Dendi steps in for Team Secret
After an unexpected departure from his former team, the face of Natus Vincere is finally moving on.
Team Secret used a throwback
video
from the all-star match at The International 2015 to reveal their newest stand-in. The announcement confirmed the presumption of fans that Danil “Dendi” Ishutin will play for them.
A
teaser
prior to this announcement hyped the community when Team Secret posted that Clement “Puppey” Ivanov was calling for a friend. The community was quick to speculate that this was a reunion for the legendary duo of Dendi and Puppey.
Dendi carried Na’Vi’s brand for seven years and was the first player to participate in six iterations of The International under one organization. Although Na’Vi lost their dominance throughout the years, Dendi remained a Dota 2 icon.
His departure from Na’Vi felt like a goodbye to his active career in professional gaming. However, he clarified that he is not retiring from the scene just yet. Dendi remains a free agent, but fans might first see more of him subbing in for different teams.
For the upcoming Maincast Autumn Brawl tournament, Dendi will stand in as a mid player for Team Secret, temporarily replacing Yeik “MidOne” Nai Zheng. Although there is no guarantee that Dendi will be a part of Team Secret’s main Dota 2 roster, his fans are still hoping for him to find prominence on the big stage once again.
The community is not ready to say goodbye to the famed Pudge player, and thanks to Team Secret, they won’t yet have to.
Read Also
Dota 2
Oddin.gg’s head of risk helps explain how alleged match fixing during Dota 2 at EWC was flagged
Michael Hassall
The Dota 2 competition at The Esports World Cup 2026 was shaken to its core during the Survival Stage earlier in the week when Southeast Asian-backed, South American team PTime (better known as PlayTime) were removed from the event citing “integrity concerns.” While the case is still ongoing, and none of the accused confirmed to be guilty, one of the biggest questions behind the incident was just how these concerns ...
Dota 2
PTime removed from Dota 2 at EWC 26 as ESIC investigates coach and captain
Michael Hassall
Filipino organization PlayTime Esports has been removed from the Esports World Cup 2026 Dota 2 competition following an intervention by the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and a ruling by the Esports Foundation and EWC. Following a postponement of the PTime vs. Vici Gaming Survival Stage matchup on July 14, ESIC announced that it was actively investigating two members of the South American-based PTime organization, Team Captain Gonzalo "DarkMago" Herrera and ...
Esports Betting
Here’s the complete Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 schedule
Hannan Mundia
The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has finally arrived, and here’s the complete schedule for the event to ensure you don’t miss anything. While it isn’t exactly the newest name in the esports scene, the EWC has quickly become a leading event for esports fans worldwide. It brings together professional players and fans from various games, combining them into one long event that everyone can enjoy. 2026’s Esports World Cup ...
Dota 2
Dota 2 at the EWC 2026 preview, details, predictions, and more
Michael Hassall
A titanic 24 teams are set to compete in Dota 2 at the Esports World Cup 2025 in one of the largest events of the competitive season. These two dozen organizations are set to take over the Paris Convention Center, filling it with top-tier competitive Dota 2 action. With a $2,000,000 USD prize pool, the largest on the Dota 2 calendar, there’s everything to play for in the final major ...
Dota 2
Top Dota 2 combos to boost your MMR fast
Wasif Ahmed
Dota 2 is a complex and interesting game that requires skill, strategy and teamwork to be successful. Having said that, one of the best ways to improve your MMR is by learning certain Dota 2 combos that have proven themselves over time. It’s worth knowing that there are not that many Dota 2 combos that have survived the test of time because every new patch changes the game’s meta. Nevertheless, ...
Dota 2
Dota 2 temporarily deletes popular hero before launching huge Dark Carnival update
Michael Hassall
If you were an Axe player in Dota 2 earlier this week, you’d have found yourself out of luck when you tried to pick the stalwart Oglodi warrior, as the hero was straight up removed from the game on June 23. The hero was completely missing from All-Pick and his hero model was replaced with a missing poster. Axe couldn’t even be demoed or picked in a custom game for ...
Dota 2
Team Yandex stop the magic, defeating LGD in BLAST Slam VII finals
Michael Hassall
Team Yandex have defeated LGD Gaming in the grand finals of BLAST Slam VII in a dramatic 3-1 series that saw both teams pushed to the limit, but ultimately Yandex come out on top. Concluding the last major tournament before teams head to the Esports World Cup and The International 2026 next month and in August, Yandex were able to counter the momentum of LGD that had brought them into ...