Ari

-BLAST SLAM V Champion

-BLAST SLAM IV Champion

Overview

Matthew “Ari” Walker is a British professional Dota 2 support player currently playing for Tundra Esports. Widely recognized as one of the most promising Western European supports of his generation, Ari has built a reputation on adaptability, high mechanical fundamentals, and consistent performance across multiple high‑level rosters.

He transitioned to competitive Dota 2 in 2022 and quickly climbed through the ranks, representing organizations in both Europe and North America before signing with Tundra in late 2025.

Early Career

Ari began his professional journey in 2022 with Into The Breach, gaining valuable competitive experience in D2CL and lower-tier leagues.

He then played for Wisła Kraków before joining TSM, where he first made a name for himself by competing at The International 2023—becoming one of the first British players to reach Dota’s biggest stage.

Rise Through Tier‑1 Teams

After his standout run with TSM and participation at TI 2023, Ari signed with OG, where he competed in events like ESL One Birmingham and Riyadh Masters with mixed results.

In 2025 he was loaned to Natus Vincere (Na’Vi), helping secure strong finishes, including a Tier‑2 tournament victory and a respectable PGL Wallachia Season 5 performance.

Later that year, he served as a stand-in for Team Liquid at PGL Wallachia Season 5, finishing third—showcasing his ability to adapt quickly across team environments.

Joining Tundra Esports

In September 2025, Ari joined Tundra Esports as the team’s new position 4 support, replacing Martin “Saksa” Sazdov in the post‑TI roster rebuild.

This move marked a major step in his career—joining one of Europe’s most prestigious organizations alongside stars like bzm, 33, and Whitemon—and positioned him to compete for top honors in events such as BLAST Slam and major DPC tournaments.

Playstyle and Reputation

Ari is known for his high‑impact support playstyle, blending smart positioning, utility spell usage, and vision control to carry games through decision‑making rather than brute force.

Key strengths include:

– Exceptional fight presence and spell accuracy

– Strong drafting mindset and tactical understanding

– Reliable performance in pressure situations

– Versatile hero pool covering hard and soft support needs

Analysts often describe him as a support with carry instincts — a player who consistently influences tempo and outcomes through strong map awareness and utility contributions, not just protection.

Famous Moments

– Competing at The International 2023 as one of the first British Dota 2 pros

– Reaching 16,000 ranked MMR—elite ladder achievement

– Top‑three finish at PGL Wallachia Season 5 as a stand‑in with Team Liquid

– Multiple strong tournament placings with OG and other orgs

Fun Facts

– Before focusing on Dota 2, Ari was a competitive Heroes of the Storm player and reached #1 on the European ladder.

– He’s known for expanding his hero pool over time—early in his career he was primarily known for only a couple of signatures before broadening his repertoire.

– On the ranked ladder, he consistently climbed into elite brackets, becoming one of the most respected Western European support players.