The prominent Team Spirit In-Game Leader and support maestro, Yaroslav ‘Miposhka’ Naidenov, is set to step away from the intense world of competitive Dota 2, transitioning to the team’s reserve lineup.
To bolster their ranks, Team Spirit has formally announced the acquisition of Nikita ‘panto’ Balaganin, formerly of Aurora Gaming, to take over the vacant position.
Miposhka’s journey in the esports domain commenced in 2014 with Yellow Submarine, and he has since been a stalwart member of Team Spirit for a commendable five-year duration.
His résumé boasts an impressive array of championship titles. Recently, he played a pivotal role in Team Spirit’s triumphs at the 2025 Esports World Cup and the coveted DreamLeague Season 25. Notably, he stands among a select group of players who have secured victory at The International, Dota 2’s most prestigious annual tournament, on two separate occasions.
As of now, Team Spirit has not disclosed the specific factors contributing to Miposhka’s decision to take a hiatus from Dota 2.
Panto, who dedicated approximately eight months to Aurora Gaming, has demonstrated noteworthy progress within the Dota 2 competitive sphere throughout 2025. While representing Aurora Gaming, the 26-year-old secured a commendable fourth-place finish at DreamLeague Season 26 in May, mirroring his prior accomplishment with his former team, Chimaera Esports, during Season 25 in March.
The currently configured Team Spirit roster is as follows:
- Illya ‘Yatoro’ Mulyarchuk
- Denis ‘Larl’ Sigitov
- Magomed ‘Collapse’ Khalilov
- Aleksandr ‘rue’ Filin
- Nikita ‘panto’ Balaganin
- Airat ‘Silent’ Gaziev (Coach)
- sikle (Analyst)
Team Spirit’s Prominence within the Dota 2 Arena
Team Spirit holds a distinguished position as one of the foremost Dota 2 teams globally. Despite an earlier-than-expected exit from The International 2025, their performance throughout the year remains noteworthy.
The squad clinched victories at DreamLeague Season 25 and the Esports World Cup, while also securing runner-up positions in FISSURE Universe: Episode 6 and ESL One Raleigh 2025.
Although the 2024 season presented relative challenges for the Russian organization, the year 2023 stood out as their zenith, marked by triumphs at The International and Riyadh Masters events.
Looking ahead, Panto is slated to debut under the Team Spirit banner at BLAST Slam IV, commencing on October 14th. Fans can witness the competition live on BLAST’s official Dota 2 channels on both YouTube and Twitch.
The departure of TI champion Miposhka for a Dota 2 hiatus is noted. The post TI champion Miposhka to take a break from Dota 2 esports appeared first on Esports Insider.
