Kiritych

Ilya “Kiritych” Ulyanov was born on February 21, 2003, in Russia. He is a professional Dota 2 carry currently playing for BetBoom.

Kiritych spent years being described as a promising Eastern European carry. That description no longer fits. After winning PGL Wallachia Season 8, reaching the Esports World Cup 2026 Grand Final, and finishing fourth at TI 2026, he has established himself as a genuine Tier 1 position one.

Early Career

Kiritych began competing professionally in 2020 with SMARACIS Esports before joining Nemiga Gaming in 2021. His time with Nemiga helped him build a reputation as an efficient, mechanically strong carry capable of remaining relevant even when his team was playing from behind.

His ranked progression was equally impressive. Kiritych reached 10,000 MMR in 2021, 15,000 in November 2024, 16,000 in March 2025, and 17,000 in December 2025. Those numbers do not automatically make somebody a Tier 1 player—but they certainly explain why organizations continued believing in his potential.

Virtus.pro

Kiritych joined Virtus.pro in March 2023. The move gave him his first sustained opportunity with one of Eastern Europe’s most famous organizations, and he reached 7th–8th place at The International 2023. However, Virtus.pro struggled to convert regional potential into consistent international success, and Kiritych moved to the inactive roster in early 2025.

For roughly six months, he did not have a permanent team. His return began almost randomly: BetBoom invited him as a stand-in for DreamLeague Season 26, where the team reached the Grand Final. That performance eventually led to a permanent move in September 2025.

BetBoom Team

Replacing Pure was not an easy assignment. Pure had been the team’s primary win condition, and many people immediately treated Kiritych as a downgrade. The beginning was difficult, but BetBoom gave him time to integrate—and that decision paid off.

The roster finished second at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2 before winning PGL Wallachia Season 8 in April 2026. BetBoom defeated Aurora 3-0 in the Grand Final, giving Kiritych his first Tier 1 championship. The team then finished third at BLAST Slam VII and second at the Esports World Cup 2026.

The International 2026

TI 2026 was Kiritych’s second International and his first as a true championship contender. BoomBoys survived a rough group stage, swept Aurora in the elimination round, defeated Iron Wing and Nigma Galaxy, and eventually finished fourth after losing 0-2 to Team Spirit.

Kiritych was not flawless, but his tournament demonstrated real growth. He played through difficult lanes, recovered on heroes such as Drow Ranger, and remained useful in games where BetBoom’s early plan collapsed. After defeating Nigma, he spoke openly about his stage fright and the emotions of returning to the TI stage three years after his previous appearance.

Top 4 is an excellent result, although BetBoom probably had the potential to go further. Still, Kiritych proved the important point: He is no longer the temporary replacement for Pure. He is BetBoom Team’s carry.

Playstyle and Reputation

Kiritych is a traditional hard carry with modern farming efficiency. He is strongest when given a scaling hero, a clear resource plan, and enough time to convert his net worth into decisive late-game fights.

His hero pool includes Lifestealer, Terrorblade, Morphling, Gyrocopter, Alchemist, Drow Ranger, and Lone Druid. He is particularly good at recovering from difficult lanes and continuing to farm without disappearing completely from the map.

I would not call him the most explosive carry in the world, but I trust him to suffer for 35 minutes and still become the strongest hero in the game. Sometimes that is exactly what BetBoom needs.

Fun Facts

Kiritych’s nickname was inspired by Kirito, the main character of Sword Art Online.

He has also said that watching Miracle- lift his first trophy made him emotional and inspired his own professional ambitions.