Gunnar
From Liquipedia Dota 2 Wiki
Gunnar
Player Information
Name:
Nicolas Lopez
Nationality:
Born:
January 14, 2000 (age 24)
Region:
North AmericaYears Active (Player):
2017 - Present
Current Role:
Team:
Approx. Total Winnings:
$128,182
Signature Hero:
Links
History
2018-04-12 — 2018-06-??
2018-09-11 — 2018-11-??
2019-01-26 — 2019-02-09
2019-02-09 — 2019-04-21
| 2019-05-12 — 2019-06-24 | Chaos EC |
| 2019-06-24 — 2019-09-20 | Team Jinesbrus |
| 2019-09-20 — 2020-01-20 | Ninjas in Pyjamas |
| 2020-03-30 — 2021-10-15 | 4 Zoomers |
| 2021-11-11 — 2022-05-04 | 4 Zoomers |
| 2022-05-04 — 2022-10-28 | nouns |
| 2022-12-05 — 2023-11-05 | nouns |
| 2023-11-12 — Present | nouns |
Upcoming Matches
No Upcoming Matches
Upcoming Tournaments
 PGL Wallachia Season 1
|
| May 10, 2024 - 00:00 UTC |
Nicolas "Gunnar" Lopez (born January 14, 2000) is an American player who is currently playing for nouns.
Playing career[edit]
Beginnings in North America[edit]
Gunnar entered the Dota 2 scene in 2017, playing in various small NA tournaments and qualifiers, even earning a chance to play in the TI7 NA Qualifiers within his first year of playing in the pro scene. Over time, he rose in stature in the region, joining Flying Penguins in 2019. Despite showing promise, Gunnar found himself kicked after the DreamLeague Season 11 North America Qualifiers for the more-experienced Ryoya. This move was a straight swap, as Gunnar joined Ryoya's previous team, TEAM TEAM. Both teams were nevertheless amongst the favourites to qualify, but Flying Penguins got the better of TEAM TEAM in the subsequent qualifiers.
In March 2019, EternaLEnVy joined TEAM TEAM, replacing Sammyboy. With this roster, TEAM TEAM successfully qualified for ESL One Mumbai 2019 and MDL Disneyland Paris Major. At ESL One Mumbai, TEAM TEAM would storm the group stages 4-0, but collapsed in the playoffs, failing to win a single match against Mineski and TNC Predator. The biggest shock, however, as towards the close of the event, Gunnar once again found himself being kicked from TEAM TEAM for Ryoya, meaning he would not be attending the Paris Major, despite qualifying for it. This now-notorious move brought fierce criticism upon EternaLEnVy, although Gunnar later stated that it was a team decision, not solely EternaLEnVy's. Further sympathy was gained for Gunnar, who revealed that his family had bought tickets to Paris to watch him play.[1][2]
Exploring other regions[edit]
After leaving TEAM TEAM, Gunnar joined Team Jinesbrus for the Southeast Asia qualifiers to The International 2019. The stack featured then-pubstar 23savage and South Korea's finest veterans in Forev, Febby and March. Jinesbrus fought their way through the Lower Bracket to meet favourites Mineski, taking game 1 in an upset. However, key mistakes in games 4 and 5 gave Mineski the win and a spot at The International. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Gunnar was invited to The International 2019 as an analyst, marking his talent debut.
After The International 2019, ppd identified Gunnar's talent, and invited him to join Ninjas in Pyjamas in Europe. Gunnar had also begun to expand his hero pool, which had become a weakness in Jinesbrus. Although Ninjas in Pyjamas qualified to multiple tournaments, Gunnar's performances were lacking, and he found himself removed from the team in January 2020.
4 Zoomers and nouns[edit]
After leaving Ninjas in Pyjamas, Gunnar established the team "4 Zoomers (& a Vegan)" (later shortened to 4 Zoomers), consisting of Sammyboy, himself, monkeys-forever, ocean and Husky in COVID-hit 2020. The team quickly established itself as one of the strongest in North America, often finishing 2nd or 3rd, behind the dominant Quincy Crew. Across the Americas, however, results were more mixed, with 4 Zoomers perennially-struggling against South America's strongest teams. Gunnar, however, continued to grow as a player, firmly establishing himself as one of the strongest midlaners in the region, and a playmaking talisman for his team.
