Cover-Credits:
In an official announcement on 7th October 2023, Team SMG confirmed the rumors that had been swirling in the Dota community about the team's roster for the upcoming The International 2023 tournament. Team SMG made it official that Ivan "MinD_ContRoL" Ivanov will be standing in for its player, Natthaphon “Masaros” Ouanphakdee, in the upcoming TI12 tournament.
This revelation comes on the back of a series of unsuccessful attempts by Masaros to secure a USA visa, despite Team SMG's diligent efforts. However, Team SMG made it clear that it shall continue to pursue visas for its core roster. The team also thanked Nigma Galaxy for its assistance in loaning out Mind_ContRoL despite such short notice.
Visa Issues Continue to Plague Team SMG ahead of TI12
Taking to its official Facebook page, Team SMG conveyed the unfortunate news:
"Team SMG regrets to inform that our player Masaros has not been successful at acquiring his USA visa despite multiple attempts. While we continue to pursue visas for our core player, Mind_ContRoL will stand in as a backup for Team SMG during the tournament while we await further updates from the embassy. We'd like to thank Nigma Galaxy for their assistance despite such short notice, and the fans for their continued support."
The confirmed lineup for Team SMG for The International 2023 is:
Yeik "MidOne" Nai Zheng
Volodymyr "No[o]ne-" Minenko
Ivan "MinD_ContRoL" Ivanov (stand-in)
Tue "ah fu" Soon Chuan
Jaunuel “Jaunuel” Arcilla
There were also rumors that Clement "Puppey" Ivanov would play instead of Jaunuel “Jaunuel” Arcilla, due to his visa issues. However, on 6th October 2023, Jaunuel confirmed that his visa has been issued and he shall be joining the team for its run at the International 2023.
MinD_ControL Gets Second Chance
The Dota 2 world was taken by surprise when Nigma Galaxy, a team that had consistently been a force to reckon with in the competitive scene, found itself outside the list of qualified teams for The International 2023. This unexpected setback initially meant that Mind_ContRoL, one of the most renowned offlane players in the game, would be watching the tournament from the sidelines.
However, the things took a turn for the better for Mind_ContRoL and his fans when Team SMG announced his as part of its roster as a stand-in player. This decision didn't just reshape Team SMG's lineup but has seemingly rekindled the hopes and dreams of Mind_Control's ardent supporters who were yearning to see him in action at The International.
The unwavering support of Mind_Control's fans has been a defining part of his career, and it is this passionate fanbase that is now celebrating his unexpected appearance at The International. They are eager to witness the synergy he will forge with Team SMG and are hopeful that this collaboration will lead to remarkable moments in the tournament.
