Team Liquid are shaking things up for the upcoming Dota 2 season, welcoming two familiar faces from one of their fiercest rivals. Former Gaimin Gladiators duo Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard and Erik “tOfu” Engel have officially joined the two-time TI champions, stepping into the offlane and position 5 support roles respectively.

The signing, announced on 9 October, follows a turbulent post-TI 2025 period for the organisation. After parting ways with offlaner Jonáš “SabeRLighT-” Volek and bidding farewell to long-time captain Aydin “iNsania” Sarkohi, who retired from professional play after a decade, Liquid were in urgent need of new recruits.

Two players always on the same wavelength, now flowing as Liquid.

Welcome @AceDota & @tOfuDota2 🌊 pic.twitter.com/GpTSWi44xI

— Team Liquid Dota (@teamliquiddota) October 9, 2025

Their revamped roster now features:

• Micke “miCKe” Vu
• Michał “Nisha” Jankowski
• Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard
• Samuel “Boxi” Svahn
• Erik “tOfu” Engel

From Rivals to Teammates

Ace and tOfu were key members of the Gaimin Gladiators lineup that clashed repeatedly with Team Liquid across multiple major events from 2022 to 2024. The two teams shared one of Dota 2’s most intense modern rivalries, with Gladiators coming out on top in six major finals, including three in 2023, before Liquid finally claimed their long-awaited TI victory in 2024.

Now, that rivalry has transformed into an alliance. “It’s somewhat intimidating for me because I’ve been with some of my other players for four years now, especially tOfu,” Ace said in Team Liquid’s announcement. “But it’s very interesting and cool to try something new like this.”

tOfu echoed the sentiment, recalling how often the teams crossed paths. “I think I’ve played against Team Liquid more than any other esports team. Because we clashed so many times, it became like having a rivalry with your best friends,” he said. “I’ve always liked them and had a great deal of respect for them.”

The End of an Era for Gaimin Gladiators

Their move to Team Liquid marks the official end of Gaimin Gladiators’ celebrated Dota 2 run. Once a powerhouse of the competitive scene, the team’s downfall came swiftly in 2025. Despite earning a direct invite to TI, the organisation withdrew before the event due to a public dispute with its players.

The fallout has since escalated into a lawsuit, with Gaimin Gladiators reportedly taking legal action against several former members, including Ace and tOfu. The dissolution of their roster effectively closes the book on one of Dota 2’s most dominant eras.

What’s Next for Liquid

Team Liquid are wasting no time putting their new lineup to the test. The squad has already debuted at FISSURE Universe: Episode 7 and will soon compete at BLAST Slam IV, PGL Wallachia Season 6, BLAST Slam V, and DreamLeague Season 27.

The organisation is also searching for a new coach following the departure of Damien “kpii” Chok, who played a key role in Liquid’s TI 2024 triumph. Head coach William “BlitZ” Lee hinted that iNsania could step into a coaching position, though nothing has been confirmed yet.

After a disappointing 9th–13th place finish at TI 2025, the revamped Liquid roster is looking to reclaim its former glory. With the addition of Ace and tOfu, two proven veterans with championship experience, the team is poised for another strong run in the 2025/2026 Dota 2 season.

The post Team Liquid Reunites With Former Rivals Ace and tOfu for the New Dota 2 Season appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The post-TI 2025 Dota 2 roster shuffle has claimed another casualty, with North American organisation Wildcard Gaming officially disbanding its Dota 2 roster. The decision came as a surprise to fans, especially after the team’s impressive showing at The International 2025, where they stood out as one of the region’s most promising squads.

Even the best stories have to come to an end 💔

Today we say goodbye to our Dota 2 roster and whish them only the best going forward 🃏 pic.twitter.com/YwKxoO6WJV

— Wildcard (@Wildcard_GG) October 2, 2025

Wildcard’s journey in Dota 2 has been anything but straightforward. The organisation first entered the scene in 2022 but stepped away the following year after Valve shut down the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC). However, in January 2025, Wildcard made a comeback by signing the Apex Genesis roster, a team made up of rising North American talents hungry to make a mark.

Despite being relatively new, the roster quickly climbed the ranks in North America, finally breaking Shopify Rebellion’s long-standing dominance and securing the region’s sole spot at The International.

For most of the players, TI 2025 marked their debut on the world stage. Wildcard’s squad exceeded expectations, advancing through the Group Stage and outperforming teams like BOOM Esports, Team Nemesis, and Natus Vincere. Though their journey ended in the Elimination Round against powerhouse PARIVISION, their 9th–13th finish was an impressive feat for an underdog roster that had only been together for a few months.

With Shopify Rebellion’s exit from Dota 2 earlier this year, Wildcard seemed poised to become North America’s leading force in the competitive scene. That’s why the organisation’s decision to part ways with its entire roster has raised eyebrows. Even more confusingly, the team had already qualified for DreamLeague Season 27 under the Wildcard banner before being released.

As of now, Wildcard hasn’t clarified whether it plans to stay involved in competitive Dota 2 or exit the scene altogether.

