Title image courtesy of NAVI
Without fielding his own lineup on Team Secret, Puppey chooses to play with NAVI as a stand-in for the start of the season.
It is the strangest of timelines and a spot on the Dota 2 Post-TI shuffle madness that no one had. Clement 'Puppey' Ivanov will be heading back to his Dota 2 roots to compete with Natus Vincere at the start of this new season – as a stand-in.
It was ten years ago – August 2014 – that Puppey left the famed Ukranian organization where he claimed the Aegis and title to the first International, to build Team Secret. Team Secret had made a tremendous splash onto the Dota 2 landscape when they appeared and for the most part turned into an incredibly successful organization over the years adding up achievements, titles, and trophies.
However, in the last two years, things began to slip. Team Secret's disappointing year culminated with the organization (and Clement 'Puppey' Ivanov) falling short once again of obtaining a spot at The International. Much like in last year’s TI closed qualifiers, PSG.Quest took down Team Secret in the lower bracket rounds.
One month ago Team Secret had been letting go of team members and tweeting about the incoming changes. No one had been surprised by any of their movements – it was quite expected that an overhaul in the team roster would need to happen. By the start of TI, Puppey was the only remaining member on the roster – in hindsight a move that was cleaning house for this next move.
Puppey and Miroslav "BOOM" Bičan are both going to be competing with NAVI on a stand-in basis for “qualifiers for the DreamLeague Season 24 and other upcoming tournaments.”
“Albeit as a stand-in, we are incredibly excited to welcome back to NAVI the legendary captain who led Born to Win in three The International finals. The upcoming qualifiers surely promise to leave a lasting impression on all our club's fans!”
BOOM is replacing Dmitry "nefrit" Tarasich while Puppey assumes Arman "Malady" Orazbayev's role. Baqyt "Zayac" Emiljanov has been the captain of the team but it is hard to believe with Puppey around that will continue.
Natus Vincere roster
Artem “Yuragi” Golubiev
Sukhbat “Sanctity-” Otgondavaa
Miroslav “BOOM” Bičan (Stand-in)
Bakyt “Zayac” Emilzhanov
Clement “Puppey” Ivanov (Stand-in)
Coach: Vitaliy “Sword_Art” Petkin
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