Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov has confirmed his plans to take a break from professional Dota 2 following Team Spirit's victory at The International 2026. According to the offlaner, he will need about five to six months to regain motivation and the desire to compete again. However, Collapse is not planning to retire and considers returning to Team Spirit the most likely option after his break. The three-time The International champion shared this in the All Chat podcast.
Collapse Wants to Regain Motivation for Dota 2
After his third win at The International, Collapse admitted that he currently needs time away from constant tournaments. The player explained that he achieved even more than he expected, so instead of wanting to immediately prepare for the next season, he felt relief after the championship ended. According to him, the lack of the previous "hunger" was the main reason for deciding to take a break. Collapse hopes that several months of rest will make him eager to compete at the highest level again.
I'm just trying to find new motivation to play. I think I need some time—maybe five or six months—to feel that hunger for Dota again. Right now, I feel like I've achieved even more than I wanted, so it's more of a relief for me.
The hosts specifically asked Collapse if this meant the rumors about his break were indeed true. The offlaner confirmed the pause but immediately ruled out retirement. He emphasized that he considers himself young enough and doesn't see any reason to leave the professional scene permanently.
Yes, I'm just taking a break. I don't want to end my career because I'm only 24. I'm still quite young.
Collapse also mentioned that he had been contemplating a break even before The International 2026. The victory wasn't the only reason for his decision, but it allowed him to pause with a sense of accomplishment. If Team Spirit hadn't won the tournament, he said, the break wouldn't have felt as natural since the main goal of the season would have remained unfulfilled.
I was thinking about taking a break even if we didn't win TI. But then I wouldn't have this sense of relief because I wouldn't have achieved my goal before taking a rest.
After the Break, Collapse Plans to Return to Team Spirit
During the conversation, Collapse also addressed rumors about a possible team change. He admitted that at various points in his career, he did consider other options and specifically thought about Team Liquid. Additionally, he would be interested in playing on the same team as Miroslav "Mira" Kolpakov again. However, the player currently considers returning to Team Spirit the most likely scenario after his break.
I think I'll return to Spirit. I'm comfortable playing with this team. Changing teams is hard: there are new people, and for me, that's always stressful. For the first couple of months in a new team, I probably wouldn't talk much at all.
According to Collapse, the need to get used to new people again makes a transfer a less appealing option. In Team Spirit, he already knows the other team members and internal processes, so a break seemed preferable to an immediate switch to another club. Nonetheless, the player does not rule out that his plans might change in the future.
Miposhka Helped Team Spirit Change Their Game
A separate part of the interview was dedicated to the work of Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov after moving to a coaching position. Collapse shared that he initially doubted how quickly the former captain could get back into the work rhythm after a break from Dota 2. However, after joining the coaching staff, Miposhka began actively working with players on heroes, replays, matchups, and drafts. In Collapse's assessment, his influence became one of the key factors in the team's progress.
When Miposhka came on board, he did a lot of work. He worked with the supports, with us, with the drafts—with everyone. I think we might not have even made it to the TI playoffs without him. He was one of the main reasons we won.
Collapse added that Miposhka as a coach is noticeably different from the person he used to play with on the same team. Now he doesn't have to think about his own performance, so he can focus all his attention on developing the other players and the overall team structure. According to the offlaner, Miposhka especially spent a lot of time working with the supports and their actions in the early stages of the game.
Collapse Wants to Win TI Without Yatoro Someday
Toward the end of the episode, the hosts asked Collapse if he ever wanted to win The International without Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk. The player answered affirmatively and called it one of the potential motivations for future seasons. Currently, both are three-time The International champions, so a solo victory would allow one of them to take the lead in the number of titles.
Of course. That's the point—you want to be the only one.
In the coming months, however, Collapse does not plan to immediately look for a new team or continue a full tournament schedule. First, he intends to rest, spend time with loved ones, and regain his motivation, after which he will decide about returning to the professional scene.
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