Azure Ray: The New Superteam in Chinese Dota
Lu “Somnus” Yao, the position one player, has assembled a powerful Chinese superteam in Dota 2. The team needed a name and a coach, and both were revealed on May 9. Zhang “LaNm” Zhicheng, a legendary figure in the Dota community, will be coaching the team. The team’s new name is Azure Ray, and it aims to restore Chinese Dota’s reputation after a disappointing year.
Legendary Coach LaNm Joins PSG.LGD’s Core
Azure Ray, formerly known as YBB, announced that LaNm would be joining the team as the coach. The new roster includes Somnus, Chalice, and fy as players and 天命 as the fifth position player. The team also revealed that they are not receiving any salary for now. The addition of LaNm, who has fifteen years of Dota 2 experience, brings even more talent and expertise to the team.
Somnus’ return to professional Dota was unexpected. After his performance with RNG at The International 2022 in Singapore, it was believed that he had retired from competitive play. Azure Ray’s lineup is already filled with experienced players, and LaNm’s arrival further strengthens the team’s capabilities. Xtreme Gaming released LaNm as coach after their top 10 finish at ESL One Berlin Major on May 2.
Related: SumaiL joins Team Aster after ‘eye-opening experience’ in Berlin
The addition of LaNm brings a wealth of experience to the team. He has been a prominent figure in Chinese Dota since its inception. He participated in the first-ever The International tournament in 2011 with EHOME and has played in the event nine times with various organizations, including Team DK, Vici Gaming, and Royal Never Give Up.
After a disappointing performance at TI 2021 with Team Aster, LaNm transitioned to coaching. He guided Aster to a top-four finish in Singapore before joining Xtreme Gaming for the Berlin Major in 2023.
According to CN Dota In A Nutshell’s report on May 9, Azure Ray’s core players have agreed to play without a salary for the time being. This suggests that the team’s future beyond this year’s The International is uncertain and depends on how well the team performs at the tournament in October.