A Korean Dota 2 team goes against the norm by acquiring a player from Europe
A premier Dota 2 team in Korea, MVP Hot6ix, has made an unconventional move by bringing in a player from Europe to join their roster. Lee “Forever” Sang-don and Lee “Heen” Seung-gon from MVP Phoenix were transferred to the Hot6ix team as part of a roster shuffle between the two teams.
Expanding Beyond National Boundaries
MVP Phoenix had already recruited Australian player Damien “kphoenii” Chok from the Oceanic team Can’t Say Wips as part of their roster revamp. Now, the Hot6ix team has followed suit and gone even further by adding Jesse “Jarax” Vainikka from Finland to their team.
A Journey into the Korean Dota 2 Scene
Vainikka had previously played for 4 Anchors + Sea Captain and Team Tinker, gaining exposure and experience on big stages. The move to Korea is not entirely unheard of, as Zephyr, a team primarily made up of American players, has been successful in Korea’s Dota 2 scene.
Breaking the Mold in Korean Esports
While it is common to see Korean players moving to Western teams in most games, it is interesting to see a top Korean team like MVP Hot6ix reaching out to the West. The dominance of Korean players in StarCraft is well-known, and Korean imports are a common sight in top League of Legends competitions worldwide. However, Dota 2 has not seen the same level of reception or popularity in Korea.
The recent acquisition of Vainikka by MVP Hot6ix also marks a period of upheaval for Team Tinker, as they have lost both Vainikka and Zheng “PatSoul” Yukai to other teams, leaving the roster with only three players.
Photo via FadlyRomdhani/DeviantArt
Related keywords: Korean Dota 2 team, MVP Hot6ix, MVP Phoenix, roster shuffle, European player, Finnish player, Dota 2 scene, esports in Korea, Korean esports.