Nine specialists will lead Ukrainian teams at the first national-team tournament in esports history. November 2026, Riyadh — each of the nine disciplines already has someone responsible for the result.
The Ukrainian Esports Federation (UESF) officially announces the national team coaches across nine disciplines of the Esports Nations Cup 2026. ENC is the first tournament of this scale where countries compete not as clubs, but as national teams. November 2026, Riyadh, over 150 countries, 16 disciplines. Ukraine made the selection — and is now forming its rosters.
National Team Manager Mykyta Babych led the selection process for the nine disciplines with appointed coaches. Criteria: deep knowledge of the discipline, high-level coaching or playing experience, leadership qualities, willingness to represent the country publicly, and full availability during the preparation period. Seven coaches have been confirmed so far; for the remaining two, we’re awaiting confirmation from ENC representatives before announcing their names. In the remaining seven disciplines, open qualifiers are planned or the format doesn’t require a coach appointment.
All seven confirmed coaches are representatives of the Ukrainian scene.
National Team Coaches
Dota 2 — Andrii “Ghostik” Kadyk
One of the strongest candidates for the Dota 2 coaching role. Has a deep understanding of the game, authority within the community, and a clear vision for building a competitive roster.
“I’m glad to coach Ukraine’s Dota 2 national team at the biggest tournament among national teams. I’m confident that together with the Esports Federation, we’ll put together the best roster to properly represent our country. I want to say that this is a one-time coaching commitment, specifically for the tournament, but I promise to give it everything.”
PUBG Mobile — Dima “Bamb1ni” Kuzmenko
One of the strongest representatives of the Ukrainian PUBG Mobile scene. Has international experience and a high-level understanding of the discipline’s specifics.
PUBG Battlegrounds — Vadym “ALREIN” Lovin
Currently the world’s top-1 PUBG coach. Has a clear understanding of the game, preparation processes, and roster management. With the roster he builds, Ukraine is positioned as a favorite.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent Ukraine in the PUBG discipline at ENC 2026. For me, this is a defining moment in my career that I’ve dreamed of for a long time. I’ll do everything I can to make sure our national team delivers its best result.”
League of Legends — Roman “WildHeart” Maksimchuk
An experienced player with an understanding of internal team processes and the competitive scene. Moving into a coaching role with a focus on player development and team structure.
Rocket League — Andrii “Skeenny_” Piatnytskyi
A proactive representative of the Ukrainian scene with a clear vision for building the roster. Actively develops the community and shows a high level of engagement in the discipline.
“The news about continuing to work with me as the national team’s coach caught me by surprise and turned out to be an incredibly pleasant moment. I witnessed the birth of the Ukrainian Rocket League community: we organized local tournaments, helped popularize the game. And now here we are — the Ukrainian national team at ENC 2026. Thank you for this trust.”
Rainbow Six — Oleksandr “ghood bhoy” Samoilenko
Actively involved in developing the discipline in Ukraine. Has a strong understanding of the local scene and a vision for its further development. Serves as a driving force in building a competitive roster.
VALORANT — Ivan “Johnta” Shevtsov
An experienced coach with a structured approach to his work. Has a clear vision for team development and building game processes. Focused on consistent results and roster progress.
“I’m glad to have the opportunity to assemble and prepare the VALORANT national team for ENC. I’ll do everything possible to make sure our team qualifies for the tournament’s final stage and achieves a strong result.”
What’s Next
The next step is forming the player rosters. Selection for the disciplines with appointed coaches will begin soon. Follow updates at uesf.org.ua and on UESF’s social media, as well as on the official pages of Ukraine’s ENC national team — Instagram and X.
