Evil Geniuses’ Departure and Shopify Rebellion’s Refreshing Partnership
When it comes to Dota 2 in North America, Evil Geniuses has been the dominant team for years. However, after The International 2022, the organization moved to South America, leaving behind a legacy. For Fly, the end of Evil Geniuses’ partnership and his subsequent signing with Shopify Rebellion was refreshing because things had lost their excitement.
A Fresh Start for Evil Geniuses and the NA Roster
Following their ninth-place finish at TI11, Evil Geniuses decided to part ways with their North American roster and shift all Dota operations to South America in search of a fresh start. Fly believes this change was necessary for both the players and the organization due to significant changes within Evil Geniuses since he joined in 2018.
Shopify Rebellion: A Breath of Fresh Air
Fly expressed his satisfaction with the transition to Shopify Rebellion, emphasizing how refreshing the change felt for the team. He noted that Evil Geniuses had undergone substantial transformations with new ownership and projects in other games, and the Dota team felt like the last remnant of the old Evil Geniuses. The partnership had lost its mutual excitement and was no longer interesting for either side.
Shopify Rebellion’s Supportive Environment
Following a month without a sponsor, Shopify announced its signing of the former Evil Geniuses’ lineup, including SabeRLight from TSM, marking the organization’s entry into Dota for the first time. Fly described the experience with Shopify as completely different and praised the organization’s unwavering support. According to Fly, Shopify has been actively providing support staff, sending additional personnel to tournaments, and offering continuous support to the players, even during difficult times.
Fly also commended SabeRLight for bringing fresh energy to the team, highlighting the Czech offlaner’s awesome personality and enjoyable presence.
Shopify Rebellion’s Mixed Results
Unfortunately, Shopify Rebellion’s first year in Dota ended earlier than anticipated, as the team finished in a tie for 13th place at TI 2023 after an upset loss to TSM. Despite this, the team achieved a second-place finish at DreamLeague Season 21, their best performance on the global stage that year.
Future Prospects for Shopify Rebellion
The question now remains whether the Shopify roster will continue together in 2024 or if a significant change is on the horizon for the four core players: Arteezy, Abed, Cr1t-, and Fly. These players have played together for the majority of four seasons, and it remains to be seen if they will run it back or undergo a drastic change.
The International’s final stage is set to begin, with eight teams vying for the Aegis at the Climate Pledge Arena this weekend.
Dota 2, North America, Evil Geniuses, Shopify Rebellion, partnership, roster, South America, Fly, refreshing, excitement, fresh start, support, SabeRLight, mixed results, future prospects, The International