Maxim “yoky-” Kim Returns to Team Empire for Dota 2 Pro Circuit
A familiar face is making a comeback in the CIS Dota 2 scene. Maxim “yoky-” Kim, a veteran Russian offlaner, has rejoined Team Empire for their Dota 2 Pro Circuit campaign this season.
Yoky- is stepping in to replace Ivan “VANSKOR” Skorokhod, who has decided to leave the roster after just three months of play. VANSKOR joined the team as the hard support player on September 12, shortly after Andrey “Ghostik” Kadyk took over the offlane position.
According to the organization’s press release, Yoky- will be taking on the support role in Empire due to VANSKOR’s departure. This means he will be venturing out of his comfort zone, which adds a layer of intrigue to his performance with Empire.
Empire’s director of esports, Alexander “StrangeR” Solomonov, expressed his confidence in Yoky-, stating that he believes Maxim will not only pass the test but also excel in his new role as the fourth position player.
This is not the first time Yoky- has played for Empire. He was part of the team’s roster for The International 5 in 2015. They had a strong start in the group stage, securing a spot in the upper bracket. However, they were eventually eliminated by LGD Gaming and MVP Phoenix.
Empire has been holding their ground against the top teams in the CIS region this season. They recently claimed first place at the ROG Masters, defeating OpTic Gaming and earning $117,500. Additionally, they qualified for the fourth StarLadder i-League Invitational just days ago.
With Empire gaining momentum, Yoky- is making his comeback at the perfect time.
CIS Dota 2, Maxim “yoky-” Kim, Team Empire, Dota 2 Pro Circuit, veteran player, offlaner, roster change, support role, VANSKOR, Ivan Skorokhod.