The SMM Grand National DotA Tournament (SGNDT) is just around the corner! Before the battle begins, myMYM.com caught up with some of participants for a short pre-interview.

Attending Team Rosters:

What is the team's aim in SMM?

 Fnatic.Melen: Of course the championship, and to try our best.
 EHOME.71: Top 3 would be satisfactory but we will go for the championship.
 ImpreZa|nicnic: Championship, hopefully.
 Evo- XtC|aL-: Definitely championship.
 DNA-SK.Ki-yawNz: Try to get into top 3 if possible, as well as to regain our champion title where we got it at year 2006.
 Penang-ICE.Seanz: Hopefully top 3.
 w4s|ChuaN: CHAMPIONSHIP!

Top 3 predictions?

 Melen: Too many good teams, difficult to predict.
 71: RuSh3D, Ks, Fnatic, EHOME, any of these.
 nicnic: Top 2: Kingsurf and Fnatic.
aL-: Excluding us, Kingsurf, Fnatic and RuSh3D.
Ki-yawNz: Ks, Fnatic, DNA-SK.
Seanz: Ks, Fnatic, ICE.
ChuaN: 1.Kingsurf 2.w4s| 3.Fnatic.

How do you train for SMM? Any specific trainings or strategies for specific opponents?

 Melen: We prepared seriously for this tournament, we train everyday. We have lots of tactics and we hope it works.
 71: No, just do our best and analyse our opponents. We have our own draft books to make us look professional, haha.
nicnic: We are training really hard to adapt ourselves to the new version. As for specific trainings, not really but we are trying to improve our strategies against these 2 big teams - Fnatic and Kingsurf.
aL-: Like most teams, we train every nite. for specific opponents maybe we would have some bans, but not any fixed strategies.
Ki-yawNz: Too many strategy possibilities in the new version, so just try our best to get the best result.
Seanz: No specific trainings, just train up our teamwork and do our best.
ChuaN: We trained wif fnatic,kingsurf,impreza etc for 3-6 hours everyday and we had some strategies for them.

What do you think about the new map and drafting systems (APXL with time limit)?

 Melen: The new map is good as it will be more spectator-friendly. As for the drafting system I think it is just like PD11 and other tournaments.
 71: We are training on 6.57b alot lately. I think the organizers have their own consideration to use APXL, since it's fair I think it's acceptable.
nicnic: I think it's good, a challenge for all teams to train hard to adapt.
aL-: The drafting systems saves time, but might result in teams not being able to pull out their own full potential due to rushing into drafts. As for the new map I believe sooner or later someone has to start using it.
Ki-yawNz: It is a good move, teams that started to train 6.57b are now one step ahead of any other teams that are still training on old map
Seanz: Gank > Farm so it will be interesting. The drafting system is ok.
ChuaN: We think that the time limit gives players extra pressure to pick their hero because it affects the game thus causing a number of them to make harsh decisions in nick of time.

What do you think about no item limitations?

 Melen: It's very good, it is common for Asian tournaments.
 71: I did not look into this but I think maybe we need to be aware of some special strategies? However this proves that the items are balanced.
nicnic: I don't think it matters because in the new map, the gameplay is very fast, and we seldom see teams getting more than 2 Guinsoos.
aL-: I personally prefer no item limit so we can have more choice on strategies and tactics moreover all imba items such as hex were nerfed.
Ki-yawNz: Nothing special about it as we are used to it, I have not seen 5 Guinsoos/ Necrobook yet.
Seanz: I think arcane and necro books should be limited to two, others are ok.
ChuaN: I think it is the correct way. Limiting items will only cause uneasyness in certain games as it might be their only way to counter their opponent's style of playing.

Thanks to all the interviewees and myMYM.com wishes good luck to all the participants in SMM.