Puppey

Clement "Puppey" Ivanov, born March 6, 1990, in Estonia, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Dota 2 players of all time. Standing at 6'5" (196 cm), Puppey has been a towering presence in the esports scene both literally and figuratively. His professional career began in 2007 with DotA, playing for XsK, where he helped the team secure a third-place finish at the ESL Major Series.

Puppey's journey to legendary status truly began with Natus Vincere (Na'Vi). As a founding member alongside Dendi and ArtStyle, he played a crucial role in Na'Vi's historic victory at The International 2011, the first-ever Dota 2 world championship, where they took home the unprecedented $1,000,000 USD grand prize. His exceptional prediction skills with Chen's ability to send heroes back to base became legendary during this period.

After becoming Na'Vi's captain following ArtStyle's departure in 2011, Puppey led the team to second-place finishes at The International 2012 and 2013, along with multiple other high placements. However, a disappointing seventh-place finish at The International 2014 led to his departure from Na'Vi.

In 2014, Puppey formed Team Secret with KuroKy, Fly, BigDaddy, and s4, creating what many considered a "super team." Despite a rough start, Team Secret found success, winning The Summit 3 and later securing victories at the Shanghai Major 2016 and multiple other tournaments. Puppey's drafting skills became renowned throughout the scene, with his ability to construct versatile and unpredictable lineups.

Puppey holds numerous records in Dota 2, including most appearances at The International (11), most grand finals appearances (4), and most top 4 placements (6). He is the first player to win two Valve events, having claimed victory at both The International 2011 and The Shanghai Major 2016.

Throughout his career, Puppey has been known for his innovative thinking and willingness to experiment, even in high-stakes matches. He's mentored numerous players who have gone on to become tier-1 talents, including MidOne, YapzOr, Ace, and Nisha. Despite facing challenges in recent years, including allegations of mishandling tournament winnings and physical threats (which he has denied), Puppey has maintained his position as one of the most respected minds in Dota 2.

Beyond his in-game achievements, Puppey is known for his musical talents, having played clarinet, violin, guitar, and saxophone, and singing in a choir for 12 years. His dream of starting his own musical group remains a personal goal alongside his esports career.

As of 2025, Puppey continues to compete at the highest level, currently serving as a coach for PARIVISION after a storied career as both a player and captain. His impact on Dota 2 extends far beyond his tournament victories, having shaped the meta and inspired countless players with his strategic brilliance and leadership.