Diamondprox to play for Bushido Wildcats at the EMEA Masters

A historic figure of European League of Legends is set to return to competition this Thursday. Danil “Diamondprox” Reshetnikov announced on Telegram that he will stand in for ’ jungler Taha “Elramir” Yurdagüven at least in the Turkish team’s match against Vantex in the lower bracket of Group 2 at the EMEA Masters. At this time, it is not known whether he will play any additional games. The organization explained that the substitution was prompted by a personal matter affecting their starting jungler, whose mother recently suffered a heart attack. Sheep Esports joins Bushido Wildcats in wishing her a swift recovery and hopes she will regain her health as soon as possible.

Although Diamondprox’s name may be unfamiliar to some of the younger audience, the 33-year-old Russian jungler was once among the region’s most influential players. As the strategic centerpiece of the legendary Moscow Five lineup in 2012, he helped redefine a role that had previously been considered relatively passive, popularizing an aggressive approach built around constant invades and counter-jungling. Best known for his Lee Sin, he also disrupted the meta with unconventional picks such as Nasus, Kha’Zix, and Volibear.

A semifinalist at the 2012 World Championship with Moscow Five, Diamondprox—alongside the rest of the roster—later transitioned to Gambit Gaming, where he became one of the organization’s most recognizable figures. His several tenures included some notable results, among them a finals appearance in the EU LCS in 2013. This Thursday, he will also reunite with two former Gambit supports: Edward “Edward” Abgaryan, now serving as the team’s head coach, and Alexander “Lekcyc” Leksikov.

Diamondprox remained active in the ERL ecosystem until 2022, when he competed in the NLC with Biofrost. Since then, he has continued to appear in smaller competitions and already made a brief return to the EMEA Masters during the Summer 2024 edition with EGN Esports.

For Bushido Wildcats, tonight’s match carries considerable importance. Following an opening defeat to UCAM Esports, the organization now faces the prospect of elimination should it suffer another loss against Vantex, the second seed from the LPLOL. On paper, the balance of power appears to favor the TCL representative, who could potentially regain their starting jungler for the remainder of the tournament should they secure the victory.

Update: Bushido Wildcats’ run came to an end since the publication of this article. In Diamondprox’s first series with the team, they secured a 2–0 victory over Vantex Esports, highlighted by a dominant 7/0/9 performance from the Russian legend in game one. However, in their rematch against UCAM, the team fell 0–2 with Diamondprox still in the lineup, resulting in their elimination from the group stage.