With the return of the Dota Pro Circuit in 2021, 4 Zoomers were invited to the inaugural Upper Division in North America, placing 4th. During The International 2021 North America Qualifiers, Gunnar met his second International qualifier heartbreak, as nouns lost 0-3 to Team Undying in the Grand Finals, with Gunnar comfortably beaten by Bryle in the midlane. The following year was very much the same, ending in a 0-3 Grand Final loss to Quincy Crew (signed by Soniqs) in The International 2022 North America Qualifiers. The Last Chance Qualifiers for the 2nd and 3rd-placed finishers of each regional qualifier marked Gunnar's return to an international LAN since 2019. nouns, however, struggled, placing joint-last.
Qualifying for The International[edit]
The following season, the departure of Quinn to Gaimin Gladiators and dissolution of Soniqs opened up an opportunity for nouns to move up a spot in North America. Gunnar's hero pool had also expanded significantly, even with unorthodox midlane heroes - a far cry from his early days as an Ember Spirit and Morphling spammer. Once again, however, they found themselves stuck behind Shopify Rebellion (who had signed the Evil Geniuses roster) and TSM (who had signed the Team Undying roster), missing out on the Lima Major and Berlin Major. In Tour 3, however, they finally managed to best TSM, finishing second behind Shopify Rebellion and qualifying to the Bali Major, although nouns' lack of international experience showed.
For The International 2023 North America Qualifiers, nouns made one change, adding the formidable K1 to their team and moving Yamsun to support, at the cost of losing Husky, Gunnar's long-term teammate (having played 588 matches together). The roster change made nouns' run far bumpier than they desired, particularly in the Upper Bracket Final, where they were taken to their limits in a 2-0 victory against Team DogChamp, with match 1 lasting 75 minutes and match 2 lasting just under an hour. In the Grand Finals, they faced B8, who had dispatched DogChamp in the Lower Bracket Final with more ease than nouns did. nouns dominated games 1 and 2, but Dendi's unorthodox Witch Doctor in game 3 gave nouns a scare, although they were able to close out the game, granting Gunnar his debut at The International.
At The International 2023, nouns were drawn in a group with LGD Gaming, Gaimin Gladiators, Virtus.pro and beastcoast, where they finished 3rd-4th with a 0-3-1 score, avoiding elimination. However, they were drawn against Tundra Esports, winners of previous International, and few gave them a chance. With a spot in the upper-bracket at stake, nouns unexpectedly upset Tundra 2-0. Gunnar played a key role with his mid Earthshaker in game 1 providing vital Fissure blocks to stop Tundra's momentum when things looked bad, and a key game-ending Echo Slam in conjunction with Moo's Witch Doctor's Death Ward.[3]
However, nouns were next knocked to the Lower Bracket by Azure Ray in convincing fashion. In the Lower Bracket, nouns faced TSM, with Gunnar playing a sacrificial playmaking Earth Spirit in both games in a tense 2-0 victory. With top 8 secured, nouns next faced Gaimin Gladiators, the dominant team in the Dota Pro Circuit that year - and unfortunately, it showed, as Gaimin Gladiators faced few issues sweeping them aside 2-0.
Moving to the offlane[edit]
After The International 2023, Valve announced the end of the Dota Pro Circuit, sparking an almighty roster shuffle as teams attempted to prepare for the next major event, ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023. Gunnar himself shifted to the offlane role to accommodate Stormstormer in the midlane.
Talent career[edit]
Gunnar made his talent debut at as an analyst The International 2019, to mixed feedback.[4] However, his confidence grew as he matured as a player and streamer in subsequent years, later returning to talent work to much warmer reception. He worked as a guest commentator in early-2021 during the North America Regional League, alongside Trent and Lyrical, providing a professional player's insight alongside the usual casting duo. He reprised the same role at the Arlington Major, The International 2022 and The International 2023.
At the Bali Major, Gunnar made his debut in a part of a standard commentating duo, as the color commentator alongside ODPixel and Cap in different series.
Trivia[edit]
- Reached 11,000 MMR on April 18, 2020.[5]
Statistics[edit]
- Had the highest average kills per game (9.94) during Season 1 of the 2021 DPC NA Upper Division.
