T1 Parts Ways with Gabbi and Karl Ahead of The International 2022 Regional Qualifiers
T1, the Dota 2 organization, has officially ended its partnership with Gabbi and Karl in preparation for The International 2022 regional qualifiers.
This move marks the first roster change for T1 in several seasons, with the previous change resulting in a seventh-place finish at The International 2021.
Departure Announcement on Twitter
In a Twitter post, T1 expressed gratitude for Gabbi and Karl’s contributions to the team and wished them the best for their future endeavours.
Background on Gabbi and Karl
Karl joined T1 as part of the team’s restructuring at the end of 2020. He was instrumental in bringing together the previous Geek Fam lineup, which had a significant presence in Southeast Asian Dota for the season. Gabbi, on the other hand, replaced 23savage after the Winter Tour Regional Finals.
Motivation behind the Roster Change
While T1 did not explicitly state the reason for this move, it is likely a response to the team’s failure to qualify for TI11 through DPC points. After missing out on a spot at the Arlington Major, T1 fell far behind in the race for a direct invite, accumulating only 273.31 DPC points due to Gabbi’s late addition in February.
Both Gabbi and Karl are now free agents, and T1 is actively seeking new core players to fill their positions.
Potential Replacements: ana and Topson
There have been speculations about T1 potentially considering ana as a replacement. ana recently played as a stand-in for Royal Never Give Up at the Arlington Major and has been active in the competitive Dota scene. Prior to Gabbi’s signing, there were rumors linking ana to T1. Additionally, there is a possibility of Topson joining T1, considering his return to competitive play. However, this reunion remains a mere dream for now.
T1, Dota 2, Gabbi, Karl, The International 2022, regional qualifiers, roster change, Twitter, Geek Fam, Southeast Asian Dota, DPC points, free agents, core players, ana, Topson.