Danil “Dendi” Ishutin, a renowned Dota 2 player, has spoken about potentially making a comeback to competitive play with his team, B8 Esports. He shared his thoughts in an interview, highlighting the difficulties of building a new roster in the current Dota 2 landscape.
Dendi pointed out that assembling a team is currently challenging. Many experienced players are already committed to other organizations, and there`s a scarcity of promising newcomers. Furthermore, he observed a shift in player priorities, with many focusing on financial gains rather than striving for competitive excellence.
In his own words, Dendi explained, “I often get asked about B8`s return to Dota 2. Right now, the biggest hurdle is finding players to form a team. The pool of established players is already taken, and finding fresh talent is really tough. There was a time when we played not for the money, but for the ambition to be the best in the world. That kind of drive is rare today. Many players are primarily concerned with salaries or see teams as stepping stones. There are very few who are genuinely passionate about the game and the competitive spirit.”
He added, “Theoretically, a comeback is possible for me, but assembling a team is incredibly difficult. It boils down to two key factors: desire and resources. If there`s a strong will and the ability to invest resources into it, then it could become a reality.”
Despite being 35 years old, Ishutin dismisses the notion that age would be a limiting factor in a potential return to top-tier Dota 2.
He stated, “No, that`s not true. I play Dota 2 every day. Age is just a number for me. Even when we were 24, Alexander Kokhanovsky used to tell us that after 25, it`s over, your reactions are not the same anymore. But that`s a myth. Team Liquid won The International with an average player age of 28.”
Dendi elaborated, “Reaction time isn`t as crucial in Dota 2 as it is in CS. Dota 2 is more about strategic thinking and anticipating situations. That`s why I believe age is not a limitation in Dota 2.”
Dendi`s Dota 2 career began in 2007. He famously won The International 2011 and was a finalist at TI2 and TI3. B8 Esports last competed in 2024. Dendi himself participated in qualifiers for DreamLeague Season 26, but his team did not advance.
Finley Holt