In the wake of The International, roster shuffles are inevitable. Teams frustrated with poor performances may disband. Player disagreements may drive some talent away from certain organizations. But beyond the drama, the post TI shuffle period is always exciting.
PSG.LGD
Continuity is great to see in any sport. Like the old saying goes “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and PSG.LGD have taken that to heart. After placing second at The International after losing 3-2 to OG, PSG.LGD have decided to give it another shot. The squad announced contract extensions for key players like fy and xNova. Seeing team chemistry is always pleasant in any sports setting, so it will be exciting to see how this Chinese powerhouse performs.
Virtus.Pro
Following the theme of continuity, Virtus.Pro announced that their player’s contracts are being extended. They remain one of the most consistent rosters in the esports scene as a whole. And having that continuity is healthy as it builds relationships between players that lead to heightened performance. Overall the squad performed well at The International, finishing in 6th place, a finish that brings $1.1 million with it. However, this finish was not up to the team’s expectations, so it will be exciting to see how they grow going into 2019.
Some Notable Changes
Teams are always jumping between organizations quickly, and players are frequently trading themselves between teams. It is no surprise then that interesting stacks are formed in roster shuffle season. One of these stacks is led by Roman “Resolut1on” Fominok with Saail “UNiVeRsE” Arora at his side. Notable North American favorites that otherwise populate the team will hopefully provide structure and insight for the new team.
It is with a heavy heart that I can write about DotA icon Danil “Dendi” Ishutin’s departure from team Na’Vi. The legendary mid player was with the organization for 8 years before they finally decided to part ways. It is currently unclear whether Dendi will continue to pursue a career as a professional player. However, it is certainly possible that he will make a transition into casting or hosting panels. With Dendi’s prestige as a popular personality within the DotA scene, the transition will not be difficult.
Free Agents
Some players are left without a team for a large portion of the reshuffle period. As a result, they make their desire to join a team known and hope for the best. There are some notable players that are currently free agents besides Dendi though. One of these players is David “Moo” Hull. Formerly handling the offlane position on North American Complexity, Moo was the rock of the team. He would be an extremely valuable pick up for teams looking for a reliable core player. Another notable free agent is Enzo “Timado” Gianoli, a Peruvian mid player who made a name for himself on Infamous. One of the first South American players to be featured at The International, Timado has huge potential as a young budding star.
Featured image courtesy of Valve
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