"We were unknown — and it gave us freedom"
Recalling the start of his career with Yellow Submarine , Yatoro admitted that this period laid the foundation for future success:
Back then, no one expected us to win. We were just four unknowns and Miposhka , who played in the second tier. It was an interesting time — we could experiment and just enjoy the game.
Friendship with Mira and TORONTOTOKYO — only outside the game
Today, former Team Spirit partners — Mira and TORONTOTOKYO — represent Aurora Gaming, and according to Yatoro, this adds intrigue to tournament matchups:
We know each other's weaknesses, so playing against them is always interesting. In life, we're still friends, spending time together when possible. But when a match is ahead, we don't talk for weeks. After the game, everything returns to normal, and we can discuss why we won or lost.
New dynamics with Larl and rue
After TORONTOTOKYO and Mira 's departure, Spirit's lineup was refreshed, and Yatoro shared how the team's atmosphere changed:
Larl and I have been together for three years now; he is calmer than TORONTOTOKYO . rue is a quiet guy but a great player. He doesn't talk much, but he consistently fulfills his role.
"In Dota 2, it's not about how much you play, but how you understand the game"
When the conversation turned to mentorship in the absence of Miposhka , Yatoro stated that rue doesn't need a mentor:
I don't think experience matters as much in Dota as in other esports. The main thing is to understand the game now because it changes with every patch. rue has already won two tournaments; he's a tier-1 player and manages on his own.
New captain and leader — panto
According to Yatoro, panto seamlessly integrated into the team and took on the role of the team's driving force:
He's very motivated to play at the top level and wants to be the captain. He's constantly discussing heroes, even at the airport — "what if we pick this one?". His energy charges everyone around him. He's not afraid to take responsibility and pushes the team forward.
The return of the nickname Yatoro
When asked why he changed his nickname to Raddan, Ilya smiled:
It just got boring being Yatoro, and I wanted something new. Then that got old too — so I went back. Maybe one day there will be a third option.
Despite two The International titles, Yatoro remains one of the most self-critical and aware players on the scene. His approach is not to rely on the past but to understand Dota as it is today.
The main thing is not how much experience you have, but how well you feel the game. In Dota, everything changes too quickly to live in memories.
