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Insania Retires From Professional Dota 2
With new beginnings, some things need to end — and now, Dota 2 loses another legend as Aydin "Insania" Sarkohi is retiring from professional play. The player had already mentioned his desire to leave the competitive scene before this year’s International, and now his retirement has been officially confirmed.
Insania’s professional journey includes a surprisingly short list of teams, but his time with them left a major impact. He only played in Tier 1 events with a handful of rosters, yet his consistency helped define several eras of Dota 2 competition. Let’s take a closer look at his history and see where his international performances began turning him — and his teammates — into some of the best players in the world.
Insania and the Climb to the Top
Aydin “Insania” Sarkohi began his esports career playing Heroes of Newerth competitively at around 16 years old. He was part of BlackFade, a team of friends that included other notable names like Maurice "KheZu" Gutmann and Ludwig "zai" Wåhlberg. Together, they managed to qualify for DreamHack Summer 2012, the rough equivalent of The International for the HoN scene, finishing third in his first “international” event.
His first major step into Dota 2 came in 2017, when he joined Ninjas in Pyjamas. However, his true rise to prominence came a few years later when he reached The International for the first time in 2019 with Alliance. That roster would later be signed by Team Liquid after the previous TI-winning lineup departed to form Nigma Galaxy.
Team Liquid's Solid Core
From that point forward, Team Liquid revolved around Insania, miCKe, and Boxi as the team’s enduring core. The trio became known for their chemistry and resilience, as midlaners and offlaners rotated around them. Together, they achieved third place at The International 2022 and second place at the Riyadh Masters in both 2023 and 2024, before finally lifting the Aegis of Champions in 2024.
Although Insania had served as team captain during their transition from Alliance to Liquid, he later handed the title over in subsequent seasons.
Despite no longer being the official captain, Insania remained a key voice in Team Liquid’s strategy. He was often the player selected to give post-match interviews, offering thoughtful and grounded insights into the team’s mentality and approach.
The Gyrocopter Incident
Professional players are remembered for both their best and worst moments, and Insania is no exception. Despite his achievements, one unforgettable incident still defines part of his early legacy — the infamous Gyrocopter pick.
During The International 9, while still playing with Alliance, Insania made a costly mistake in the drafting phase against Royal Never Give Up. While discussing whether to ban Gyrocopter, he failed to notice the timer running out — and accidentally picked the hero instead of banning it.
The error was so significant that it remains on Dota 2’s official YouTube channel. Despite the blunder, Alliance did their best to adapt and play with the draft they had. Ultimately, they lost the match and finished 13th at Insania’s first International.
Yet, that setback only strengthened the bond between him, miCKe, and Boxi — forming the foundation for the Team Liquid dynasty that would later emerge.
Life Goes On
Now that Insania is retiring from professional Dota 2, his focus will likely shift to life beyond the competition. Whether he chooses to become a coach, analyst, streamer, or broadcast talent, his experience and charisma will ensure he remains a respected figure in the scene.
What truly matters is that Insania got to choose when to step away. Few players in esports can retire on their own terms, with an Aegis to their name and the respect of fans and peers alike. His journey — from BlackFade to Team Liquid, from DreamHack to The International — is a story of persistence, leadership, and redemption.
As Insania retires from Dota 2, he leaves behind not just a list of trophies, but a legacy of professionalism, friendship, and love for the game. Wherever life takes him next, his name will echo through the history of Dota 2 forever.
Featured Image Source: Flickr (dota2ti)
