From OCE to Japan: An Interview with Dokja

At Noob Esports, we’ve had the privilege of seeing Dokja grow as both a player and a competitor. From dominating our community events to supporting the OCE scene, he has always been a passionate and dedicated figure in Valorant. His journey from a hardstuck Cypher main to a top-ranked Neon specialist is nothing short of inspiring, and now, he’s taking his talents to the international stage in Japan. In this interview, we dive into his competitive mindset, experiences in professional play, and what it takes to succeed in Valorant.

What first drew you to Valorant, and why did you choose Neon as your main?

I was originally a CSGO player, but I always played league of legends. I really appreciate how much care riot put into taking care of the game and it felt like CSGO was getting stale. So I downloaded Valorant and it’s been my main game ever since. I’ve spoken about why I’ve picked Neon many times. I was a hardstuck Immortal 3 cypher player. One day I deranked all the way from Immortal 3 to one game off ascendant. I watched Blue Lock, which is an Anime about being the best in soccer and I really liked the mentality it showed me. So I locked in a duelist no one played and I’ve loved it ever since.

Reaching Radiant is no small feat. Can you share your grind to Peak #1 and what kept you motivated?

Even when I first hit Radiant, hitting Rank 1 and over 1100rr was something I never expected. I don’t think it was something I was necessarily grinding for, I just played insanely well and was winning so often. It was at about 900rr I realised I could actually do it. I’ve always been motivated to be the best and be better than yesterday. So regardless of my rank I’ve always tried to find ways to improve at the game, that was my mentality.

What are some standout moments from your time playing professionally in OCE?

As sad as it sounds, I don’t really think I’ve had any standout moments. FOCUS was a great team with great opportunities. Unfortunately we didn’t win any events, we had some great runs and I learnt so much and enjoyed playing every game, but I don’t think I accomplished what I wanted there, so I can’t say I have any specific standout moments. I hope to make my first standout moment when I win an event someday. I don’t want to be the kind of player that is happy being second.

Joining an international team is a big step! How did the opportunity come about, and what excites you most about competing in Japan?

I’ve always loved Japan, I made a lot of friends through playing on 100 ping and just randomly on twitter. When split 3 finished in Australia, I went through and found any Japanese teams looking for players and I applied for Seibi and luckily they really liked me.

Are you anticipating any major cultural or gameplay differences between OCE and Japan, both in and out of the esports scene?

The biggest difference I think is the mentality, the game is taken super seriously here. VCJ Players (now me) play this game an absurd amount to the point where it’s taken some getting used to, even for me. I’ve played 7 + hours a day since coming here. Another big difference is respect and communication. Everyone is very kind and appreciative, no one flames even if I do really bad and we lose, I really appreciate that.

What’s your take on the current state of the OCE Valorant scene, and how has the community shaped you as a player?

The current OCE scene is unfortunately in a pretty bad state. A lot of wintrading / cheaters, combined with the overall lack of effort and care makes it a bad place for up and coming players wanting to improve or get recognition. That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to leave, because I really enjoy competing and wanted to take it more seriously.

Are there any OCE players you’d love to see compete on the global stage?

There are a lot of players in Australia that could easily compete internationally if they wish. I think a big reason why they don’t is that most of them have lives outside the game such as university and it’s hard to get good opportunities sometimes, which is why I jumped at the opportunity to play in Japan.

What makes Neon such a strong pick for you, and how do you approach mastering her kit?

I think any character is strong if you play it enough. Neon wasn’t really super popular for the longest time and I was still really good at it, it’s just a matter of putting enough time into it. Her kit is really fun to use, having a variety of utility such as her own unique stun and wall. But of course her slide and ult really makes her kit incredibly fun to use and with enough practice becomes incredibly broken.

What’s the most underrated skill or strategy in Valorant that players often overlook?

Knowing when not to die. Understanding when you're overheating and can possibly lose your team the round is incredibly important. You can't control what your teammates do, so it's important to remember not to bait as well.

What’s the story behind your in-game name, “Dokja”?

It's from one of my favourite pieces of fiction ever called “Omniscient reader's viewpoint. Without spoiling it, he is always fighting to change his own story to the best outcome. It is a book that I read during my own difficult moments and I wanted to remember that. I want to represent his name well and that's another reason I always try to improve.

Can you share a moment in your career that made you feel, “I’ve made it”?

I don't think I've had this moment yet. I think once I really think that it will be at the end of my career when I look back at what I’ve accomplished. I don’t want to think I’ve made it just yet, because I hope I will keep grinding with the thought that I have more to prove.

What advice would you give to aspiring players in OCE who dream of going pro?

It’s never too early to think about taking the game seriously. If you really want to go pro, it unfortunately is extremely hard in Australia. So when you believe you really want it, really dedicate yourself to growing as a player with the hopes of one day going overseas.

How do you stay motivated during slumps or losing streaks?

If you really want to improve, it’s very easy. The hardest thing is being honest with yourself and realising that YOU need to improve and it’s no one else's fault. Once you realise that its up to you to improve, it becomes a lot easier. 

What’s your go-to music or playlist when grinding ranked?

I don’t listen to music while I play, but while I’m in queue I like listening to JPOP like Ado.

If you weren’t a pro Valorant player, what would you be doing?

Probably still working at the bank which I quit to go play this dumb game.