Saksa uncertainty in Tundra Esports for The International 2023
Having partially missed two events in a row, Tundra may be considering a permanent replacement for Saksa, unless they are absolutely certain his next return wont be temporary yet again.
Two weeks ago, Martin “Saksa” Sazdov announced his withdrawal from the Riyadh Masters due to health issues. The news was confirmed by Tundra Esports on their official Twitter handle, leaving fans and followers in a state of shock and concern. This was the second time this year that Saksa opted out of competing with the squad due to personal reasons. He left Bali Major in a hurry as well only weeks before.
Martin “Saksa” Sazdov
According to a tweet at the time, Saksa flew home due to illness and would not continue his participation in the Riyadh Masters. The team expressed their wishes for his speedy recovery and announced JCrtis “Aui_2000” Ling as a stand in.
In a subsequent tweet, Saksa himself shed light on his decision, citing struggles with anxiety, sleep, and overall mental health as the reasons behind his sudden departure. He apologized to his teammates and Tundra for the last-minute decision and expressed gratitude for their support during this challenging time. His tweet stated:
“Have been struggling a bit lately with anxiety, sleep, and mental health and due to that, I won’t be playing more at Riyadh. Sorry to my teammates and Tundra for doing this last minute and I’m thankful for them supporting me this whole time.”
This development has also raised questions about Saksa’s participation in the upcoming The International 2023. Given the magnitude of the tournament and the level of preparation required, it remains uncertain whether Saksa will be able to compete.
His match history does not reflect a heavy grind as of late, and his preparations may be going slower then expected.
Read next: Dota 2 The International 2022: Event Guide & History
