SoNNeikO returns to Natus Vincere for TI10 qualifiers

William Davis Published 29/05/2021

No matter how many times he leaves, Natus Vincere can’t stay away from Akbar “SoNNeikO” Butaev for long.

On May 25, Na’Vi’s Dota 2 squad emptied out AS Monaco Gambit’s roster for SoNNeikO and Vladimir “No[o]ne” Minenko. This is the fifth time SoNNeikO has joined Na`Vi. The move comes after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the ESL CIS Dota Pro Circuit League’s upper division. The transfer was finalized ahead of WePlay AniMajor and will allow him to compete for Na’Vi in The International 10 Eastern Europe qualifiers.

SoNNeikO is one of the most experienced captains in Eastern Europe. He first joined Na`Vi as a temporary player in 2015 before the squad was let go after failing to qualify for the Boston Major. He rejoined four days later. SoNNeikO’s captaining prowess is highly valued by Na`Vi, as he’s left the team four times in the past. Career highlights include Na’Vi’s surprise qualification for The International 2019 and Na’Vi’s strong 2016, which was arguably the team’s best year since dropping Clement “Puppey” Ivanov in 2014. 

SoNNeikO is famous for his incredibly quick and precise camera control. It’s an odd skill to specialize in, but it plays a big role in his mobile defensive style. Even an experienced Dota 2 player can feel bewildered watching his player perspective. 

Natus Vincere made the controversial decision to replace off laner Viktor “GeneRaL” Nigrini with Russian super-star Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev in April. The carry-turned-offlaner is known for taking an active role in his team’s leadership. Considering SoNNeikO’s history as a traditional support captain, it will be interesting to see the team’s strategic development.

Natus Vincere’s DPC performance didn’t earn them a slot at the $500,000 WePlay AniMajor. Instead, the CIS region will have Virtus.pro start in the playoffs, Team Spirit debut in the group stage, and AS Monaco Gambit look to fight through the wildcard stage with two stand-ins. 

Na`Vi will compete against a number of other teams in a closed qualifier for The International 10. The event’s $40,018,195 prize pool is the biggest in esports history. The tournament was scheduled to take place in 2020 but was indefinitely postponed along with the rest of the Dota Pro Circuit. The Dota 2 yearly finale will start on August 5 at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm. 

Read Also

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 ...

Dota 2

BLAST Slam VII Finals Predictions and Picks – Can LGD make it all the way? Michael Hassall LGD Gaming in the top three of a tournament!? What is this 2021? BLAST Slam VII has been one of the most surprising tournaments of the year, and has capped off the pre-EWC and TI season with some of the most thrilling gameplay we’ve seen in months. And the finals are set to be even more exciting. With just three teams left there’s a lot on the line, from the ...

Dota 2

Easiest Dota 2 Heroes for Beginners – Best Picks to Learn the Game Simon Day We can all agree that Dota 2 is a complex game, but starting with the right heroes can make the learning process much smoother. Choosing one of the best Dota 2 heroes for beginners is key to building your skills and enjoying your matches. That’s why it’s time to explore the heroes that are easy to understand, effective in the game and great for learning the fundamentals. Without going into ...

Dota 2

BLAST Slam VII Playoffs Preview – Visa issues transform the playoff picture Michael Hassall BLAST Slam VII is the last major tournament before teams lock-in and compete at the EWC and The International, and as a result, we’re seeing a tournament with some unique outcomes. With teams seemingly treating this as a last-minute tune-up before the championship clashes of the next two months, a South American team has topped the table and some of the best teams in the world are either without players ...

Dota 2

TI-Champions Tundra Esports exit Dota 2 as roster transfers to 1win Michael Hassall Tundra Esports has revealed it’s leaving Dota 2 after six years and a victory at The International 2022. The UK-based organization has announced its roster will transfer directly to 1win for future events. The announcement, posted on Tundra's socials on June 1, confirms rumors and earlier social posts from 1win which hinted at a new lineup. With the move, however, questions about 1win’s existing EEU roster and attendance at The ...

Dota 2

A full weekend of TI15 tickets will cost you just $280 – If you don’t mind the view Michael Hassall Alongside the team invites for The International 2026, Valve today (May 26) unveiled the pricing and details of how to purchase tickets for TI15, and the price is the lowest in years. For years we’ve seen the price of The International Prize, with a peak of around $700 as a lowest price for a full weekend for both 2023 in Seattle, and 2024 in Copenhagen. But after a fall in ...

Dota 2

Valve has announced the TI15 invites: Here’s why some team names are very different Michael Hassall It’s around three months until The International 2026, TI15, and Valve has just unveiled the direct invites and qualifier invites to the event, but eagle-eyed fans will notice some strange names in the team lists. Valve unveiled the invites in the small hours of the morning on May 26 (late evening on May 25 for their HQ in Bellevue, Washington), detailing the seven direct invites, regional qualifier invites, and some ...