Danil “Dendi” Ishutin is not done with Dota 2 just yet.
The popular player sat down for a
lengthy interview
on his past year, including his time as a journeyman and his gig as an analyst for The International 2019. He also opened up on his plans for the 2019-2020 Dota Pro Circuit season.
“I have very serious plans for the season,” Dendi said. “After some time and many people who pushed me towards it, I decided to do something, So I am planning to make my own team, organization to develop it.”
Worth noting is that when Dendi states he is looking to found an “organization,” he means it. He noted he is seeking investors and sponsors, rather than simply putting together a stack of players to compete in qualifiers. He declined to comment on some details but he seems committed to heading in a direction similar to that of former teammate Clement “Puppey” Ivanov and Team Secret, rather than Jacky “EternalEnVy” Mao and Flying Penguins.
While Dendi has bold plans, he seems to be a good distance from realizing them. He stated he is open to play almost any role and suggested that he does not have any teammates currently planned.
What has Dendi been doing leaving Natus Vincere?
Though Natus Vincere was Dota 2’s original dynasty, it was stuck in a steady decline from 2015 to 2018. When the organization failed to qualify for The International 2018, it reacted by heavily changing its roster which included the deactivation of Dendi after eight years on the team.
While on the bench, Dendi competed as a substitute or on loan for a number of different teams, most notably spending two months with Tigers. He last played with The Pango in the CIS open qualifiers to The International 2019, which saw the team fail to reach the main qualifiers.
During that time, Natus Vincere enjoyed a bit of a resurgence. It struggled to enjoy consistent results in a crowded CIS field but performed well in events such as ESL One Mumbai and the Megafon Winter Clash. The squad successfully qualified for The International 2019, but finished in 13th place after losing to Mineski in a best-of-one match.
Now a free agent, Dendi will seek success on his own and ideally look to eclipse that of his former organization.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
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