Leon "Nine" Kirilin has announced that he is taking an 'extended competitive-dota break' after six years of competing and winning the Aegis with Tundra in 2022.
With The International 2023 having come to an end, the post-TI shuffle has begun. As with most years, it is a time that many players who have been competing for several years say farewell — at least for some time.
Leon "Nine" Kirilin has been competing in Dota 2 since 2017 and is one of the few to be able to boast of having reached the greatest achievement in the game —seizing the Aegis of the Immortal.
Competitive life is difficult. It takes a toll on many whether it be because of the grind, the isolation, the sacrifices made, or breaks in mental health. Career spans are often fairly short compared to other industries.
Nine discloses that despite having reached his dream, alongside friends, he just couldn't continue in the same manner.
“However, the last 2 years were the most stressful of my life, and I cant continue like i did. Its time to chill abit and live life just the way i want to :) I will still play dota and follow everything, i just need some break from all the traveling and stress of playing.”
He does state that he will come back when he is ready….. if that is what he decides he wants.
For now, it is unknown if Tundra Esports will be making even more changes in their roster for the upcoming season. Just two months ago Martin "Saksa" Sazdov took a break from competing, leaving a spot open in Tundra just over a month before The International 12.
