TpaBoMaH reflects on running his own team

Streamer Timur TpaBoMaH Khafizov spoke about his experience managing the Dota 2 team Rabotyagi. According to him, the project was conceived as a media platform and a way to make the tier-2 scene more engaging for himself and his viewers.

Khafizov personally funded the roster, hoping that involving popular and recognizable players would increase viewer engagement. However, the team failed to achieve significant results, and the costs proved too high.

I wanted to see how it works from the inside. I gathered the guys, gave them proper conditions, it was serious. But I quickly realized: a million per month is just to have a team, not to get anything back.

he most controversial moment was when TpaBoMaH placed a bet against his own team. Although it did not violate any tournament rules, the move sparked criticism from the community and damaged the project’s reputation.

I didn’t do it with bad intentions,  I just wanted to pressure the opponent. But if I had known how it would be perceived, I definitely wouldn’t have done it. I made 100K from 50K, and what did I get? Reputation damage.

TpaBoMaH also spoke about the financial model of esports teams, comparing investments in a roster to spending on outdoor advertising.

Seven years ago, a million was enough to build a tier-1 team. Now you’re just convincing players to play under your tag. It’s not about profit, it’s about image. Like a banner on the street, just hangs there, just advertising. If they perform well, the brand sticks.

Rabotyagi wasn’t originally created as a way to promote the streamer’s name. According to Timur, the idea was “to give regular guys a chance” and not tie the project to his personal brand. One of the players, he said, was even able to buy his own apartment after his first salary.

Timur founded the team in February 2025, but by late April, the roster was disbanded. Rabotyagi played mostly in online CIS tournaments, with their best result being 2nd place at CCT Series 8.

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