xiao8: The Director Who Changed How China Played Dota Forever

This is the story of his tactical genius, his iconic TI4 victory, and how he’s still molding the meta and new generation.

xiao8 started his pro career in the early 2010s, bouncing between LGD Gaming and other big Chinese orgs. By 2014, he’d joined Newbee, and that’s where he made history: TI4 champions. His ability to read drafts, to pull off unexpected rotations, to keep composure when the crowd assumed you were done - that’s what separated him. Newbee nearly slipped out in the group stage, but once the brackets opened up, xiao8 showed why he was given the nickname “The Director”.

It wasn’t just mechanical skill. It was vision. When most teams were following meta trends slavishly, xiao8 saw opportunities - heroes underrated by others, comfort picks that didn’t look flashy, and clever map control that punished mistakes. That TI4 run wasn’t supposed to happen the way it did: Newbee nearly got eliminated early, but once xiao8’s draft structures kicked in, they took over. With strong individual performances + his leadership, they beat out Vici Gaming in the finals. That win still echoes in every Chinese team’s run today.

After his run as a player, xiao8 didn’t just retire - he became a strategist. Coaching EHOME, PSG.LGD, and now Xtreme Gaming, he’s been behind some of China’s best achievements even post-play. He’s known for being methodical: refining draft plans, building communication, and making sure “small mistakes” are cleaned up. He’s not the loudest voice, but his impact is felt in every nuanced decision on stage.

One solid example: during the DPC China Tour 1 in 2023, after PSG.LGD beat Aster in a tiebreaker, xiao8 reflected:

“There are three new players in my team. They are young, and they also don't have international experience. They will make mistakes here and there. It’s a time thing, we just have to wait it out, and we will fix the small problems we have right now.”

People notice. TipsGG esports analysts said that xiao8’s strength lies not just in what he does, but how he does it: balancing innovation with discipline. He doesn’t throw in flashy plays just for show - he builds structure around what works, and forces everyone else to react to him.

Here’s a gem: xiao8 once said, “I think a coach is just a helper. The most significant factor of playing well is how the players perform.” This humility belies the depth of his insight. He sees the coach’s role as supporting, guiding, but ultimately letting players execute.

And in another moment, speaking about China's Dota scene:

“My personal analysis on the recent mediocre results of Chinese Dota: … The players in Tier 1 teams have a poor attitude and a lazy work ethic. They only practice hard for major tournaments or after a defeat.”

That kind of frank assessment isn’t always popular, but it’s part of why people respect him: he expects more.

Fast-forward to today: xiao8 is coaching Xtreme Gaming, and his fingerprints are all over how China approaches drafts, how they groom younger players, and how they build mental stamina for big tournaments.

● He’s stressing patience with rookies - kind of mistakes that are inevitable, but fixable.

● He’s also pushing for consistency: teams not giving up after a loss, practicing with purpose rather than just “playing matches.”

● Meta-wise, his teams often bring unexpected hero picks; he’s not afraid to push against safe comfort zones if there's value.

Yes - TI4, Majors, top finishes are all in his trophy case. But what makes xiao8 legendary is how he changed mindsets. Before him, success in China often meant mechanical perfection + raw farm. Under his leadership, success came from strategy, from adapting to what the opponent gave you (or didn’t give), from building mental resilience.

Just like when people talk about the best esports betting sites, they usually mention odds, value, and consistency. xiao8 has acted like that benchmark for Chinese Dota - he’s not always going for the flashy; he’s going for the sustainable advantage.

xiao8 is more than “former TI champion turned coach.” He’s a bridge between eras: the alpha era of raw skill, and the modern era of deep strategy. He showed China - and the world - that Dota isn’t just about perfect mechanical plays or memorizing rotations; it’s about reading the map, reading the draft, reading people.

His influence is still growing. The players he trains, the decisions he makes, the candid calls he doesn’t shy away from - all of that echoes forward. Decades from now, when people talk about Chinese Dota’s golden age(s), “The Director” will almost certainly be part of the foundation.