While The International 2022 hasn’t even concluded, the first victims of the post-TI shuffle have already started piling up. All of the roster changes we’ve seen so far come from teams that have underperformed at the event. And with those changes, a lot of underlying dirt and conflict are starting to rise up as well.
Most notably, we’ve seen Solo’s departure from Na’Vi uncover certain issues the team had with its former captain. Following Na’Vi’s premature exit during the LCQ, the team hastily removed Solo from the team. Even though Na’Vi fell short of its goal to reach the main event, it seemed like the decision was a done deal before The International began. Following his departure from Na’Vi, it was made clear that both the organization and his teammates were unhappy with Solo’s style of leadership.
As the event went on and more teams got eliminated, so did the number of departures from some of those teams. While it’s not uncommon for the Post-TI Shuffle to completely change the landscape of the competitive Dota 2 scene, it has evidently begun earlier this year than most could have expected.
As the event slowly draws to a close, so will the number of departures. For now, let’s take a look at some of the changes that have happened so far.
Virtus Pro Parts Ways With RAMZES666
Virtus Pro has had a truly unlucky 2022 DPC Season. After just missing out on qualifying for TI through the DPC Rankings, the team stumbled on its final hurdle of the LCQ – Team Liquid. The Russian organization’s season can only be described as being so near, and yet so far.
RAMZES666’s contract with the team was valid until the end of TI 11, and both parties decided not to renew it heading forward. While RAMZES was not the sole reason for VP’s shortcomings, he certainly did not help the team find more stability. Virtus Pro’s main weakness was by far their mental fortitude, and on certain occasions, it was RAMZES who started the snowball effect. The dramas with other players (most notably qojqva) didn’t help his cause either.
Heading into the 2023 DPC Season, Virtus Pro has some hard decisions on its table. The rest of the team’s active roster is without a doubt talented, but can they overcome themselves?
Sonqis Release LESLAO
Soniqs was another team that played well below expectations, finishing in second-to-last place in Group A. Although they did have one more chance to fight for their tournament lives, the North American squad would go on to lose their Group A tiebreaker against BOOM Esports.
Quinn & Co have a lot of soul-searching to do heading into 2023, but one player who will not be joining them on that journey is LESLÃO. The Brazilian offlaner seemed to be offbeat from the rest of the squad for a big part of the tournament and was noticeably their weakest link in times of need. But the main reason for his expulsion from the team was the racist slur he placed on his in-game effigy.
Preferably, Soniqs could be looking at an all-NA team heading into next season. LESLÃO on the other hand should be able to find a home for himself easily even in the South American scene. The region’s success this year is bound to attract bigger organizations and opportunities, adding further depth to the Post-TI Shuffle.
T1 Loses Two
T1 is yet another team that performed well under expectations. The SEA team was considered by many to be a potential dark horse of the tournament, especially after picking up two-time winners ana and Topson. Ultimately, their TI journey ended unceremoniously in the LCQ Stage.
The organization announced earlier that it has released two of its players – offlaner and team captain Kuku as well as soft support Xepher. As it currently stands, chances are slim that either ana or Topson will continue with the organization, as we are almost certainly looking at another T1 rebuild. In addition, the team has also parted ways with longtime head coach March.
Wildcard Gaming And Sammyboy Are No More
Truth be told, Wildcard Gaming was seen as one of the weaker teams in the LCQ. Featuring a fairly inexperienced lineup and playing the tournament with a stand-in, the odds were stacked against them. Wildcard would go on to finish rock bottom in Group B but managed to put up a better fight than most expected, even eliminating the favored side of Polaris Esports in the Lower Bracket.
Vici Gaming on the other hand was too big of an obstacle to overcome, as the Chinese team sent Wildcard home packing. Sammy had the roughest tournament by far out of all of his teammates, so his release from the team comes as little surprise.
