New Season Roster Change
As the DPC season kicks off and our team takes a well-deserved rest through the first Major, we have some significant roster changes to announce as winter draws near. Firstly, MidOne will be departing from our active roster in order to take an extended break away from DotA 2. The demands of the previous DPC season required staying in Europe for extended periods of time to commit to boot camps, Majors and travelling across the world for tournaments in other regions. MidOne has sacrificed tremendously in order to compete and contribute to our team’s success at the top level of DotA. He has proved an invaluable player and friend along the way, and we could not ask for a better team member. During MidOne's time on our active roster he was able to become a triple Valve Major winner, a multiple tournament Champion, and has represented us at The International for the last three years - including 4th place at this previous International, our highest placement to-date. We are extremely grateful for everything he has done with us, and wish him a very well deserved rest in his time away from the competitive scene.
We will also be saying farewell to our coach, SunBhie, who like MidOne has been with us since late 2017. Sunbhie’s work behind the scenes has taken on a wide variety of roles in support of the team’s needs, proving his versatility and friendship. In a more direct manner he has helped with preparation, draft strategy, booth presence, and game analysis - a crucial asset in making adjustments between matches during a series and through a grueling tournament. SunBhie has been with us as an advisor and friend, and has endured all the extreme pressures of the DPC season whilst being our sixth man throughout this journey. We thank him for everything he has done for us, the good times spent together, and wish him the best in his future endeavours.
Familiar Faces, New Arrivals
The first of two new additions to the roster is none other than legendary carry Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen. Matu brings a phenomenal track record of tournament success, and is most famously known, aside from memes, for lifting the Aegis of Champions at The International 2017. Matu is a veteran of the scene, and is known for his unique and invasive hero specialisation. He will be playing the carry role in our new lineup and Nisha will move to the mid lane. We look forward to adding his skills, and his personality, to the team and we warmly welcome him to the Secret family.
Secondly, we would like to welcome Lee “Heen” Seung Gon as our new coach to the team. Heen is vastly praised for his coaching ability and deep insight in the top echelons of the DotA scene, proving invaluable to Team Liquid’s success in 2017 and victory at TI7. His recent time spent with TNC has reflected clearly in their results, and we look forward to his presence to be felt in drafting, within the game, and our camaraderie as a team. Heen will be working closely with Puppey to guide us ever closer to our ultimate goal of winning TI.
Opening The Season
We are very excited to be bringing on board two TI champions in MATUMBAMAN and Heen. Their addition to the squad will introduce new exciting possibilities and playstyles, and we are eagerly anticipating getting to work in the new season. Our first event will be the qualifiers for DreamLeague Season 13: The Leipzig Major. Shortly after this we will travel to Singapore for the ONE Esports DotA 2 World Pro Invitational, one of the first international events of the season with several top teams having already confirmed their attendance, including EG, VP, LGD, VG, Na’Vi, TNC and Alliance. See you all on the journey to TI10, and thank you all for supporting Team Secret.
Special thanks to Junichi Ishii for the artwork.
