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10 months ago
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Two-time TI winner, Anathan “ana” Pham has been hailed as one of the best players to have ever played Dota 2.
The player has taken multiple breaks and has retired from Dota 2, but is known to come back to the competitive landscape around the time TI begins.
According to Dota 2 Pro Tracker, Ana has played 68 games in the past 8 days, with an impressive 62% winrate, which may indicate a potential return to competitive Dota 2 as The International 12 approaches.
Anathan "ana" Pham, the renowned carry player and two-time winner of The International (TI) is one of only five individuals who has won TIs twice. After back-to-back victories with the legendary OG roster at The International 8 and The International 9, Ana has more or less been absent from the professional scene, except for a couple of short stints as a stand-in with Royal Never Give Up and Team Liquid as well as a short run with T1 before going on hiatus.
Recent developments suggest that the Australian superstar may be gearing up for a return to the professional scene, once again. The player is known to come back to the competitive Dota 2 landscape around summer, just before The International. In the past, Ana had taken a break after TI8 and returned around the time TI9 began, and did the same after winning following the beginning of TI10 and TI11, for that matter.
It looks like that time of the year has arrived once again. Ana has played 68 games in the last 8 days according to Dota 2 Pro Tracker with an impressive 62% win rate.
Ana's Summer Job: A Legacy and a Break
Following his second triumph at The International 9, Ana surprised fans with an unexpected announcement of his retirement. After eight years of competitive play and a storied career with OG, the Australian carry player expressed his desire to explore other aspects of life. In his parting statement, he emphasized his need to find and appreciate new experiences, leading to his decision to step away from the Dota 2 scene. With an illustrious legacy and two TI titles to his name, Ana left an indelible mark on the competitive landscape.
While Ana did not participate in The International 10, fans were delighted to see him return for The International 11. Playing under the banner of T1 alongside his former OG teammate and two-time TI winner, Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, Ana demonstrated his exceptional skills once again, before going back on hiatus.
In an interview with T1 in the past shed light on Ana's perspective on the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC). Expressing his view on the importance of qualifiers, he stated, "What's the point of playing useless DPC when you can just spend a fraction of time on qualifiers? If it works, great, and if not, then it doesn't matter," This remark sparked discussions about Ana's commitment to the DPC tournaments leading up to The International
Ana's Resurgence: Gearing Up for TI12
The excitement surrounding Ana's potential comeback has reached new heights as evidence emerges of his recent dedication to the game. Dota 2 Pro Tracker reveals that Ana has been actively playing, participating in a significant number of matches over the past week.
Remarkably, he maintains an impressive 62% win rate across 68 matches, showcasing both his determination and that he still possesses the exceptional skill to compete at the highest echelons of Dota 2, even after his extended break from the professional scene. With TI12 on the horizon, fans eagerly anticipate the return of Ana and the possibility of witnessing his unrivaled skill on Dota 2's grandest stage.
While Ana may be gearing up to make a return to his ‘summer job’, the Dota 2 community eagerly awaits any statements or announcements regarding his participation in The International 12. The legendary carry player's potential return injects a new level of excitement into the competitive scene, adding another layer of intrigue to the prestigious tournament.
