Watson’s first tier-one tournament appearance was in the 2023 Lima Major with Entity. Although it was his first-ever Major, he and the team clinched an impressive top 6 placement. In the same year, he qualified for his first The International in which he placed top 12. 

Here are some of watson prizes in Dota 2 esports:

• 5th-6th at Lima Major 2023
• 9th-12th at The International 2023
• 5th-6th at The International 2024

Watson Stats and Fun Facts

• Watson is the first Kazakhstani to have played a Dota 2 Major and TI.
• Watson learned to play Dota 2 from his brother who first showed him Warcraft.
• Watson first calibrated at 3K MMR.
• Watson is the first player to reach 14K MMR in Dota 2.
• When he was 14 years old, his family only allowed 2 hours of gaming per day.
• Watson first played the midlaner role as he was inspired by Dendi, but changed to the carry position after reaching 10K MMR.