Dota 2 – SoNNeikO departs Na’Vi Dota 2 lineup

SoNNeikO departs Na’Vi Dota 2 lineup. In a surprise move, Akbar “SoNNeikO” Butaev has left Natus Vincere, with the 24-year-old having only rejoined the team back in May. The decision appears to be mutual between the two parties, with Na’Vi now looking for a new player. No reason for the departure has been given as of yet, however Na’Vi did thank the Russian for his efforts over recent months.

SoNNeikO originally returned to Na’Vi after spending a year apart from the organization, having previously been benched in October 2019. This benching led to SoNNeikO joining Ninjas in Pyjamas, before making the switch to AS Monaco Gambit.

Why SoNNeikO parted ways with Na’Vi

Along with “No[o]ne”, SoNNeikO left Gambit following the conclusion of the 2021 Dota Pro Circuit, having helped the team in reaching the WePlay Esports AniMajor. Rather than competing at the major, the duo instead decided to join Na’Vi, having had to be convinced to stick around for the remainder of the regular season.

Disappointingly, Na’Vi finished fifth at The International 10 regional qualifiers, meaning that they would miss out on a place at the main event. It is such a result, along with disagreements within the ranks, that perhaps ultimately led to SoNNeikO’s departure. The veteran will now be exploring his options, with SoNNeikO unlikely to be short of options.

What Na’Vi coach Mag said on the News

Speaking on SoNNeikO’s departure, Na’Vi coach Andrey “Mag” Chipenko, stated that: “There are more different views, different plans, and Akbar likes to assemble, to be in charge/ He may be more interested in playing with young players. It was the first time he had a team of guys as experienced as the captain. It was hard enough to get a word in. I think it’s more comfortable for him to play when he’s in complete control of the process, with at most one person sharing responsibility.”

Such comments back up claims that there was tension in the ranks within the roster, caused in part by the number of experienced pros at Na’Vi. Their Dota 2 lineup is now comprised of “RAMZES”, “RodjER” and “No[o]ne”, the trio who formed part of the org’s dominant team in 2018 and 2019. Meanwhile, with Alik “V-Tune” Vorobey also on board, Na’Vi remain well set to challenge.