We spoke with Evgenia “sony9sha” Elizarova, girlfriend of Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov. We learned about building a relationship with an esports player, her vision for her own professional development in the industry, and what she thinks about dyrachyo`s break from competitive play. She even hinted she might help bring him back to the pro scene.
Let`s start with the same question I asked Anton. He`s been off the professional scene for almost a month now. How has this period been for you?
Well, regarding our relationship, everything is calm and stable. We`re keeping busy with various things, and we have more opportunities to spend time together. Our friends just arrived, and we hung out with them as well.
By the way, do you notice how different he is during these periods? Is there a difference between Anton during a busy, stressful season and now?
Actually, I wouldn`t say he`s different; he`s always the same. Even if he`s abroad and I`m in Moscow, he still tries to dedicate a lot of time to me, calls, and texts constantly—probably so I don`t feel lonely.
Was it difficult being in a relationship with an esports player, considering his demanding season with hardly any breaks between tournaments?
Mutual understanding is key here. I understood what he does and what he`s interested in. I wouldn`t say it was difficult because I often traveled with him to various tournaments to support him. It was actually harder *after* his break: when we had spent a long time together, and then he started playing again. Yes, that was tough then.
How deeply do you get involved in his career when he`s in season? Do you manage to watch all the matches? How often do you travel to tournaments with him?
Well, when possible. I`m also studying simultaneously. Generally, I often traveled with him. As for tournaments, honestly, I don`t really follow Dota itself much. I only watched games featuring his team when they were playing.
Speaking of your studies: do you have classmates who ask for a photo with Anton or maybe a game together, anything like that? How much do they know about Anton?
(Laughs) Well, I don`t know. I don`t really interact much with my classmates. But once, when Anton came to pick me up from university, he was sitting waiting for me in the lobby, and some boy just walked up and wanted to take a picture with him. Otherwise, the guys in my group don`t know him.
You`re finishing your studies soon, right?
Yes.
And you mentioned in a previous interview that you`re studying journalism.
Yes.
But you don`t plan to work in that field?
For now, yes, I see myself more as… I`d like to try being a streamer. Doing things together with Anton, especially since after finishing my studies I`ll have a lot of free time. We`ll be traveling, we can create really cool content from all of that.
How did you choose your major? Why journalism?
Well, actually, my whole life I dreamed of becoming a surgeon. Then, when the coronavirus started, I really wanted to fly to Moscow, and I applied to three universities. But I was accepted into Higher School of Economics and Moscow State University, and I finally decided to go into journalism because I was once impressed by Marple when she worked at Virtus.pro. I wanted to try myself in that field too.
Have you ever tried interviewing Anton yourself?
No, never tried (laughs).
Look, there`s an interesting dynamic where girlfriends of esports players—and this applies not just to esports but sports in general—always attract fan attention. And fans very often, if a player starts having performance issues for example, begin to blame them. How unexpected was all of this for you, when, let`s say, fans started associating Anton`s various decisions with you?
Listen, actually, I`ve gotten used to it now. I don`t feel anything about it anymore. On the contrary, it`s rather funny; it amuses us a bit. That`s why, I don`t know, they always write such nonsense about me in the comments on Cybersport.ru, just such nasty things. Specifically on Cybersport.ru. On other platforms, they don`t write quite so harshly, of course.
Well, people generally don`t write much on other platforms.
Well, yes, generally speaking (laughs).
But was it difficult at first? How unexpected was it that people would react that way?
Oh man, I started dating him back when Anton was still playing for Team Spirit, and for me, when I was in school… it wasn`t such a shock because I don`t remember how it felt. Maybe Anton explained it to me somehow, that “they`ll blame me, and they`ll blame you”… Well, you can`t please everyone.
So, overall, you`re more relaxed about it now.
Yes. I find that question funny.
By the way, you said in a previous interview that you also hope and wait for Anton to return again. Why? After all, isn`t it easier and better when there aren`t these constant tournaments and travels?
Well, because he`s still young, and he has… Well, I don`t know, he can play well. Why sit at home? He can always stream. But to play like that… Especially since I`ll be free—I can also travel somewhere with him after tournaments, for example. It feels like, I don`t know, it`s better for him to come back. He`ll rest now, and then, of course, he`ll return with renewed energy. Although he says he won`t return. But he will return. We`ll have to make him return.
How did you react to his desire to take a break, by the way? How unexpected was it for you? Or did you sense from his vibe that he was close to this?
Well, I understood from the beginning when he was on vacation, on his break—he immediately mentioned it: that he would play until then and then take another break. So, for me, it was all clear right away.
What are your current plans and ideas about what you`ll be doing, how you`ll develop? Will it be joint content with Anton, or are you focusing more on yourself? In what direction do you want to develop?
First, I want to start streaming. I`ve… Well, I`ve started a little—I don`t know, probably launched ten streams in total throughout this time. And at first, I want to stream, of course, together with Anton, to gain some kind of audience, and then move on somehow on my own. But it`s still obvious that in both my content and Anton`s content, we`ll both be present since we live together and do everything together.
What kind of content, say, are you more drawn to? Is it more gaming or IRL?
I`m most likely aiming for IRL streams; I find that more interesting.
What kind of content do you like in general? What do you want to create yourself?
You mean IRL?
Yes, exactly.
Just some conversational streams, I don`t know, the same kind of cosplays that girls do, that turns out really cool too. Then, for example, flying somewhere on a trip, streaming there a few times with the guys, with those same friends. Something like that.
Does your education generally help you in creating content? How has choosing journalism influenced what you`re doing now?
Rather, I`ve become more open, learned how to think and speak correctly somehow.
By the way, why not Dota 2? You have a pretty high MMR, and you`ve been playing Dota for a long time, right?
Yes, but I don`t know anymore; I`m not interested in playing it. We`re playing Counter-Strike with Anton now, and it makes me very angry because of that.
Why?
It`s difficult—I`ve never played shooters before; it`s something new to me. On one hand, it`s cool, but on the other hand, it gets me very frustrated. Well, it doesn`t always work out. For example, we took a six-day break, I logged in yesterday, and I was just amazed, I don`t know. The camera rotates weirdly somehow, everything`s just off.
Understood. What are your favorite games, by the way?
Oh man, I don`t know. Honestly, I`m not really a fan of sitting at the computer and playing games. That`s more Anton. I`ve never played story-based games. He recently asked me, “Don`t you want to play some game, like, say, Resident Evil?” I said, “Well, I started, but I somehow can`t get into it.”
If you think about the future, in five years do you see yourself specifically as a streamer, a content creator, or would you rather lean towards family and something like that by then?
I would lean towards family more, probably. Because in five years, how old will I be? 26-27? Well, yes, most likely, I won`t be focused on streaming anymore.
Do you want a big family?
Yes, I would like a big family.
What about marriage?
About marriage? I don`t know. As soon as it happens, it happens.