Newbee Acquires ex-Forward Gaming Roster for The International 2019
Newbee has announced that it will be picking up the ex-Forward Gaming roster for The International in Shanghai in less than a month. This is great news for the ex-Forward players, as other potential sponsors had not materialized before Newbee stepped in to support Johan “pieliedie” Åströmand and his team.
Proximity and Preparation for The International
Given that this year’s edition of The International will be held in Shanghai, Newbee has likely offered their Chinese team house and facilities to the North American players. This will give the ex-Forward roster a shorter distance to boot camp and prepare for the tournament.
Auxiliary Teams and Fan Speculations
Picking up auxiliary teams is not unheard of in the Dota 2 scene. Chinese organizations have previously entered the Western market with teams like LGD.INT. However, fans are seeking clarification from Newbee, as there is no mention of the status of their main Chinese squad led by mid maestro Song “Sccc” Chun.
Newbee’s Exclusive Pick-Up for TI9
According to Newbee’s statement, the ex-Forward roster will be exclusively picked up for The International 2019 under the main banner of Newbee. It seems that Newbee has bypassed stricter rules set by Valve for the Dota Pro Circuit, which allows only one roster from one organization to participate in the event.
Whether or not Valve will consider Newbee’s actions against the rules is yet to be seen. In the meantime, the ex-Forward players will represent both Newbee and their former organization at The International, starting on August 15.
keywords: Newbee, Forward Gaming, The International 2019, Dota 2, esports