“Munkushi~” Wins Casters’ Hearts With Impressive Performance Against Team Liquid

The final match of the upper bracket of the Elite League S2 tournament in Lima became a real holiday for fans of professional Dota 2. The Russian team 1WIN put on a spectacular show, winning a convincing victory over the famous Team Liquid team. However, the play of the team’s carry, Nikita “Munkushi~” Chepurnykh, caused special delight among casters and analysts.

Commentator Ruslan “Adekvat” Mavlyutov, whose words are always closely listened to by fans, singled out 1WIN’s game as one of the most striking at the tournament. But it was Munkushi~ who became a real discovery for him:

“Munkushi~ is a beast. Every playoff match on day 2 was amazing, but he stands out even against this backdrop.”

Comparisons with top players from Adekvat only amplify the effect. Nikita showed a game that can rightfully put him among the elite of the esports community.

New favorite?

Alexey “Lex” Filippov, another respected caster, admitted that he considered 1WIN one of the main contenders for victory from the very beginning. However, Chepurnykh’s performance against Liquid exceeded even the wildest expectations: “Munkushi~’s level at the tournament is not inferior to Ilya “Yatoro” Mularchuk in his best form.” Such words are a huge compliment. Yatoro, the winner of The International 2021, is a benchmark for many young players, and Chepurnykh is clearly on the right track.

Analyst Arseniy “ArsZeeqq” Usov was equally impressed. According to him, in recent years, teams from Eastern Europe can rarely boast of players of the level of Ilya “Yatoro” Mularchuk or Ivan “Pure~” Moskalenko. However, Nikita Chepurnykh clearly challenged these stereotypes:

“Simply amazing. I haven’t seen such a carry from Eastern Europe in a long time.”

Despite their brilliant play in the upper bracket, 1WIN couldn’t hold on to their lead in the grand final. In a tense series, the European team Team Liquid won 3-2, leaving the Russians in second place. Nevertheless, 1WIN’s result is a serious achievement, and their $120,000 prize money confirms that the team is moving in the right direction. Munkushi~ is no longer just a promising player after this tournament. He is now a star who has made a serious name for himself on the international stage.