Stray228: Dota 2 Streaming Star and Esports Personality

Oleg “Stray228” Bocharov has become a pillar in the world of Russian Dota 2 streamers and players, keeping a massive audience with his gameplay, insights, and hilarious personality. Unlike some other high-energy streamers who look like him from the outside, Bocharov has a more serious side from time to time, where he focuses on the gameplay, attracting more serious players who want to improve.

With this content strategy, he’s managed to crave a decently successful path for himself, as he’s been able to average over 6,000 viewers on Twitch for years now.

He’s easily one of the most popular Dota 2 streamers, boasting well over a million followers with millions of views on his Stray228 Twitch channel. He may not be as overtly flamboyant as some, but his expertise in the mid-lane and dedication to providing valuable content have taken him the distance.

In this article, we’ll be taking a look into Stray228’s life, looking at his net worth, gaming style, career highlights, and much more.

Stray228 Profile Overview

Social Media Links:

• YouTube: youtube.com/@StrayBest
• Twitch: twitch.tv/stray228
• VK: vk.com/straydota
• Instagram: instagram.com/straybest/
• Telegram: t.me/StrayDungeon228
• Email: stray@streamersalliance.com

Profile Image

Stray228 Net Worth & Wealth

Oleg has managed to put together a small fortune since he started playing Dota 2 and streaming. While the exact number is up in the air, we estimate his net worth sits just below $1,000,000. He may not be the richest Dota 2 player out there, but it’s a respectable sum.

Here’s a breakdown of his income streams:

• Twitch Subscriptions and Donations: A core part of Stray228’s income comes directly from his monthly subscribers and donations, as he has quite a generous community around him who donate pretty often.
• Ads: Like any other top streamer and content creator, he likely makes a sizable chunk of his income directly through ads on his Twitch and YouTube channels. 7,000 – 8,000 viewers per stream is nothing to scoff at.
• Calibration and Boosting Services: While not the best-looking income source, Stray228 has been known to calibrate and boost accounts. You may think this would be pennies compared to his total income, but these boosting services can often pay well into the 5-figure range.

Biography & Background

Stray228 Dota 2 streamer on Twitch (image by @straybest on Instagram)

Oleg Bocharov’s journey from casual gamer to successful streamer took quite some time, but his dedication through the years really paid off. Born on October 30, 1992, in Belgorod, Russia, his introduction to the world of gaming came through his father. When he was a child he would often chill in his father’s office, passing his time by playing classic computer games. Like with many of us, this early introduction to video games sparked a lifelong obsession.

After gaming as a kid every day, Stray228 managed to find what would be his favorite games, Counter-Strike and Dota 2. He dedicated thousands of hours to these games, even frequenting computer clubs despite his parents’ initial disapproval. This commitment created some conflicts at home because he would game for so long that it would impact his schoolwork and even his health.

Nonetheless, Oleg managed to graduate and pursue higher education at Belgorod State Technical University, earning a degree in Electric Power Engineering. However, he was never truly interested in a normal career, instead wanting to make a living off of gaming.

Turning Passion into a Profession

In 2014, he began streaming Dota 2 on Twitch, initially as a hobby for friends, but with his personality and gameplay, he quickly jumped to well over 1,000 viewers per stream. This surge in viewership finally let him pursue his dreams, transforming streaming from a casual pastime into a serious profession.

That isn’t to say this transition wasn’t without its challenges. Early on, streaming from his parents’ home was quite challenging, to say the least. His father, skeptical of streaming as a career path, even resorted to turning off the Wi-Fi from time to time, sabotaging his streams. Luckily for Stray228, though, his chatters really never left, sticking by his side through the early years. It did take around 10 years of Dota 2 gameplay to really see any success, but when he did, he hit the jackpot.

Top 10 Dota 2 streamers for January 2024 according to Stream Hatchet

Stray228 Dota 2 Gameplay and Expertise

Stray228 has carved a pretty decent niche for himself as a quasi-coach figure in the Dota 2 community. Like League of Legends streamers THEBausFFS, his gameplay is entertaining but also oftentimes educational for newer and lower-ranked players. If you want to learn macro, he’s a great place to start.

• Extensive Experience: With approximately 10 years dedicated to Dota 2, Stray228 has a ton of experience with the game’s mechanics, strategies, and rotating metas.
• High-Level Play and Pro Player Encounters: The fact that he has played against professional players like Noone, 9Pasha, ALOHADANCE, and Ramzes666 speaks volumes about his skill level. He may not be the best to ever do it, but he’s a solid player.
• Focus on Mid and Central Positions: If you’re looking to learn mid-lane, Stray228 is a great place to start, as he has strong mechanics, great map awareness, and solid decision-making in the crunch. This focus helps him give great advice targeted at specific players and playstyles centered around the mid-lane.
• Analytical Content and Coaching Services: His analytical videos and coaching services are what many of his fans look forward to, while others simply want to pay for a boost. Regardless of how they go about it, his willingness to work with and help his audience is huge for his loyal chatters.

Scandals & Partnerships

• The International 2019 Appearance: While not a scandal, his appearance at The International 2019 analytics studio has some super mixed reactions within the community. Many of his diehard fans were disappointed by his weak and passive behavior while commentating, as he usually has so much to say on stream.
• Smurfing Allegations: There have been discussions and some accusations on online forums, particularly Reddit, regarding Stray228 potentially “smurfing” (playing on lower-ranked accounts). Nobody likes smurfs because it can ruin the game for lower-ranked players who oftentimes are simply trying to unwind after work/school. There is no official proof, but with his tendency to boost, this is happening.
• Boosting: Stray228 has boosted plenty of accounts in his day, with some Redditors posting on r/Dota2 that he was currently boosting them while on the live stream.

Streamers Battle & Team Stray Involvement

In November 2024, Stray228 went ahead and played for Team Stray in the BetBoom Streamers Battle 8. During this tournament, his team managed to go 4-1 in Group B, with Bocharov playing quite well. They did eventually lose to the Korb3n team 2-0 in the lower bracket semifinals, but he showed quite well, all things considered.
However, with the whole boosting and smurfing thing going on, many fans thought he should be allowed to participate in the tourney, creating a rift in the fanbase.

Streaming Schedule & Platforms

Most Memorable Moments & Key Highlights

Stray has been a familiar face in the Dota 2 community for over a decade, solidifying his spot as one of the top 10 Russian streamers. With so many chaotic and funny moments, it’s hard to pick favorites, but these two clips definitely stand out.

▶️ Hilarious moment as a donator gets carried across the stream while the commentator cusses out players

▶️ A homeless man joins Stray228’s Stream

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