Héctor “K1” Rodríguez Released by Beastcoast Ahead of Bali Major
Dota 2 player Héctor “K1” Rodríguez, who is considered one of the game’s hottest prospects, has officially been released from Beastcoast on Sunday, June 25. This move comes just days before the start of the Bali Major and could potentially affect Beastcoast’s invite spot for The International in Oct. 2023.
K1 has been on a break from competitive gaming since late May due to mental health reasons. During his absence, David “Parker” Nicho Flores stepped in as the carry player for Beastcoast.
Beastcoast made the announcement on Twitter, stating, “Today we’ve made a difficult but mutual decision to part ways with an incredible player and teammate, @k1hectorxd. Thank you for being a pillar of strength and inspiration for not only Beastcoast, but the Dota 2 community. Wishing you a bright future ahead!”
Under K1’s leadership, Beastcoast made a name for themselves in the Dota Pro Circuit Division I season, dominating the South American region and maintaining an undefeated record in both seasons at the start of 2023.
However, despite their strong performance, K1 and Beastcoast were unable to achieve significant results at the Lima and Berlin Majors. This led to Parker taking over as the carry player, securing Beastcoast’s ticket to the Bali Major with a second-place finish in Tour Three.
While Parker has proven himself capable, the Bali Major will be his first international event since attending TI11’s last-chance qualifier with Infamous. Competing against top-tier teams such as Shopify Rebellion, Team Aster, Team Liquid, and Tundra, Parker will have limited time to adjust to the competition.
K1’s Future Plans
Following his departure from Beastcoast, K1 has expressed his intention to return to competitive play. While rumors suggest he may be looking to join a European team, it may be more logical for him to remain in South America, considering the region will have two qualifier spots for The International.
Beastcoast will now have 20 percent fewer Dota Pro Circuit points due to K1’s departure, dropping them to 11th place overall in the rankings. However, it is unlikely that they will miss out on the free invite to The International, unless they perform poorly in the Bali Major and other teams below them excel.
The Bali Major is scheduled to commence on Thursday, June 29.