Team Secret takes time off Dota 2, as we look back at the players behind their success

Team Secret snatched yet another championship title at BEYOND EPIC after outplaying their opponent, Team Nigma. They then announced its vacation time. We wont be seeing the team in any potential competition until at least August, as the squad takes a well deserved respite.

© Team Secret

Vacation plans announced

Matthew “Cyborgmatt” Bailey, the Team Secret Director of Operations, announced that the squad will be taking a break away from the pro scene. Of course, the Dota 2 community was very much baffled by the news, especially after Team Secret’s incredible season. And also because its quite a pointless announcement.

There are literally no EU & CIS tournaments scheduled for July, so the announcement came off as feeblish if anything.

Ever since online leagues became the new normal, it truly felt like there was no end to these tournaments however. Nevertheless, it seems like the European and CIS teams can finally take a breather. Whereas for fans, perhaps we can look back at the prodigies who reformed Team Secret into an overwhelming force.

With the vacation plans all set, its time we look at two individuals who made Secret the dominating force this past spring.

The Unconventional Mind

More often than not, the spotlight goes to the playmaker or trickster that pulled off impressive stunts. Yet, nobody bats an eye to the mastermind who worked behind-the-scenes to enable the team, aka the captain. When it comes to drafting, Clement “Puppey” Ivanov is second to none. Now, one could argue that Notail of team OG, the two-time Champions, deserved the crown but hear me out. What makes Puppey superior is his unorthodox drafting.

Since patch 7.27 was introduced, most picked heroes are still Ursa and Morphling every match. Clearly, drafts are becoming blatantly monotonous, and fans are just itching for a breath of fresh air. Thankfully, we can always count on Puppey to deliver bizarre drafts. Puppey is renowned for introducing new meta into the scene, for instance, when he played Axe as hard support. Initially, it seemed ridiculous, yet when it worked out, viewers went wild over the Dota 2 forums.

Matumbaman and Team Secret

If here’s somebody who deserved the spotlight more than anyone, it’s definitely Lasse Aukusti “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen. Formerly the mid player of Team Liquid and International 2017 champion, his career went downhill after he was kicked from the team he brought so much success for. For better or worse, Team Liquid believed that they needed an alternative mid player. Ever since his resignation, Matumbaman kept on hustling into the harsh desert of pro Dota 2, trying to redeem himself.

Unfortunately, by the time it was the International 2019, despite managing to qualify for it, his new team, Chaos Esports, could not make it further than the group stage. They ultimately saw themselves out with a last-place finish.

Fast forward to 2020, Matumbaman is at the peak of his career once again. Having won 6 championships in a row on top of the Leipzig major win, it certainly felt like a redemption arc for our lucky shorts boy, Matumbaman. After winning his first major title at the Leipzig Major, he voiced out his satisfaction of finally proving himself that he wasn’t the problem (back in Team Liquid) after all.

With that, Dota 2 fans just can’t get enough of Matumbaman and Team Secret’s success story. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we are looking forward to joining the Team Secret bandwagon.

Frankly, we just don’t see Team Secret falling anytime soon and would most likely remain as a favorable candidate in Dota 2 betting.

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