After leaving fans wondering what would happen next, Artour “Arteezy” Babaev has officially left Shopify Rebellion.
Fans first became concerned about Arteezy’s future with Shopify Rebellion when he discussed leaving the team during a livestream earlier this month. The veteran Dota 2 pro player appeared a bit checked out from the competitive side of the MOBA, often streaming Elden Ring to his followers on Twitch. Some wondered if he’d join another team while others felt he may just become a full-time streamer.
Then, on July 23, Arteezy took to X to confirm that he was stepping down from Shopify Rebellion for good.
Arteezy told fans earlier today that he was leaving Shopify Rebellion because he “was not adequately prepared for the challenges of leading a team.”
A long-time Dota 2 pro, Arteezy has been a constant in the competitive scene for quite a while. Since 2013, he has played for Evil Geniuses, Team Secret, and Shopify Rebellion. While he’s had many top finishes in tier one and tier two tournaments, it seems like a 13th-16th place finish at The International 2023 is what ultimately started Arteezy’s downfall in the scene.
Following The International, Shopify Rebellion turned to Arteezy to lead the team to new heights, hoping for a comeback later in the year. As time went on, however, Arteezy felt that he was a major reason the team was declining and blamed himself for its “demise.” This includes missing their shot at The International 2024.
While this led to a lot of backlash against Arteezy, fans of the talented Dota 2 player expressed that he’s not the sole reason the team had an underwhelming season. Many still respect his skills and have been rooting all month for him to be traded to a different team that may be a better fit. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s part of Arteezy’s plan.
Arteezy has not confirmed which new team he will join in the future, but he did hint at a potential move to Europe.
After the break, Arteezy wrote that he plans to keep streaming on Twitch, including playing Dota 2. He said he wants to remain active in the Dota 2 community and with Shopify Rebellion. At the time being, he’s still signed with the team.
Despite this, Arteezy may not play with Shopify Rebellion again. Instead, he envisions himself moving to Europe and “improving and participating” in competitive Dota 2 in that region.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the whole team at Shopify,” Arteezy tweeted. “Their mission of fostering a championship culture resonates with the spirit I encountered when I first joined Evil Geniuses in early 2014 following MLG Columbus. Shopify’s passion for their work truly distinguishes them as one of the best organizations in all of esports.”
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