Thankfully, this isn’t the end for the players themselves. According to former manager stresspresso, the roster will stay together and continue competing under their old banner, Apex Genesis. The team has already registered for PGL Wallachia Season 6 and DreamLeague Season 27, as well as upcoming qualifiers for BLAST Slam 5.

Here’s the current Apex Genesis Dota 2 roster:

• Luke “YamSun” Wang
• Francis “RCY” Fundemera
• Victor “Fayde” Zuev
• Danil “Bignum” Shekhovtsov
• Paul “Speeed” Bocchicchio

While Wildcard’s exit marks another blow to the struggling North American Dota 2 scene, fans can take comfort knowing the players aren’t done yet. With Apex Genesis back in action and momentum still on their side, the squad’s next chapter might be just as exciting as their unexpected rise.

The post Wildcard Disbands Dota 2 Roster After Promising Season, Players Reform as Apex Genesis appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The stage is set for DreamLeague Season 27, with ESL FACEIT confirming the 11 directly invited teams that will join the action in December. As the first major event of the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) 2025/2026 season, the tournament is shaping up to be a massive spectacle for Dota 2 fans around the world.

Our #DreamLeague Season 27 invited teams are LOCKED IN! 🔥

They’ll be joining the 8 teams from the Closed Qualifiers and 5 teams from Division 2 for our BIGGEST DreamLeague yet! ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ILF6h9zN70

— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) September 30, 2025

Who’s In?

The list of invited squads features some of the biggest names in competitive Dota 2, including reigning International champions Team Falcons, alongside DreamLeague Season 26 winners PARAVISION. Other heavy hitters such as Team Spirit, Team Liquid, Xtreme Gaming, BetBoom Team, Tundra Esports, Aurora Gaming, Nigma Galaxy, HEROIC, and Talon Esports are all confirmed.

They’ll be joined by eight teams that advanced through regional qualifiers, while five more slots remain open from Division 2 Stage 1. In total, 24 teams will be competing for glory.

Why It Matters

The spotlight will be firmly on Team Falcons, who lifted the Aegis at The International 2025 after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Xtreme Gaming in Hamburg. Meanwhile, PARAVISION comes into the event as one of the hottest squads in the scene, having dominated last season with titles at DreamLeague Season 26 and ESL One Raleigh, plus a third-place finish at TI14.

Other teams, including Tundra, BetBoom, and Xtreme Gaming, have recently undergone roster changes, making this the first big test for their new line-ups. With so much in flux, fans can expect plenty of surprises when the tournament gets underway.

Tournament Details

DreamLeague Season 27 runs online from 10–21 December 2025, bringing a prize pool of $1 million NZD (~£749,400) to the table. Alongside the cash, teams will compete for 19,500 EPT Points and $250,000 (~£187,350) in club rewards, which could prove crucial for securing invitations to future ESL Pro Tour events.

The format kicks off with a Swiss system Group Stage featuring best-of-three matches. From there, the top squads will battle through a double-elimination Playoffs bracket, leading to a best-of-five Grand Final to crown the champion.

Where to Watch

Every match will be streamed live on ESL’s official Dota 2 Twitch and YouTube channels, ensuring fans around the globe can follow the action.

DreamLeague Season 27 not only marks the start of the new competitive year but also sets the tone for what’s expected to be a thrilling season of Dota 2, with DreamLeague Season 28 and ESL One Birmingham already on the horizon.

The post DreamLeague Season 27: Invited Teams Revealed for $1M Dota 2 Showdown appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Big changes are underway in the Dota 2 scene as Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek has officially parted ways with Team Liquid and signed on with AVULUS for the upcoming qualifiers.

Our #Dota2 roster for the start of 2025-26 Season:

⚔️ @smlngknight
🏹 Lorenof
🛡 @jonas_volek
🧠 @Ekkio_o
💉 JANTER

See you in upcoming quals for #DreamLeague S27 & #BLASTSlam IV pic.twitter.com/DQ2EkwjUz2

— AVULUS (@teamavulus) September 22, 2025

Team Liquid confirmed on social media that their long-time offlaner will be moving to the bench, praising his growth, positivity, and contributions during his tenure. SabeRLight- later shared his own statement, looking back on his time with the team with gratitude.

“With two LAN victories and five more top-3 finishes, I am very proud of this year with Team Liquid,” he wrote. “I am grateful for this amazing experience that allowed me to grow significantly as a player and as a person. Thank you to all the fans, both old and new, for your support this year. I love you all.”

A Year of Highs and Lows with Liquid

SabeRLight- joined Liquid in September 2024 after Neta “33” Shapira’s departure, coming in fresh off Liquid’s The International 2024 victory. With him, the squad remained competitive, winning titles at PGL Wallachia Seasons 3 and 4, FISSURE Universe: Episode 5, and other major tournaments.

But 2025 was a rocky year. Liquid stumbled at the Esports World Cup, exiting in the quarterfinals, and fell short at The International 2025, finishing 9th–13th after failing to make the playoffs. The disappointing result set the stage for roster changes.

Roster update: Saberlight will be moving to the bench for the next chapter of our team.

