Under the alias Kasane, Russian e-athlete İlyas Gainullin joined the American Dota 2 outfit TSM, marking a notable addition to the roster.
In the new squad, Kasane will assume the offlane role. In Dota 2, this position is typically tasked with absorbing a significant share of the enemy’s aggression and initiating fights. Kasane steps into this slot to fill the void left by Czech player Jonas “SabeRLight” Volek, who recently departed from TSM.
Alongside Gainullin, TSM’s current lineup features Enzo “Timado” Gianoli O’Connor, Jonathan Bryle “bryle” Santos de Guia, Matthew “ari” Walker, and Matthew “Whitemon” Filmon.
Elijah Gainullin is 19 years old and has competed at the professional Dota 2 level since 2020. He previously played for Yet Another Team and Virtus.pro before joining TSM. Kasane had earned close to $9,000 across his two-year competitive career.
Earlier reports from socialbites.ca noted that the Russian e-athlete, then aged 17, was nominated for the Rookie of the Year title, highlighting early recognition of his potential.
As the season unfolds, observers will watch Kasane adapt to the responsibilities of the offlane role within a prominent North American squad, the dynamics of the TSM roster, and how his experience from prior teams translates to performance on the international stage. The transition also invites analysis of how TSM leverages a dual-nationality lineup within North American leagues and the wider implications for team strategy in high-stakes lanes and objective contests. {citation needed}