Team Secret Fails to Qualify for TI12, Ending Puppey’s All-Time Streak

The Western European qualifiers for Dota 2’s The International 2023 have been a rollercoaster of emotions for the young players. However, dreams can only come true at the expense of others, and today marked the end of Puppey’s legendary status at TI as Team Secret failed to secure a spot in TI12.

This year has undoubtedly been the toughest season in Secret’s history. After finishing as runners-up at TI11, the team struggled to recover from the departure of their star player, Michał “Nisha” Jankowski. While searching for the right balance, Secret found themselves in the second division, which meant they couldn’t directly qualify for TI.

Despite the odds stacked against them, Secret started the WEU qualifiers for TI12 with determination. A resounding 2-0 victory over OG boosted their morale, but unfortunately, they couldn’t maintain that momentum against Entity, leading to their elimination from the upper bracket.

In the lower bracket, Secret fought hard against Level UP and eventually faced Quest Esports, a team that had found their rhythm just before the qualifiers. Although Secret managed to force a third match against Quest, they couldn’t overcome the energy and synergy of the young players.

Quest’s victory over Secret also marked one of the most devastating upsets of the 2023 Dota 2 season, as it signified the end of Puppey’s all-time TI streak. Currently, no Dota 2 player has attended all TIs, and the record stands at 11.

Puppey has been an integral part of the competitive Dota 2 scene, competing since 2007. He witnessed the transition from Dota to Dota 2 and even won the inaugural International. While many players retire after achieving their dreams in Dota 2, Puppey returned to continue pushing his limits and reaching new heights in his career.

Throughout his 11-year TI journey, Puppey nurtured new talents, established his own organization, and came close to winning TI again in 2022, finishing in second place. In the last five TIs, Secret consistently improved their placements, achieving better results each year. With their second-place finish in 2022, fans had high hopes for Secret to finally claim the championship in 2023, but perhaps this expectation inadvertently affected their performance.

As of now, Puppey has not made an official announcement regarding his competitive future. Regardless of whether he decides to retire or continue playing, Secret will begin the 2024 Dota 2 season in the second division, which means there is a lot of work ahead for the team.