T1 Disbands Its Dota 2 Roster Following The International 2022
It was inevitable, and T1 has officially confirmed that its Dota 2 roster has disbanded after The International 2022 and is potentially exiting the competitive scene.
After head coach March and captain Kuku’s departure on Oct. 24, with Kuku’s contract expiring, it took less than a month for the decision to be made public.
Kuku’s departure and his former Geek Fam teammates Whitemon and Xepher announcing the expiration of their contracts with the organization made it almost certain that T1’s roster would disband. While renegotiation was a possibility, T1 management decided to pull the plug on the core that led them to their first Dota success.
Additionally, the disbandment means that ana, who had a short stint with the team, is now back on the free-agent market. Despite not meeting the expectations of some fans, he is free to explore other opportunities in the competitive scene.
Topson, who joined the team as a stand-in for the TI11 regional qualifier alongside his former OG teammate, will now be back with OG’s inactive roster. Unless OG plans to reintegrate him into their current lineup, he will likely seek a contract with another team for the 2023 Dota Pro Circuit.
Related: MATUMBAMAN’s replacement is the only move Liquid will make post-TI11, and there is a huge hint suggesting that it could be Topson.
This marks the end of T1’s first true era in Dota, as the signing of Whitemon, Xepher, and Kuku during the 2021 DPC season propelled the organization to the top of Southeast Asia. Achieving victories in multiple Majors, including ESL One Summer 2021 and a top-seven finish at TI10, this trio proved their prowess.
However, a slow season in a relatively underpowered region led the team to make changes that ultimately did not work out. Failing to qualify for TI11 was a significant setback, and rumors suggest that Bleed eSports may acquire T1’s slot in SEA’s Division I for the upcoming DPC season.
T1 has not made any comments yet about the future of its Dota division. However, Bleed has already begun scouting for a new roster, and there is little time left before the open qualifiers for the next season begin.
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