Dota 2 player Dendi has Tweeted to say he is "officially on contract with Na'Vi", despite joining SEA region team Tigers.
Dendi - Danil Ishutin - has been without a permanent roster place team since being benched after eight years with Na'Vi in September 2018. Tigers tweeted on Tuesday that Dendi would be the fifth player on their current roster, but few further details we available.
It was initially assumed the move to Tigers was permanent before Dendi's later update "to make things clear".
The Dendi deal is the second high-profile addition made by Tigers after they announced the arrival of former Mineski star Mushi - Chai Yee Fung - on January 20.
Last year, Dendi, 29, played as a stand-in for Team Secret, Vega Squadron and FlyToTheMoon.
Caught in the middle?
The recruitment of Dendi and Malaysia's Mushi forms a exciting duo for Tigers fans and it appears Mushi will play carry, with Ukrainian Dendi as mid.
Malaysia-based Tigers roster is listed as such:
- Mushi - Chai Yee Fung
- Dendi - Danil Ishutin
- Moonmeander - David Tan
- Xepher - Kenny Deo
- 1437 - Sivatheeban Sivanathapillai
Dendi has spent his career playing mid but, speaking on the Luckbox Podcast in October last year, respected esports broadcaster Redeye suggested it might be time for Dendi to try a new role.
Redeye says Dendi's instinct will always be to prefer mid - but urged him to think again.
Redeye said: "The trouble is with 'Dondo' is that he will always want to play mid. You'll hear this phrase a lot: 'He's one of the nicest players you'll ever meet'.
"I've never known him to have that ego. I've never known him to be like, 'I'm playing mid and that's the end of it'.
"I don't think he's ever gone back to anyone at Na'Vi and said that's what's happening right now.
But by the same token I don't think anyone could ever get mad with him and say: 'You're playing support, Dendi. God damnit man go and play support now!'
"I'm doing it now. Dendi - if you're watching this - go and play support, you'd be amazing.
"He won't listen though. He'll flame me on Twitter now. Or he'll send me a love heart, you just can't get upset with the guy."
