Denis “Larl” Sigitov, the accomplished midlaner for Team Spirit, recently provided his professional take on one of Dota 2`s emerging talents: 16-year-old Artem “Niku” Bachkure, who occupies the midlane position for Natus Vincere (NAVI). Larl shared his perspective in a team vlog, offering insights as both squads navigate the demanding Riyadh Masters 2025 tournament.
Larl`s assessment of the young NAVI player was both measured and frank. When prompted about Niku`s skill level, Larl acknowledged his capabilities, stating that Niku “plays well.” He specifically highlighted Niku`s fundamental mechanics, noting that his “micro [is] normal, good.” However, Larl also pointed towards areas that might require further development, suggesting that Niku`s “macro might suffer somewhere: some unthoughtful actions and so on.” Despite this, Larl believes Niku possesses the ability to “play well,” though he added that this often “depends on his heroes.”
Adding nuance to his evaluation, Larl stressed the complexity of definitively judging a player like Niku at this stage. He noted that performance is intrinsically tied to the team environment, describing the current NAVI roster as “good, but young,” and possessing “less LAN experience.” This contextual understanding is crucial, as a player`s impact is amplified or constrained by team synergy and cumulative competitive exposure.
Larl also drew a comparison to another rapidly rising player, Alan “Satanic” Galimov, observing that “Alan seemed to play hardcore right away, both micro and overall.” He contemplated whether the inherent differences between the midlane and carry roles—and their current prominence in the meta—might influence how quickly players in those positions gain recognition. “The latter [carry] is more of a star role, while mid isn`t as star-studded now,” Larl mused. Ultimately, Larl concluded that Niku does “make impact and plays well overall.” Having encountered Niku at a previous tournament, Larl also noted he was a “normal guy.” While acknowledging Niku`s solid play, Larl`s final summary was clear: he`s “just good,” but “not yet a GOAT.” A practical, non-hyperbolic evaluation befitting a seasoned professional.
The timing of these comments is particularly noteworthy. Team Spirit and NAVI found themselves sharing the same initial battleground in Group A at the Riyadh Masters 2025. Team Spirit concluded the group stage in first place, while NAVI secured the second spot, underlining the direct competitive relevance of Larl`s assessment as both teams vie for success on the international stage.
Finley Holt