We take a look at how Secret will stack up this TI.
Dota 2 is one of the most dynamic esports, which is why it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that teams come and go. Although there have been many dominant forces over the years, one team successfully survived the test of time.
Team Secret is a part of the professional Dota 2 scene for a while now. Clement "Puppey" Ivanov's been the team’s captain for several years, during which some of the best individual players in the world played for the club. Despite the numerous roster changes, Team Secret is always one of the forces that others have to reckon with.
One of the interesting facts about this team is that it always plays really well prior to TI but fails to impress during the actual event. Whether this will change at the upcoming The International 10 is something that we are yet to see, but by the looks of it, the European powerhouse will be one of the main favorites for the tournament.
Team Secret prior to TI 10
After winning the EU Upper Division back in February, Puppey’s team hasn’t been doing that well. Despite having some of the top teams in the world, the EU powerhouse failed to impress at the other tournament. For example, TS finished fourth at the ONE Esports Singapore Major after losing against Invictus Gaming.
The team also took part in the DreamLeague S15 Upper Division, and once again got the fourth-place finish. This was one of the events after which some people started questioning whether Team Secret is actually the best team in the world. Needless to say, they won almost every online event back in 2020.
Despite the COVID-19 situation, Team Secret managed to completely rip through the competition throughout 2020. Unfortunately, the squad was unable to shine because TI 10 was postponed.
Which are Team Secret’s stars?
As mentioned above, Team Secret was home to some of the best players in Dota 2’s history. While it is true there were roster changes over the years, Team Secret always had at least two or three-star players, apart from Puppey.
Currently, the European powerhouse is home to the ex-Nigma player Lasse Aukusti "MATUMBAMAN" Urpalainen. Often considered to be one of the strongest carriers, he had a massive role for TS throughout 2020.
Another player that should be pointed out is Michał "Nisha" Jankowski. Тhe now 20-year old superstar was thought to be one of the most promising Dota 2 players. Luckily, he lived up to the expectations, despite being forced to switch to the mid-lane.
The other two current TS members alongside Puppey and the other two are Ludwig "zai" Wåhlberg and Yazied "YapzOr" Jaradat. Both have been a vital part of the team, providing loads of support and setups. There's no doubt they'll continue to be a help during TI 10.
We are yet to see whether Team Secret will have what it takes to break the TI 10 curse. The European squad is definitely not in its top form now, but this doesn’t mean they can’t go toe to toe with the best from China, NA, CIS, and SEA.
