Every game has individuals who have etched their names not only in the history books but have also conquered millions of hearts. These individuals transcend beyond mere usernames, becoming iconic figures recognised for contributing to Dota 2.
Few are known for their technical prowess, few are recognised for their quirky and jolly nature, few are known for leading their own legion to its zenith while the remaining few are known for their longevity.
But how do some ‘usernames’ rise above the millions to become synonymous with Dota 2? Let’s find out.
Without further ado, we present ‘Meet the Faces of Dota 2: Names synonymous with Dota 2’.
Puppey is the epitome of longevity in the cutthroat and ever-evolving landscape of Dota 2. His name is the first one that comes to mind when speaking about the game. He’s the perfect G.O.A.T (Greatest of all time) candidate and is one of the OG’s of the game, having his roots embedded in the scene from the original WarCraft3 DotA days.
Puppey has outlived a vast majority of players, old and new, and to this day continues to do so, all while dominating the scene with his ‘machete’. Starting his Dota 2 career under the legendary organization, Natus Vincere (NAVI), Puppey won the inaugural The International 2011, and quickly led NAVI to two consecutive grand finals of the subsequent TI’s, only to fall at the last hurdle.
Post his tenure at NAVI, Puppey founded Team Secret, an organisation that would soon become one of the most popular names in Dota 2. Under Puppey’s tutelage, many iterations of Team Secret have thrived, winning multiple Majors and other Tier-1 tournaments.
It would be fair to say that Puppey is one of those names synonymous with Dota 2.
Dendi was widely regarded as one of the faces of Dota 2. He won the inaugural The International 2011 alongside Puppey and shot to fame for many antics, including but not limited to, his quirky nature, impeccable gaming skills, funny persona and humble nature.
No one can forget Dendi’s Shadow Fiend plays or his infamous Pudge hooks that shook the core of the Chinese teams. In the initial Dota 2 days, his skills were rivalled by a select few in the mid-lane, and yet it wasn’t enough to stop Dendi.
However, Puppey’s departure from NAVI severely affected Dendi’s career, who chose to stick with the organisation rather than leave. The subsequent iterations of NAVI did not propel Dendi’s career in an upward trajectory until the time he decided to call it quits from the organisation he once called home.
Post his stint at NAVI, Dendi found his own organisation called B8.
However, both Dendi and B8 have yet to find any relevant success in the competitive landscape of Dota 2. He still continues to fight but for how long can he continue to do so?
Nonetheless, Dendi was, is and will always be one of the names synonymous with Dota 2.
N0tail is the sunflower of Dota 2. He is a magnificent player whose name has been etched in the history books. He is one of those players who found success in the game relatively late in his playing career.
After years of initial struggle, N0tail co-founded OG Esports and, from the onset, started winning multiple majors.
This was at a time when Dota 2 was being infused with a plethora of money from both Valve and third-party event organisers.
However, the ultimate success kept eluding N0tail – The International Dota 2 Championship.
After a major setback that saw OG short of two players, just two months before The International 2018, N0tail’s dream of winning the trophy seemed to be falling apart.
But he did not give up. OG rebuilt their roster, putting their faith in their former player-turned-coach, Ceb, and a new debutant, Topson. Together, in 2018 & 2019, the same roster of OG won consecutive TIs – a record yet to be broken.
Post 2021, N0tail, seemingly content with his achievements in Dota 2, decided to step back from playing competitively and enjoy his retirement.
Doesn’t this make N0tail one of those names synonymous with Dota 2?
While many others can be included in the list, these three names immediately come to mind, synonymous with the game.
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