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Prominent for his in-game persona of “Yatoro,” Illya Mulyarchuk has chosen to adopt the alias “Raddan” in advance of The International 2024 (TI13). squad Spirit re-registered their squad on July 6, at which point Valve’s team registration page disclosed the name change.
Even though esports players sometimes change their names, Yatoro’s moniker has considerable significance because it has been linked to two TI triumphs. Fans have been speculating a lot about this move, especially since TI13 is only a few months away. Why would a player with a name as famous as his make a shift at this time?
Illya’s decision to change his name came as a massive surprise, considering he won the International 10 and 12 using the iconic in-game name. Yet perhaps Illya has good reasons to change his name for TI13.
Illya has made bold moves during past Internationals. At TI10, he famously shaved his head on the fourth day, starting a ritual where Team Spirit’s captain, Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov, would kiss Illya’s bald head after each series victory. This act, which Illya jokingly called a sacrifice to the ‘God of Dota,’ became a defining moment of their championship run.
After a disappointing TI11, Team Spirit returned stronger at TI12. Illya began the tournament with vibrant pink hair, only to shave it again when the main stage began. Fans went wild, associating his bald head with victory, as Team Spirit clinched their second TI title.
Why then did they go to “Raddan”? It could be just one more of Illya’s pranks in the run-up to TI13. It’s possible that he intends to switch back to Yatoro for the main stage, which would add a surprising twist. There doesn’t seem to be any meaning to the name Raddan. These connections are speculative at best, although they could be a reference to a planet in Star Wars or a boss in Elden Ring.
Team Spirit will be competing shortly, as the Riyadh Masters begin on July 9. Fans are excited for Raddan’s performance, albeit it is unclear if he would shave his head as part of his ritual.