Nigma Galaxy gets eliminated from the WEU Qualifier for TI12

This is the third consecutive year when Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi has failed to qualify for The International. Since he left Team Liquid in 2019, his entire Dota 2 career has been one long chain of sad results. How much longer can he endure without retiring?

In this game, some people decide to retire before the age of 30. Some did it at 22! It seems that in KuroKy’s case, the love for the game is strong enough to make him want to play at least one more season. The same is true for his friend, Clement “Puppey” Ivanov, who is currently 33 and still competing, a true veteran of esports.

Nigma Galaxy’s troubles didn’t start in this regional qualifier for The International 12. They began years ago and continued despite KuroKy’s best efforts to form a world-class roster. In many ways, his players are exceptional and every one of them could easily go to some other top team.

What seems to be missing is the synergy. Has KuroKy lost his leadership spark? Does he no longer understand the game as well as he used to? Nobody knows what the problem is but one thing is certain: Nigma Galaxy is failing despite having everything it needs to win.

A heartbreaking end to the season…

Thank you to everyone who supports us and we’re sorry to disappoint you again. pic.twitter.com/jsHt3VGurC

— Nigma Galaxy (@NigmaGalaxy) August 28, 2023

Nigma’s result in the WEU Qualifier for TI12

Nigma started the tournament with a match against Entity. But after winning game 1, they went on to lose the series 2-1. Entity did not play that well. But they did have excellent drafts that presented a big challenge.

It’s very hard to figure out the optimal way to approach a team fight against a team that uses Pudge, Leshrac, and Doom. Or Invoker, Legion Commander, Earthshaker, Warlock, and Templar Assassin. Where do you even start?

What’s surprising is not that Nigma lost the upper bracket match against a Division I opponent. But that they lost the lower bracket match against a very weak opponent. In Tour 3, Alliance finished Division II in 7^th place and lost even its Division II spot. How was KuroKy able to lose against such an opponent?

One explanation is that Alliance brought in Axel “Pablo” Kallman right before the qualifier began. His contribution is likely better than that of Remus “ponlo” Xian, who left the team in July.

The 1-2 score against Alliance ruined Nigma’s dreams. But perhaps this isn’t the end of KuroKy. Who knows what 2024 will bring?

Header: Nigma Galaxy