Nine and Stormstomer are already out from their respective teams. Nine chose to leave the team because he's taking a leave and it's understood what he wants for now, to take a break and have some rest after all of the consecutive years of playing Dota 2. That's mentally stressful if you're going to ask me. If they didn't just take Topson on their roster and if Saksa is just healthy, I think this last TI would have been a different result for them. Nine is one of the best and most versatile mid-laners in the entire Dota 2 professionally. We've seen a bunch of unusual heroes that he has played in the mid-lane and managed to win games. If he didn't just transition and gave way for topson and made himself a position 4, it's really going to be a different story at all. While for Stormstormer for Entity, he's an inconsistent mid. Sometimes he's strong and sometimes he's not.
Also, the roster of Talon Esports has been released but I think this squad is likely going to stay and will play with a different organization since they have been released by their organization.
Going with the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023. There are already the 4 invited teams and they're the grand champs to top 3 from recent The International.
- Team Spirit
- Gaimin Gladiators
- LGD Gaming
- Azure Ray
There are rumors everywhere that Tundra is in negotiations with Gladiators, but we don’t know much details yet. I think that they will be confirmed and a big surprise awaits us. As for the fact that Stormstomer left the team, it will be good for Entity, I’m absolutely sure of that. I think he was the weak link. As for Topson, I wouldn't be surprised if after some time he goes inactive again, although due to the likely lack of money this may not happen.
It is likely that most of the strong teams and players have decided to take a break for this moment and I think it will last until next year or January of 2024. I am hearing rumors about a buyout contract and maybe that's going to be from Entity but I don't know who's that player, maybe Gabbi or watson going somewhere until the contract is finalized and done, they'll soon announce the roster of that team.
Talking with GG and Tundra, if there have been negotiations on their end then I think that it's about taking Quinn and likely tofu. The slots for Tundra for mid and pos 4 are open and that's why it's likely that they're the two that will be taken if the rumors tend to be true.
It will be incredibly interesting to follow ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, but I probably won’t watch Team Spirit games. For me, the winner is known in advance, because no one can compete with them and the games turn into a beating for the other team, as was the case at TI12.
Team Spirit has expressed that they're likely to play with stand ins since a few of them mentioned that they're going to go for a break indefinitely.
but the next one gotta be pretty close because JD is a huge favourite to win Worlds 2023
It was a really good choice. Because T1 were way ahead of their opponent in strength already and I didn't expect T1 to lose even once.