Evgeny “Noticed” Ignatenko, a support player for the Dota 2 squad **Team Yandex**, recently shared his perspective on the team`s potential performance at the prestigious **Riyadh Masters 2025** tournament. His insights shed light on the team`s current confidence level and his observations on the evolving competitive meta.
When questioned about **Team Yandex`s** prospects at the event, **Noticed** expressed a degree of optimism. “I think we feel more confident at this tournament,” he stated. “We are trying to show our maximum, and I hope we will enter the top 8, but it seems to me that we can achieve even more.” This suggests the team harbors ambitions extending beyond a standard respectable finish, aiming for a deeper run in the bracket.
Reflecting on lessons learned from previous major tournaments, **Noticed** identified a crucial area for development: adaptation. “I think the most important lesson I`ve learned is to adapt faster to the tournament meta, heroes, builds,” he explained. This highlights the rapid pace of strategic shifts in top-tier Dota 2, where the ability to quickly understand and react to prevailing strategies and optimal hero choices is vital.
Regarding the current state of the game`s meta, the collection of dominant strategies, heroes, and item configurations, **Noticed** perceives a flexible and perhaps somewhat unpredictable landscape. “I think everything can work right now,” he commented. Success, in his view, heavily depends on player conviction and execution. “A lot depends on confidence in your game.” He pointed to examples of players successfully employing unconventional strategies, like using a typically core hero in a support role, or veterans excelling with more traditional approaches. The implication is that while there might be strong heroes, a team`s confidence in their chosen draft and ability to execute their game plan can be just as, if not more, critical than strictly adhering to perceived meta norms. It`s a technical environment where confidence surprisingly holds significant strategic weight.
At the time this article was written, **Team Yandex** was engaged in a critical match against **Shopify Rebellion**. This series is part of the Elimination Phase at **Riyadh Masters 2025**, representing a decisive moment. The winner of this best-of-three fixture is set to advance to the quarterfinals to face **Gaimin Gladiators**, while the losing team will be eliminated from the tournament, underscoring the immediate importance of the confidence and adaptable mindset **Noticed** discussed.
The **Riyadh Masters 2025** is a premier Dota 2 competition, taking place from July 8 to 19 in Saudi Arabia as a component of the larger Esports World Cup 2025. Sixteen top teams from around the globe are competing for a substantial prize pool of $3 million. The tournament features a multi-stage format, culminating in intense playoff matches.
As **Team Yandex** navigates the high stakes of the Elimination Phase, **Noticed`s** reflections provide insight into the strategic and psychological factors at play. The blend of tactical adaptation, belief in one`s own skill, and navigating a fluid meta forms the core challenge, one that their match against **Shopify Rebellion** serves as a direct test for.