According to reports, Gabe Newell, president of Valve, has gained popularity recently due to his humorous speech at The International. In the speech, he humorously admitted that despite other players criticizing or speaking disrespectfully to him, he still enjoys playing Dota 2.
Gabe Newell serves as both co-founder, president, and public figurehead for Valve Corporation, a distinguished video game company renowned for its popular creations such as Portal, Half-Life, Team Fortress 2, and the game distribution service known as Steam.
Notably, Valve Corporation, in addition to its work on various projects, is also known for developing Dota 2 – a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game that often vies for popularity with titles such as League of Legends within the genre. Just like other competitive games, Dota 2 hosts an annual world championship tournament, which they refer to as The International.
This year signifies the 14th occasion for The International, and during its significant annual esports event, the founder of Valve, Gabe Newell, made an appearance at the opening ceremonies to share some thoughts about Dota.
Gabe Newell still queues up even when players trash talk him
In his speech, Newell openly expressed that The International sparked his affection for the game, as he was captivated by the professional players’ talents exhibited in a competitive setting.
Fourteen years ago marked the beginning of the International tournament in Cologne, Germany. This first event was particularly remarkable for him, as it showcased the exceptional talent of the players and the infectious excitement within the gaming community. Reflecting on this experience, he admitted that prior to the International, he enjoyed the game, but following the event, his affection for it grew considerably.
He went on to express that it’s not only the game itself he cherishes, but also the community. Despite occasional rude comments in the chat, such as once a week when someone calls him a ‘newbie’ and suggests he should quit or die, he sees these as expressions of their passion for the game and the lively atmosphere they create. This is what keeps him playing Dota every day even after all these years.
Participants found Gabe’s amusing story about his gaming adventures particularly hilarious. One person commented, ‘While being taunted by others within the game, Gabe might have been contemplating his power to instantly kick everyone out.’
“Bro made Steam and still can’t escape being called mid,” another joked.
“Imagine flaming someone in DOTA only to realize it’s Gaben himself lol,” yet another posited.
Gabe getting trash talked in his own game while probably thinking I could ban all of you right now
— Hopper (@zeroXhope) September 11, 2025
In 2021, the prestigious gaming tournament known as The International will be held in Hamburg, Germany. Eight elite Dota 2 player teams will compete against one another for a chance to claim one of the most sought-after championship titles in esports.
It’s no shock to followers of Newell that he’s enthusiastic about Dota, given that it’s been revealed that Valve staff often quote him as saying, “What’s the point in playing any other game when Dota2 is here?
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2025-09-11 21:19