Former Virtus.pro Dota 2 coach impressed with Aurora's substitution
Former Virtus.pro Dota 2 Coach Impressed by Aurora's Substitute
Former coach of Virtus.pro and 1win Team, Timur "Ahilles" Kulmukhambetov, emotionally praised the performance of Artem "lorenof" Melnyk in the Aurora Gaming lineup at DreamLeague Season 28 for Dota 2.
According to the specialist, Melnyk is demonstrating a level of play that is hard to overestimate and is literally "winning impossible games."
In the second group stage of DreamLeague 28, Aurora holds a 6–1 map record. The team has won several protracted matches where they were behind economically but turned the game around thanks to well-timed team fights and late-game decisions.
At this stage of the tournament, lorenof maintains an average KDA above 5.0, ranks among the top midlaners in damage dealt, and consistently creates an advantage in his lane. His contribution in the late stage is particularly noticeable—a high kill participation percentage and a minimal number of unjustified deaths.
Artem Melnyk is a Ukrainian midlaner who began his career in regional CIS stacks and semi-professional leagues. For a long time, he remained in the shadow of more prominent players, gradually gaining form and experience through qualifiers and tier-2 tournaments.
His breakthrough came in 2025 when he began regularly competing against the region's top teams and established himself as a stable, disciplined midlaner with a good understanding of game tempo.
He ended up in Aurora as a stand-in after the main midlaner encountered visa issues. Initially, his invitation was perceived as a temporary measure, but the results quickly changed the attitude towards the player.
With lorenof, Aurora:
- Won FISSURE Universe
- Successfully passed through DreamLeague Division 2
- Extended their unbeaten streak to over 20 matches
- Topped the standings in the second stage of DreamLeague 28
It is especially important that Melnyk is not just "filling a hole" in the roster but is actively influencing the team's style. With him, Aurora plays faster in the midgame and more confidently in the late stage.
Interest in the player has already extended beyond Aurora. At the upcoming PGL Wallachia 7 tournament, he will stand-in for Team Falcons, replacing Stanislav "Malr1ne" Potorak. This is an indicator of trust from one of the strongest teams of the season.
Essentially, in just a few months, lorenof has gone from a regional midlaner to an in-demand player on the international scene.