The End of an Era: Team Secret Fails to Qualify for TI12
The Western European qualifiers for Dota 2’s The International 2023 have been filled with excitement and disappointment. Unfortunately, for Team Secret and their captain, Puppey, their dreams of attending TI12 have come to an end.
Secret has faced its toughest season yet. After placing second at TI11, the team struggled to find its footing after losing star player Michał “Nisha” Jankowski. This led to Secret being relegated to the second division, making it impossible for them to directly qualify for TI.
Related: Puppey says time was a major factor in Secret’s pre-TI12 Dota 2 roster shuffle
Despite the challenges, Secret had a strong start in the WEU qualifiers for TI12, with a 2-0 victory over OG. However, their momentum faltered against Entity, resulting in their elimination from the upper bracket.
In the lower bracket, Secret fought hard against Level UP and ultimately faced Quest Esports. Although they pushed Quest to a third match, Secret couldn’t overcome the energy of the younger team.
Quest’s victory over Secret was a major upset and also marked the end of Puppey’s TI all-timer status. Currently, no Dota 2 player has attended all TIs, with the record being set at 11.
Related: Dota 2’s The International 2023: Location, dates, tickets, and more
Puppey has been a legendary figure in the competitive Dota 2 scene since 2007. He has witnessed the transition from Dota to Dota 2 and even won the first-ever International. Despite achieving his dreams, Puppey has continued to push forward and nurture new talents.
Over his 11-year history at TI, Puppey has led Secret to impressive results, including a second-place finish in 2022. The team has consistently improved their placements, raising expectations for a victory in 2023. Unfortunately, this may have been their downfall.
As of now, Puppey has not made an official announcement about his future in competitive Dota 2. Secret will begin the 2024 season in the second division, whether Puppey stays or decides to retire.
esports, Dota 2, TI12, Secret, Puppey, qualification, disappointment