N0tail

Early Life and Gaming Beginnings

Johan Sundstein was born on 8 October 1993 and raised in Denmark by Faroese parents. His grandfather is the former prime minister of the Faroe Islands, Jógvan Sundstein. His journey with video games started early, at just two years old, with titles like Mario and Pokémon on the Nintendo Game Boy. This passion led him to leave high school early to pursue a career in esports.

By the age of 15, Sundstein had become one of the youngest professional players in Heroes of Newerth, specializing in the solo middle role. He began by playing public matches online, where he connected with future teammates Jascha NoVa Markuse and Tal Fly Aizik. Their collective talent caught the attention of Fnatic manager Danijel StreeT Remus, who took them on as an unofficial project, marking the start of N0tail's professional career.

Rise in Heroes of Newerth

N0tail's first major competitive chapter was in Heroes of Newerth. After being scouted by Fnatic, his trio merged with existing Fnatic players Henrik FreshPro Hansen and Kalle Trixi Saarinen to form a full squad. The team quickly found success in online tournaments and secured their first major victory at a LAN event, DreamHack Winter 2011. This win was the beginning of a dominant streak, as N0tail and his team went on to secure first place in four consecutive DreamHack events.

Transition to Dota 2 and Early Struggles

With the professional scene for Heroes of Newerth declining, N0tail transitioned to Dota 2 in March 2012, joining Fnatic's European squad alongside Markuse, Aizik, and Adrian Kryeziu. The start was challenging, but the team, known as Fnatic.EU, claimed a significant early victory by winning the Thor Open LAN in December 2012, defeating the team that would later become Alliance.

This success established them as a dominant force leading into The International 2013, where they ultimately placed 7th-8th. After a disappointing 13th-14th place finish at The International 2014 and a year without premier tournament wins, N0tail left Fnatic with Fly to form the superteam Team Secret. However, after several strong tournament finishes, he was replaced on the roster ahead of the Dota 2 Asia Championships.

Founding OG and Historic Success

After his stint with Team Secret, N0tail briefly played for Cloud9 before the team was released following a 9th-12th place finish at The International 2015. On 28 August 2015, he reunited with Fly, who had also been removed from Secret, to create a new team called (monkey) Business, featuring players like Miracle- and Cr1t-.

This squad was soon rebranded as OG. They made history by becoming the first team to successfully defend a Dota 2 Major title, winning the Autumn Major in 2016. Their greatest achievements came at The International. In 2018, OG entered as underdogs, overcame a slow group stage, and won the championship in a dramatic 3-2 victory over PSG.LGD. The following year, they did the unthinkable, winning The International 2019 to become the first repeat champions in the tournament's history.

Legacy and Status in Esports

N0tail's accomplishments have confirmed his place in the game's history. He is the most decorated Dota 2 player in history and holds the record for the highest career earnings in all of esports, with over $7 million in prize money. His influence was recognized beyond gaming when he was featured in the Forbes 30 under 30 list at age 25.

While he has since taken a break from active play, N0tail remains a foundational figure for OG, mentoring the new roster and streaming. His journey from a teenage prodigy in Heroes of Newerth to the captain of the first two-time International champion team is a defining story in competitive gaming.