TaiLung at BLAST Slam 6 Malta: “I like the fans, the fame, and the money”

Everyone loves a budding pub star in Dota 2, and Santiago “TaiLung” Agüero Gustavo is the very definition of the term. At the incredibly young age of 16, he’s already helping HEROIC win games at BLAST Slam 6 that they might not have won otherwise.

I sat down to have a chat with him (with coach Igor “kaffs” Estevão translating for us) before the playoffs in Malta, to ask him about how he feels being thrust into the limelight despite being so young, his motivations, and his goals as an up and coming pro.

Patrick: Talk to me about your journey so far. From destroying pubs in South America at 14 years old, to where you stand now.

Did you ever dream about becoming a pro gamer back when you were maybe 8 to 10 years old?

TaiLung: Yes, I’ve always wanted to be a pro. It was always a dream for me.

Patrick: Well, you’re definitely living the dream now. You were still going by the name osito back then, so why did you change your ID to TaiLung?

TaiLung: I just didn’t like osito that much. I just came up with the idea of naming myself TaiLung one day, and I liked it more. Simple as that.

Patrick: Fair enough. Are you aware that Sammyboy once gave you a shoutout in 2024, saying that you would “become a beast” in just a few years?

This Osito kid from peru gonna be a beast in a few years

— Samson (@SamsonDota) March 23, 2024

TaiLung: Yeah, I knew about it the moment the tweet was published, because we had just played a match against each other. Sammyboy was playing [for Leviatán] in the open qualifier for PGL Wallachia Season 1, and I lost the match. But right after the game was done, Sammyboy posted that tweet.

Patrick: Well if you asked me, he was right. That tweet continues to age really well. So, let’s talk about BLAST. How does it feel to be playing for so much money and prestige at such a young age?

Do you feel nervous at all?

TaiLung: I feel very emotional about it, but the main thing is that yes, I like the fans, the fame, and the money. But what I want to show the most is myself as a player, and be a real star.

Patrick: I’d say you’re already doing that. So since I have kaffs translating for us, I’d like to get your thoughts on him as a coach.

I know you’ve only been in HEROIC for less than a month, but can you tell me about his guidance when it comes to you as a player and as a person?

TaiLung: He helps me a lot gameplay-wise, and he helps me learn new heroes.

Is there any pro player that you idolize, whether that’s from your own team or outside of it?

TaiLung: I mainly got inspired by Quinn and Topson, but they’re no longer active players. If we’re talking about pros who are still playing, then I really look up to Malr1ne.

Patrick: Hell yeah, we love our flashy midlaners, just like you.

Do you have any goals set already for yourself?

TaiLung: Right now, I just want to start winning these tier 1 tournaments: BLAST Slam 6, PGL Wallachia Season 7, and in the future, I want to win The International and the Esports World Cup.