Achievements[edit]
| Date | Place | Tier | Tournament | Team | Result | Prize | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-10-27 | 7th - 8th | Tier 1 |  | The International 2023 | | 0 : 2 |  | $84,489 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-06-05 | 2nd | Tier 2 |  | DPC NA 2023 Tour 3: Division I | | 6/-/1 | Grp S. | $28,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-04-03 | 3rd | Tier 2 | | DPC NA 2023 Tour 2: Division I | | 4/-/3 | Grp S. | $27,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-01-29 | 3rd | Tier 2 | | DPC NA 2023 Tour 1: Division I | | 5/-/2 | Grp S. | $27,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-07-15 | 3rd | Tier 2 |  | DPC NA 2021/2022 Tour 3: Division I | | 6/-/1 | Grp S. | $27,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-05-29 | 1st | Tier 2 |  | BTS Pro Series Season 11: Americas | | 3 : 1 |  | $16,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-05-20 | 4th | Tier 2 |  | DPC 2021: Season 2 - North America Upper Division |  | 4/-/3 | Grp S. | $26,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-03-21 | 1st | Tier 3 |  | BTS Pro Series Season 5: Americas | | 3 : 1 |  | $17,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-02-28 | 4th | Tier 2 | | DPC 2021: Season 1 - North America Upper Division | | 4/-/3 | Grp S. | $26,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019-10-20 | 3rd | Tier 2 |  | DreamLeague Season 12 |   | 1 : 2 |  | $40,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extended list of results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Tier | Tournament | Position | Partner List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-16 | Tier 1 |  | BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024 | Guest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-10-29 | Tier 1 | | The International 2023 | Guest Analyst | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-07-09 | Tier 1 |  | Bali Major 2023 | Guest Commentator | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-02-18 | Tier 2 |  | BTS Pro Series Season 14: Americas | Guest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-10-30 | Tier 1 |  | The International 2022 | Guest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-08-14 | Tier 1 |  | PGL Arlington Major 2022 | Guest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-02-28 | Tier 2 | | DPC 2021: Season 1 - North America Upper Division | Guest Commentator | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019-08-25 | Tier 1 |  | The International 2019 | Analyst | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About achievementsBroadcasts from any Tournament | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional Content[edit]
Interviews[edit]
- [e] 2024-02-21 |
Offlaners Suck ft. Gunnar - ALL CHAT Ep. 4 by Cap and iNSaNiA of Cap Casts - [e] 2024-02-06 | Gunnar talks nouns, 1v1 matchups, and role swapping at BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024 by Kenneth Williams of Esports.gg at BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024
- [e] 2023-10-27 | Playoff Vignettes - Nouns Esports by Dota 2 of Valve at The International 2023
- [e] 2023-09-14 | Interview with nouns' Gunnar: "No matter the state of the game, Hector always stays positive" by Gopya of GosuGamers
- [e] 2023-06-26 | Interview with nouns' mid laner Gunnar: "We only scrim against EU teams" by Gopya of GosuGamers
- [e] 2020-12-29 | Interview With Gunnar on the DPC, 4 Zoomers, and His Career by Pedro Romero of Gamezo.gg
- [e] 2020-07-09 | Position Six 74 - Gunnar by Dan Offen of joinDOTA
- [e] 2019-10-23 | 20 Questions With Gunnar From Ninjas In Pyjamas DOTA Team by Ninjas in Pyjamas
- [e] 2019-04-21 | Gunnar at ESL One Mumbai: "I feel like he didn’t enjoy playing with me." by Vignesh Raghuram of AFK Gaming at ESL One Mumbai 2019
- [e] 2019-04-13 | Position Six Podcast Episode 22 - Gunnar by Dan Offen of joinDOTA
- [e] 2018-07-31 | Interview with semi-professional player Gunnar by NADCL
Miscellaneous[edit]
Spotlights[edit]
2023
- [e] 2023-10-29 | TI12 nouns - Walkout by Dota 2 of Valve at The International 2023
- [e] 2023-10-21 | How we beat the TI Champions - Nouns Dota 2 TI12 Group Stage Recap by Nouns Esports at The International 2023
Highlights[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Gunnar at WESG 2018
Gunnar at ESL One Mumbai 2019
Gunnar at DOTA Summit 11 (Nov-2019)
References[edit]
- ↑ Vignesh Raghuram (2019-04-21). "Gunnar at ESL One Mumbai: "I feel like he didn’t enjoy playing with me."". AFK Gaming.
- ↑ Virginia Glaze (2019-04-22). "Dota 2 player under fire for kicking out teammate twice just before Disneyland Paris Major". Dexerto.
- ↑ Cale Michael (2023-10-26). "Reigning champion humbled by NA Dota 2 underdog as TI 2023 playoffs take shape". Dot Esports.
- ↑ Cale Michael (2019-08-16). "Dota 2 fans criticize casters at The International 2019, say they “cured their insomnia”". Dot Esports.
- ↑ Gunnar (2023-04-18). "Got this a few days ago (thanks EU ping)".