Puppey rumoured to make an appearance at The Internationals 2023
Team Secret’s Clement "Puppey" Ivanov, a well-known Dota 2 player, did not qualify for The Internationals 2023.
The results mark the end of his TI attendance streak. However, rumours are circulating that he may still attend the prestigious tournament, potentially keeping his attendance streak alive.
Cryptic Hints about Coaching
Puppey at The Internationals 2022 against Team LiquidCredits: Flickr/ Valve
During a recent interview, an interviewer made a comment about Puppey not having to endure a long flight to Seattle.
He responded cryptically to the interviewer’s comment, "Maybe I have to".
The response sparked a rumour within the community about what Puppey's response could mean.
The community speculated that the legendary player might join 9Pandas, as the team recently parted ways with their coach, Aleksandr "Nofear" Churochkin.
The team’s manager, Aldar "Jamba" Djambinov, posted a cryptic message on the team's Telegram channel shortly after the coach's departure. The message included an image of the Estonian flag, Puppey’s home country.
It's possible that the legendary player may join Quest Esports, a team known for frequent roster changes. Quest Esports' safelaner Aybek "TA2000" Tokayev recently shared that the team's coach has not yet secured a US VISA. Thus, the comments make Puppey a likely candidate.
If the rumours are true, it will be the legendary player's first time coaching.
A Possible Reunion
Ex-teammates Puppey and Midone rumoured to reunite under the Team SMG banner (credits: Flickr/Valve)There are also rumours circulating about him joining Team SMG. According to these rumours, he may join Team SMG as a player, playing together with Yeik "MidOne" Nai Zheng, who previously played alongside him on Team Secret for three years.
On Team SMG, Puppey will replace Jaunuel "Jaunuel" Arcilla as a support. If Clement would join the team, the likely line-up for Team SMG could be :
- Yeik “MidOne” Nai Zheng
- Volodymyr “No[o]ne” Minenko
- Natthaphon “Masaros” Ouanphakdee
- Tue “ah fu” Soon Chuan
- Clement "Puppey" Ivanov
Team SMG has the potential to secure this year's Aegis of The Champions if this move goes through. The team contains many strong players, including their latest addition, Volodymyr "No[o]ne-" Minenko, who helped them secure a spot through the qualifiers.
Legendary Player, Fierce Captain
Clement has been the captain of Team Secret for a long time, leading the team to victories and supporting them through downfalls. He had been steadily climbing the rankings at The International every year along with Team Secret.
Last year, the team placed second spot at the prestigious tournament, falling short of Tundra Esports. However, after a terrible season, Team Secret failed to qualify for The Internationals 2023.
The legendary player's experience would undoubtedly be valuable to any team he coaches. Despite the outcome, Clement has stated that he has no intention of retiring as a player and intends to make a comeback next year.
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Image Source: Flickr/Valve