Save- details BetBoom mid lane move

Published October 10, 2026

BetBoom Team player Vitalii “Save-” Melnik has explained that he moved to the mid lane because he wanted to try something new rather than wait to achieve the milestone he had once associated with leaving the position four role. In a video for the club’s YouTube channel, Save- discussed the transition alongside BetBoom Team coach Aleksandr “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek and Georgii “swedenstrong” Zainalabidov. The central point of the discussion was not a completed competitive result, but the work Save- says is now required to establish himself in a new role.

Save- had previously said he would move to mid after winning The International as a position four player. He said he instead chose to make the change without that achievement, describing it as an opportunity to test a different path. He also reflected that five attempts at The International while playing position four had not produced that victory, which helped drive his decision to experiment. The player did not frame the move as permanent beyond question: he said a future return remains possible and suggested he believes he can play any role. That flexibility is part of the backdrop, but his immediate focus is on becoming a mid player rather than planning a switch back.

A mid transition built on practice

Save- identified laning as the hardest part of his adjustment. His concern is the task of holding the middle lane against elite opposition, and he named No[o]ne- and gpk among the players he sees as difficult mid-lane benchmarks. The comment puts a clear technical focus on the change: playing mid is not simply a new map assignment, but a role where the opening lane demands repeated preparation against strong individual opponents. Save- said he would need to work extremely hard to lane properly against that level of competition. That is why the move matters within BetBoom Team’s internal setup: the player is openly describing a learning process rather than presenting the role change as finished.

TORONTOTOKYO is directly involved in that process. Save- said the coach teaches him extensively and plays matchups with him, specifically highlighting Earthshaker against Earth Spirit. That is a concrete example of preparation for a lane where small changes in timing and positioning can matter from the opening wave. Save- added that he has not particularly messaged gpk for help so far, making TORONTOTOKYO’s hands-on work the clearest coaching detail he provided. The distinction is useful: Save- named elite mid players as the standard he needs to meet, but he identified his current practice partner within BetBoom Team. His remarks did not claim that the transition is complete or that a single hero matchup can resolve every difficulty of a new role. They describe one part of the routine he is using to learn it.

What Save- and teammates said

The conversation also showed how responsibilities are being handled inside the team while Save- concentrates on mid. Swedenstrong said Save- had given him a small number of position four tips and that they had exchanged thoughts a couple of times. Save- described himself as heavily focused on his own work at present, saying he watches 15 to 20 replays a day and plays Dota, leaving limited time for broader coaching. He said he and swedenstrong have discussed some position four situations, but added that he believes swedenstrong knows what to do. The arrangement therefore appears limited and informal in Save-‘s own description, while his personal preparation remains centered on mastering the new lane.

• Save- named laning against top mid players as the most difficult element of his move from position four to mid.
• He said he would consider returning to position four only if he became completely disappointed in himself as a mid player; he is not thinking about that now.

Person	Confirmed role-change detail
Save-	Said he moved to mid to try something new before winning The International as a position four player.
TORONTOTOKYO	Said he plays Earthshaker versus Earth Spirit matchups with Save- while helping him learn mid.

For now, Save-‘s stated next step is continued investment in his own mid-lane development, not a return to position four. His comments place that work in a defined routine of replays, games and matchup practice with TORONTOTOKYO, while leaving open the possibility that he could change roles again later if circumstances require it.