"DOTA 2" is full of legendary players that have dominated the competition over the years. And this time, we're looking at one of the undisputed greats of the game: master strategist Clement "Puppey" Ivanov.

(Photo : Norbert Barczyk/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images)
KATOWICE, POLAND - FEBRUARY 24: Clement Puppey Ivanov during Dota 2 final game between Team Secret and Gambit Esports on February 24, 2019 in Katowice, Poland.

Calling The Shots

In team sports like basketball, there is such a thing as an on-court coach. That's the job of a point guard on a basketball team: to serve as the main point person calling the shots in the heat of the action. And since "DOTA 2" is also a team sport, you can say that "Puppey" is his team's point guard-and an incredible one, at that.

According to HotSpawn, Ivanov has earned a reputation for himself as a "master shot caller." Playing Support, he's not going to deal any crazy damage. But he will call out a specific strategy that might make you scratch your head; that is, until the entire situation plays out. And then you'll just marvel at the immense skill and foresight he exhibited.

He was well-known for his stint with Natus Vincere, which competed during the first-ever TI. Since then, he and Na'Vi would make it to the next two TIs' grand finals, but wouldn't be able to win until the team fell off by the time TI4 rolled around, writes Clutchpoints. This led Puppey to move on from Na'Vi and establish Team Secret.

But his career didn't start off at the big leagues, obviously. He had to start somewhere humble.

Here Before The Storm

Invanov's esports career began in earnest at the age of 13. As a youngster, he competed in several Warcraft III tournaments while he was studying at Estonia's Heino Eller Tartu Music College. Yes, one of the greatest "DOTA 2" players of all time is a classically trained musician.

You can say that Puppey was already a pro gamer way before "DOTA 2" even started.

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Soon after, though, he would realize that finishing his conventional education won't work well for his esports career. In a 2016 TED Talk, he said it himself that "school wasn't his path," and was confident that he wanted to go his own way. By "going his own way," he meant focusing on his music (he was a guitarist for a metal band) and esports career.

Meeting KuroKy

In 2009, Puppey got his first big break during DreamHack. It was there where he'd meet and team up with Kuro Salehi Takhasomi, known as KuroKy. The two players shared a mutual intelligent, tactical approach to the game, and were on their own a duo to reckon with.

Over the next few years, Puppey and KuroKy would make a name for themselves in the original "Defense of the Ancients," until Valve announced "DOTA 2" and the two friends found their new calling. That's when Ivanov's career at the big leagues started, after he qualified for the first-ever TI playing with Na'Vi.

Becoming A Legend

Last year, Puppey reached a milestone which many close followers of the esports scene believe can never be achieved by anyone else. He became known as the only player in the game's history to qualify for all 10 TIs: the first four with Na'Vi, and the next six with Team Secret:

This milestone put him atop his long-time friend KuroKy, who himself has qualified for a total of nine TIs. But after Takhasomi's Team Nigma didn't qualify for TI10, his streak ended and gave way for Ivanov to be the game's TI All-Timer. Aside from that, he has also participated in 8 Major Grand Finals and in 3 International Finals-both of which are also global esports records that remain unbroken.

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Written by RJ Pierce