It’s been a very wild week in Dota 2. We have now all types of stuff occurring, from one of many largest Dota groups leaving, underdog groups leaving good impressions, and a well-recognized withstand his traditional tips.
Right here’s every little thing that went down on this Dota 2 week that we expect you need to find out about. Or that simply occurred to entertain us.
Tundra Exits Dota 2 as Sustainability Issues Proceed to Develop
1,953 days, a TI victory, 9 S-tier titles, and $14.8 million in prize cash later – Tundra Esports has formally determined to drag the plug and exit the Dota 2 scene.
It’s actually regarding that the London-based group was arguably probably the most profitable squad of the 2026 season. They’ve received 4 S-tier titles – probably the most of any staff this season – and earned themselves direct invitations to each the Esports World Cup and The Worldwide, they usually nonetheless couldn’t make it work.
The group hasn’t specified a purpose for its exit, however the roster will at the least keep intact. 1win Staff has acquired the gamers, which means Neta “33” Shapira and firm will play underneath a brand new tag for the remainder of the season.
It’s no shock a squad just like the Tundra boys shortly discovered a brand new dwelling, however the optics actually aren’t nice. We’ve already seen paiN Gaming and HEROIC depart this yr due to sustainability concerns, however these had been mid-sized organizations with middling groups.
Tundra was – and if we ignore recency bias, nonetheless is – the very best staff on the earth this yr. If an org as profitable as Tundra decides the scene is not value investing in, I ponder what which means for everybody else.
I believe we will all agree that Dota 2 esports isn’t on its greatest trajectory proper now, and if Valve isn’t going to step in, the scene should determine it out by itself. Betting corporations like 1win have develop into more and more seen within the ecosystem, whether or not they’re funding groups by sponsorships or straight up proudly owning them.
Now, I’m not saying it’s an ideal resolution, but it surely’s very doable that Dota 2 should lean extra closely on playing sponsors within the close to future. I don’t assume it’s probably the most glamorous search for the scene, however with orgs persevering with to drop like flies, that may merely be the truth we’re heading towards.
Whether or not that’s factor is a completely totally different dialog.
Save- Celebrates 1,000 Maps Performed for BetBoom Staff
Talking of betting web site orgs, Vitalie “Save-” Melnic has not too long ago hit a milestone of 1,000 maps performed underneath the BetBoom Staff banner. He’s been a continuing presence on this staff because the 2023 season, weathering each roster shuffle thrown at him.
It hasn’t all the time been clean crusing for BB Staff, as they really began out fairly tough. In Save-’s first yr, the staff couldn’t safe any notable outcomes, however he caught with them by thick and skinny.
Issues began clicking in 2024, with three second-place finishes at S-tier occasions earlier than the staff lastly received their first Tier 1 trophy at BLAST Slam I in December 2024, which was additionally his first LAN trophy. Three extra S-tier titles adopted, together with a latest win at PGL Wallachia Season 8 simply two months in the past – bringing the BetBoom Staff’s trophy depend to 4, all of which Save- has been part of.
In my view, Save- has all the time been one of the crucial mechanically expert place 4 gamers within the scene, and it’s been like that for some time. This man is a monster, and I’d go so far as to say he made this staff.
Solely a few smooth help gamers can rival him, and we’re solely speaking in regards to the tremendous veterans like Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen and Samuel “Boxi” Svahn. Save- simply clears all his new blood counterparts – aside from perhaps Edgar “9class” Naltakian – in each mechanics and expertise.
To commemorate his milestone and loyalty to the staff, Save- was gifted a customized 1,000-map BetBoom jersey. He’s undoubtedly one of the crucial underrated gamers within the scene.
Grateful For the Alternative, LGD’s New Squad is Already Hustling
With rising issues in regards to the esports scene, it’s vital for gamers to treasure alternatives and take advantage of out of them – and that’s precisely what the previous HEROIC boys are doing after LGD Gaming put their belief in them.
Regardless of getting into BLAST Slam 7 as one of many extra middling groups, LGD Gaming is taking part in with no concern and tore by the group stage. The South Individuals received 8 out of 11 matches, touchdown them the highest spot in all the bracket in such a stacked match. They’ve even earned themselves a quick cross to the second spherical of the higher bracket.
Not solely have they got to fly to Copenhagen for the remainder of BLAST Slam 7, however the LGD Gaming guys are additionally grinding out the qualifiers for the Esports World Cup. Since they’re presently bootcamping in Europe for BLAST, they registered for the Western European qualifiers as an alternative.
So, they’re taking part in qualifiers in the midst of a million-dollar occasion, and received the job completed with ease. They rolled everybody within the qualifiers, taking down NAVI 2-1 within the higher bracket last to safe their spot on the Esports World Cup.
GLYPH Bomb Out of BLAST Slam However Ship Clip-of-the-Yr Contender
Whereas LGD Gaming is prospering and headed to the playoffs at BLAST Slam, GLYPH sadly received the shorter finish of the stick. They’re an unsponsored Southeast Asian stack that dug into their very own pockets to compete at this occasion.
As anticipated, GLYPH ended up as cannon fodder and was eradicated in final place with a 2-9 document. And although they had been despatched packing sooner than they’d like, they at the least gave us the most effective clips of the yr to date.
Of their Better of 1 in opposition to Tundra Esports, now 1win, Tri “Jhocam” Kuncoro’s Rubick stole Techies’ Proximity Mines and planted a minefield across the Twin Gate, which is a fairly widespread strat.
Tundra was smoked up as 4, trying to take the gate to the alternative facet of the map and search for a pickoff. Bozhidar “bzm” Bogdanov’s Puck was despatched by first, with the remainder of the staff proper behind him.
After finishing the teleportation, bzm instantly heard Mines going off and shortly reacted with Part Shift to dodge the potential explosions. Nevertheless, the remainder of the staff didn’t react in time, received blown up by six mines, and died immediately.
That is hands-down one of many funniest performs we’ve seen this yr, and GLYPH will at the least be remembered for that.
Parker Runs it Again with One other Qualifier Stack
The notorious David “Parker” Nicho Flores is again with one other band of brothers. This fella is notoriously recognized for being one of the crucial expert carry gamers on the earth, however can’t muster sufficient professionalism to remain on a staff for greater than three months.
Nevertheless, he’s actually proficient at forming stacks and carrying them by South American qualifiers for large occasions. He’s working it again with Estar Backs, the place he’s presently competing for a spot within the Esports World Cup – and his chances are high as excessive as they will get.
South America has two huge groups: LGD Gaming and PlayTime. As we lined earlier, the previous is taking part in within the Western European qualifier for this occasion, whereas the latter has already secured their spot by way of direct invite.
So, Parker and the boys solely should undergo Staff Nemesis as the one worthy opponent. And with how oddly good Parker is at farming qualifiers, their odds look fairly darn good.
The Estar Backs roster is as follows:
- David “Parker” Nicho Flores
- Jordan “SLATEM$” Vega
- Yheremi “payk” Arroyo
- Rodrigo “n1ght” Cruz
- Junior “Yadomi” Rimari
Are we going to get one other repeat of the South American Rejects story? Solely time – or whether or not Parker has lastly realized his classes – will inform.
