In a recent development within the esports realm, Team Secret has announced its decision to part ways with their offlaner, Saieful “Fbz” Ilham. The announcement, made via a tweet, conveyed the team’s appreciation for Fbz’s contributions during his tenure. Fbz had joined Team Secret in June 2023, on a loan from BOOM Esports, stepping in for Miroslav “BOOM” Bičan.

As he returns to the Southeast Asian (SEA) team, it’s evident that while Team Secret’s performance seemed enhanced with Fbz, they couldn’t gather the necessary momentum to secure a spot in The International 12 (TI12) through the regional qualifiers.

Credit: Team Secret

Team Secret’s heartfelt message read:

“We couldn’t make it all the way to Seattle however we still had an amazing time with him. Thank you for sharing this journey with us Fbz, we wish you the best ahead. And thank you BOOM Esports for making this possible.”

With this departure, Team Secret’s Dota 2 roster now comprises four players. They had hoped that the inclusion of Fbz, a seasoned offlaner, prior to DreamLeague Season 20 would bolster their chances. This addition also meant that the roster had two SEA players, a rarity in Europe. Despite showing promise in tournaments like DreamLeague Season 20 and Riyadh Masters 2023, the team couldn’t clinch decisive victories, largely due to synergy issues. Their performance in the Western Europe (WEU) qualifiers was commendable, but they fell short, finishing fourth after losses to Entity and Quest Esports.

As Fbz returns to SEA, BOOM Esports welcomed him back with open arms. Had Team Secret qualified for TI12, Fbz might have had an extended stay.

Read next: Dota 2 The International 2023: Event Guide, Teams & History