The CEO of Virtus.pro, Nikolai Petrosyan, explained the reasons behind the organisation’s prolonged collaboration with Alexander "StrangeR" Solomonov.
He began by recalling October 2022, a time when the organisation was still establishing its operational processes in Armenia with a new company, navigating local legal requirements. As Petrosyan noted, many top Dota 2 players, uncertain about the prospects of VP, chose to join other teams. Given the need for a Dota 2 roster, they reached out to StrangeR, having several discussions with him about the situation.
Petrosyan acknowledged that StrangeR took on a challenging task under those circumstances, emphasizing that it’s important not to view the situation in isolation. He remarked that the surrounding circumstances often get overlooked when assessing a manager's ability to form a strong team. StrangeR succeeded in assembling a young but promising roster, which partially showcased its potential during The International in Seattle.
Initially, the organisation believed this marked a new phase in the team's development. However, with hindsight, they realized that was the peak performance of that roster. StrangeR was neither mistreated nor held against his will. Following the season, they engaged in lengthy discussions about their current predicament and ultimately decided that it might be best to pursue Dota 2 in a different format without him.
Petrosyan clarified that this decision does not reflect on StrangeR's professionalism or their relationship. He expressed that if they were to meet at a LAN event, they would shake hands, hug, and discuss matters amicably. At this point, however, they felt it was best to part ways in their Dota 2 endeavours.