In a surprising turn of events, Team Secret has acted swiftly to address roster gaps, signing two players from Southeast Asia and Europe following the recent departure of a highly regarded Filipino talent. Through their official social media channels, the Western Europe veteran welcomed aboard two Malaysian professionals: Yeik “MidOne” Nai Zheng as the midlaner and Tue “ah fu” Chuan as the coach. Additionally, they secured the services of Miroslav “Boom” Bičan.
This reunion marks a special moment for MidOne and Boom, both of whom have donned the Secret jersey in previous years. Prior to his stint with Team SMG in Malaysia, the former was widely praised as one of the world’s best mid laners, contributed significantly to the team’s success at prestigious events such as the Paris Major 2019, Chongqing Major 2019, and DreamLeague Season 8 and 9 from 2017 to 2018.
However, as the new recruits joined, Team Secret made the decision to part ways with Armel after approximately nine months with the team. Throughout Armel’s tenure, the squad experienced both highs and lows in Dota 2 competitions. While they clinched victory at the DPC WEU 2023 Tour 2: Division II, subsequent events saw a decline, including an 8th-place finish at DPC WEU 2023 Tour 3: Division I, 11th-12th place at DreamLeague Season 20, and a 9th-12th place at Riyadh Masters 2023. Despite experimenting with Saeiful “Fbz” Ilham to accommodate Armel’s playstyle, the team’s performances showed little improvement.
With the roster finalized, Team Secret is poised for a resurgence, aiming to bounce back from their recent slump. The team’s setback included a failure to qualify for The International 12 through the Western Europe Qualifiers last August, breaking captain Clement “Puppey” Ivanov’s record of perfect attendance in the prestigious event. With the Puppey-MidOne combo reuniting, fans can anticipate a genuine improvement in the team’s fortunes.
As for Armel, his departure clearly stirs rumors of a potential return to SEA soon. Alongside Abed “Abed” Yusof in the United States of America, these Filipino players are heavily linked with Blacklist Rivalry for ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 in December. The stage is set for a new chapter in Team Secret’s journey, with fans eagerly anticipating the forthcoming challenges and triumphs.
