Clement “Puppey” Ivanov: The Long-standing Legend of Dota 2
Clement “Puppey” Ivanov has firmly established himself as one of the top players in esports. From winning the first-ever Aegis of Champions at the inaugural iteration of The International in 2011 to being the only player to have attended every TI, Puppey’s career is nothing short of remarkable.
However, this year, Puppey’s streak is in jeopardy after a challenging Dota Pro Circuit season. Despite this, Puppey remains unfazed. In an interview with , Team Secret’s captain made it clear that he doesn’t dwell on his long-standing record. Instead, his focus is solely on winning games, irrespective of the year.
When asked about the narrative surrounding his potential absence from TI, Puppey replied, “I don’t really care about some narrative. Of course, it’s in my head that ‘Oh no, maybe I’m going to miss TI, finally I’m going to miss it,’ or something like that. But some things are just bound to happen and you shouldn’t really worry about it. I just think in the moment and try to win the game. If I put everything into it and I lose, at least I put everything into it.”
Since his first TI win with NAVI, Puppey has not been able to secure another Aegis despite making 11 appearances at Dota’s grandest stage. Although he has come close multiple times, including a surprising second-place finish, his journey to reclaiming the ultimate victory has been elusive. Additionally, Secret has faced significant challenges this season, undergoing three major roster shifts since Nisha left to join Team Liquid in December.
Despite the obstacles, Secret has consistently improved its placement at each TI since TI6. This pattern may indicate a divine intention to prevent Puppey from attending this year and chasing a second Aegis. Nevertheless, Puppey remains calm and collected.
Reflecting on his career, Puppey acknowledged the ups and downs he has experienced. He said, “I’ve had bad runs at TI, I’ve had bad years, I’ve had good years, and a lot of the time you just end up unlucky in a way. Things just don’t work out and you start losing a lot that year. I’ve been in those years where I lost a lot and didn’t win anything, probably three or four different times in my career. This is one of those times where, you know, that I’ve been unlucky for a little bit. I’ve also maybe not played as well, but there are a lot of things involved.”
Despite facing turbulent seasons with multiple roster changes, Puppey remains laser-focused on the game and open to new ideas.
In a rapidly evolving Dota landscape, Puppey believes that adaptation is crucial. With heroes becoming increasingly specialized, it is essential to identify each player’s strengths and integrate them into the team’s strategy.
He stated, “People are experts on some heroes that you cannot really control in the sense that you’re going to [end up] drafting things that are very unique,” Puppey said. “That’s an adaptation you have to do because everything has become more about getting the best out of your players and understanding their strategy much more than trying to force a strategy of your own towards them. People bring unique ideas and you need to learn them and understand what they’re good at.”
Puppey calls this process “adaptation mode,” where he prioritizes understanding his players and their unique quirks to form a cohesive Dota strategy.
Related: Puppey spills the tea on ‘lackluster’ Dota Pro Circuit and how Valve can fix everything
As Dota continues to diversify with a wide array of heroes and dynamics, the challenge of implementation becomes increasingly difficult. Puppey sees it as a natural adaptation to the ever-changing nature of the game.
Puppey and Secret recently secured a solid ninth-place finish at the Riyadh Masters 2023 against formidable competition. Now, they face the task of earning a spot at TI12 through the regional qualifiers, beginning on Aug. 17.
esports, Dota 2, Puppey, The International, record, streak, Team Secret, adaptation, strategy