Aydin “Insania” Sarkohi, captain of Team Liquid, has openly admitted that he is seriously considering retirement from professional Dota 2, with the possibility of stepping away as early as this year or no later than 2026. Speaking with Ted “Pyrion Flax” Forsyth in the lead-up to The International 2025, the reigning champion reflected on his future in the competitive scene.
When asked directly about his plans, Insania responded, “Yeah, so for me, next year would be the absolute maximum. That’s like something I set for myself already. It might happen this year, who knows? I haven’t really decided yet.” The support player was quick to point out that his focus remains on performance, saying, “For now, I just want to try to play the best Dota I can and then we’ll see what happens after.”
The veteran captain’s remarks shed light on the personal reasons driving this timeline. When pressed on the subject, Insania was candid about the toll of the lifestyle, saying, “I mean, part of it is kind of getting tired of traveling, but part of it is also that I think there’s more to life than just Dota. And I mean, I will always be interested in what happens in Dota, but just playing it, I think, is kind of reaching the end for me. And I’m kind of looking at other goals in life.”
These reflections echo what he shared earlier in April 2025 during an interview with BLAST, where he admitted that “retirement is on my mind” and, after 15 years as a professional player, he felt ready to “explore other options” and pursue new priorities.
Whether he steps away following Team Liquid’s disappointing TI14 finish or carries on into 2026 remains an open question. His insistence on simply wanting to “play the best Dota I can” suggests he won’t make a decision solely based on results.
Uncertainty lingers for the Dota 2 community. If Insania does retire, it would close the chapter on one of Western European Dota’s most respected leaders. His departure would remove a brilliant support player and a sharp strategic mind whose leadership was key to Team Liquid’s TI13 championship run.
Published: Sep 8, 2025 04:31 am