The Concerning Disappearance of Taiga Raises Alarm in Dota 2 Community
The Dota 2 community has been left worried this week following concerning rumors about the situation surrounding OG’s young player, Tommy “Taiga” Le. However, there is a glimmer of hope as a leaked Discord message from Taiga on May 24 suggests that he is on the path to recovery.
Taiga mysteriously vanished during the final tour of the Dota Pro Circuit, citing private issues as the reason for his absence. Initially expected to last only a week, his absence has now extended to an unsettling three weeks, putting OG at risk of disqualification.
Aramis and Merlin stepped in to assist OG during the first three weeks of the summer DPC, but the team is currently only allowed to play one more match with a stand-in. With the team teetering on the edge of relegation, rumors have begun circulating within the Dota 2 community.
While some fans have drawn bold conclusions from cryptic statements, others have entertained ideas worthy of Hollywood scripts. The Dota 2 community has been theorizing fervently, with even stats gurus like Noxville coming to Taiga’s defense.
In response to the outcry, the young player posted a statement on Discord on May 24 to clarify his situation. The statement was later shared by esports journalist Pancho Justo on Twitter, providing a glimmer of hope.
According to Taiga’s Discord message, he has been struggling with anxiety and depression since The International 2022. He explained that he decided to step back and focus on getting better in order to regain his drive for Dota 2 after realizing the toll it had taken on his performance. He is currently receiving therapy, which has helped him regain some drive and motivation.
OG has not made any further comments regarding the matter, but it is likely that the club is in communication with Valve to find a solution. For OG to continue with stand-ins for the rest of the season, Valve would need to make an exception to the rules, as any roster changes at this point would result in a DPC point penalty.
Currently, OG still has one more week during which they can play with another Dota star as a stand-in. However, after that, they will need to make a decision as a two-time TI-winning organization.
Dota 2, esports, OG, Taiga, rumor, anxiety, depression, recovery, stand-in, Dota Pro Circuit, disqualification