During his time with us, @jonas_volek has shown tremendous growth, dedication, and positivity. We will continue to support him as he looks toward new opportunities ahead. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vtqLXKnS8H

— Team Liquid Dota (@teamliquiddota) September 22, 2025

As of now, Liquid has not confirmed who will step into the offlane role. Rumours suggest Michael “miCKe” Vu could role-swap from carry to offlane, though nothing has been made official. For now, the team’s line-up looks like this:

• miCKe
• Nisha
• TBD
• Boxi
• iNSaNiA

AVULUS Reveal New Roster

It didn’t take long for SabeRLight- to land on his feet. Within an hour of Liquid’s announcement, AVULUS revealed their roster for the 2025–26 season, which includes:

• Aliaksei “Smiling Knight” Svirydau
• Artem “lorenof” Melnyk
• Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek
• Ekkio
• JANTER

The team will be competing in the Western Europe Closed Qualifiers for DreamLeague Season 27 from 24–26 September, with three spots up for grabs in the main event. AVULUS will also fight for one of two slots in the BLAST Slam IV: Europe Closed Qualifier, set for 26–28 September.

For fans, it’s a shake-up worth keeping an eye on. Team Liquid now face the challenge of rebuilding after their TI stumble, while AVULUS enter the qualifiers with fresh star power and momentum.

The post SabeRLight- Leaves Team Liquid, Joins AVULUS Ahead of DreamLeague 27 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

German esports organisation MOUZ has revealed its brand-new Dota 2 roster, and it’s packed with some familiar names. After cutting nearly its entire lineup earlier this month, the team has rebuilt around captain Melchior “Seleri” Hillenkamp, adding top-tier talent like Remco “Crystallis” Arets and veteran midlaner Nai Zheng “MidOne” Yeik.

The roster announcement comes just days after MOUZ released Kiyal “Kami” Tayirov, Azel “Abed” Yusop, Nicholas “zeal” Lim, and Marcel “Ekki” Hołowienko. Seleri, who joined back in April 2025, is the only returning member, highlighting MOUZ’s commitment to building around his leadership and experience.

Our newly formed Dota 2 roster is currently playing the DreamLeague S27 Open Qualifier.

Pos 1 – 🇳🇱 @Crystallis_Dota
Pos 2 – 🇲🇾 @midonedota2
Pos 3 – 🇨🇿 @boomdota
Pos 4 – 🇷🇺 yamich
Pos 5 – 🇳🇱 @Seleri4096
Coach – 🇷🇴 @ImmortalFaithd

Excited to see what this team will achieve in the…

— MOUZ (@mousesports) September 20, 2025

MOUZ’s new Dota 2 roster:

• Remco “Crystallis” Arets
• Nai Zheng “MidOne” Yeik
• Miroslav “BOOM” Bičan
• Daniyal “Yamich” Lazebnyy
• Melchior “Seleri” Hillenkamp (Captain)
• ImmortalFaith – Coach

Experience and star power

Crystallis joins MOUZ on loan from Tundra Esports, just two days after being moved to their inactive roster. The Dutch carry had a consistent 2025 season with several podium finishes, though his campaign ended with a 7th–8th place run at The International 2025. Despite that, he remains one of Europe’s most reliable carries and brings valuable experience to the new lineup.

MidOne, meanwhile, is hoping to reignite his career. Best known for his dominant years with Team Secret between 2018 and 2019, he collected three Major titles during that time. His recent stints with OG and Team SMG didn’t quite hit the same highs, but his signing with MOUZ offers a chance for a fresh resurgence.

Joining them are BOOM and Yamich, both with previous Team Secret ties. BOOM first made a name for himself with Gaimin Gladiators in 2022, helping them top the Western European DPC, while Yamich impressed during a strong 2023 with Secret and a standout performance as a stand-in for Nigma Galaxy at DreamLeague Season 26.

On the sidelines, coach ImmortalFaith continues to provide strategic depth after joining MOUZ in 2024, bringing years of experience from his time with Nigma Galaxy and Gaimin Gladiators.

Building around Seleri

There’s little doubt this roster has been shaped around Seleri, who remains one of the most respected captains in the scene. With three Major titles, two TI runner-up finishes, and a Riyadh Masters win under his belt, his presence brings stability and leadership to the squad.

The organisation’s renewed push into Dota 2 signals a long-term commitment after years of inconsistent involvement. MOUZ originally entered the scene back in 2011 but has only recently stepped back into the spotlight, reshaping its roster multiple times across 2024 and 2025 in search of a winning formula.

Already in action

The new lineup isn’t wasting any time. MOUZ has already begun competing in the DreamLeague Season 27 open qualifier, the first event of the ESL Pro Tour 2025/2026 season. With US$1 million on the line, the tournament runs from December 10 to 21 and features 24 teams from around the globe. If MOUZ makes it through, they’ll face heavyweights like OG, Natus Vincere, and Virtus.pro in the closed qualifier.

It’s a bold new era for MOUZ, and with a roster full of proven names, fans will be keeping a close eye on whether this squad can translate its potential into big results on the international stage.

The post MOUZ Unveils New Dota 2 Roster for 2026 Season appeared first on Shane the Gamer.