The 21-year-old joined Tundra in January as a part of a major roster rebuild which began with the departure of Enzo “Timado” Gianoli, Jonathan Bryle “Bryle” De Guia, Ilyas “kasane” Gainullin, and also coach Aleksandr “Immersion” Khmelevskoi, who rejoined the team less than a month later.
9Class was the first new face and kept his spot on the roster amid numerous player swaps that followed throughout the season.
While the Russian Dota 2 pro did not find much success with Tundra initially, he helped them place third at ESL One Birmingham 2024 in April and fourth at Riyadh Masters 2024 in July.
Yet despite his contributions, 9Class could not help Tundra Esports at The International 2024 due to visa issues.
Tundra have not specified the reason for 9Class’ departure, nor which team he has signed with.
Today we say farewell & thank you to 9Class as he is transferred to his new team
There are many young, talented and motivated players in the scene and 9Class is one of the players that impressed us with his unique playstyle and vision on how to play the game
All the best!
pic.twitter.com/ATvI58J14s
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) October 3, 2024
Nightfall fills vacant spot on Tundra roster
As a replacement, Tundra have signed Egor “Nightfall” Grigorenko, who has spent the last month as an inactive member of BetBoom Team.
Nightfall previously played for Virtus.pro and Evil Geniuses, yet his most notable accomplishments have come while playing for BetBoom.
With the Russian squad, he placed second at DreamLeague Season 22 and ESL One Birmingham 2024, and in July they reached the lower-bracket quarterfinals of the Esports World Cup 2024 tournament.
PGL Wallachia Season 2 is about to start soon!
We will play this tournament with two stand-ins.
Our roster:
1 – Shad
2 – MidOne
3 – 33
4 – Saksa
5 – WhitemonThank you, Midone and Shad for joining us for this tournament!
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) September 30, 2024
However, Nightfall will not accompany Tundra at PGL Wallachia Season 2, nor will Artem “lorenof” Melnick.
The two have been replaced by Indji “Shad” Lub and Yeik “MidOne” Nai Zheng as stand-ins.
Despite that, Tundra Esports enter the upcoming tournament as the second-favourites on the outright betting markets.
The best Dota 2 betting sites have them priced at $5.50, ahead of Natus Vincere at $11.00 and behind Team Falcons, who are the clear favourites at even odds.
PGL Wallachia Season 2 kicks off on Friday, October 4, with the group stage running until Wednesday, October 9.
The tournament will culminate with a best-of-five grand final on Sunday, October 13.
]]>
Regarded as one of the most spectacular players to watch, Topson��s rise to fame began when OG scouted him ahead of The International 8 (TI8) in 2018.
At the time, Topson had little competitive experience and was not expected to make a significant impact, but he quickly proved doubters wrong by leading OG to victory without losing a single series in the main event.
The following year, Topson and OG made history by winning The International 9 (TI9) in 2019, becoming the first team to win back-to-back TIs without losing a single playoff series.
From standing in at TI12, to getting third place at TI13
Pogson, Godson, Dadson – Topson
After many patches, countless tournaments and some crazy picks we will have to say farewell to Topson as he retires from competitive DotaThank you for everything and all the best.
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) September 24, 2024
Topson��s career, however, was not without its ups and downs.
After winning TI9, he took a break to focus on his family, returning to the competitive scene in 2022 as a stand-in for T1 and later committing to a full season with Tundra Esports in 2024.
Though his performances continued to meet fan expectations, he was unable to lift another trophy, including at TI13, where his dream of becoming the first three-time TI champion was dashed after Tundra was eliminated in third place by Gaimin Gladiators.
Throughout his eight-year career, Topson became known for his innovative playstyle, regularly choosing off-meta heroes and builds, which often set new trends within the Dota 2 community.
His bold and entertaining approach to the game won him legions of fans and cemented his place in Dota 2 history.
Despite stepping away from competition multiple times, Topson��s retirement this time seems more permanent.
At 26, with two children and nearly USD$6 million in prize money earned, Topson is focusing on family life.
Additionally, Finland��s mandatory military service may be another factor in his decision to retire, a path previously followed by fellow Finnish TI champion, Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen.
As Tundra Esports moves forward, it bids farewell to both Topson and Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev, who also announced his departure.
Despite these changes, the team is expected to compete in upcoming tournaments like PGL Wallachia Season 2 and potentially DreamLeague Season 24.
Topson��s retirement marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy as one of Dota 2��s greatest players.
While fans hope for his eventual return, his exit feels like a true farewell to the professional scene.
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The tournament saw its ninth and tenth eliminations as Aurora and BetBoom Team bowed out, leaving Xtreme Gaming as the last non-European Dota 2 team standing.
Aurora faced Xtreme Gaming in a fierce lower bracket showdown.
Game one was a one-sided stomp in favour of XG, but game two was much more competitive.
Aurora’s Anucha “Jabz” Jirawong debuted the first Lycan pick of the tournament, using Alpha Wolves and a Nullifier to counter XG’s Pugna.
On the other side, Wang “Ame” Chunyu’s Faceless Void constantly pressured Aurora’s Artem “lorenof” Melnick on Storm Spirit, neutralising his impact.
Despite Aurora��s valiant efforts to hold out for nearly an hour, XG’s aggression proved too much, ending Aurora’s run with a seventh-eighth place finish and marking the end of South-east Asia��s presence at TI13.
It was the final series for Aurora at The International 2024, as they have been eliminated by Xtreme Gaming. Despite their efforts, Aurora��s journey ends here. #Dota2 #TI13 pic.twitter.com/ELYYL8nHVh
— The International (@dota2ti) September 13, 2024
Meanwhile, BetBoom Team also met their end at the hands of Team Falcons.
The series was tightly contested, with game two being particularly intense.
After a strong early-game performance from Falcons, BetBoom fought back with a high-ground defence led by their safelane Medusa, who bought a Divine Rapier to turn the tide.
However, a critical misplay during a push��where Medusa had her Black King Bar (BKB) in her backpack��led to her being taken down twice.
This swung the game in Falcons’ favour, and they closed out the series, eliminating BetBoom from the tournament.
Falcons’ Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen, a veteran of The International, reflected on the win and the experience of playing alongside debutant mid-laner Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak, praising his energy and adaptability.
BB Team couldn't keep up with the pace set by Falcons, and it's time for them to exit the tournament. #Dota2 #TI13 pic.twitter.com/dZRHM9cxks
— The International (@dota2ti) September 13, 2024
As the tournament continued, the upper bracket saw dominant performances from some of the top teams.
Team Liquid faced off against Cloud9 in a two-game series.
Game one was all Liquid, as they dominated from start to finish.
Game two; however, saw Cloud9 put up a stronger fight.
At one point, Cloud9 even took down a tier 4 tower, but Liquid’s buybacks and a miraculous play from Micha? “Nisha” Jankowski on Puck turned the tide, securing Liquid��s spot in the upper bracket finals.
Gaimin Gladiators then took on Tundra Esports in another upper bracket semifinal.
The Gladiators showcased their prowess, with Erik “tOfu” Engel on Lone Druid and Quinn on Storm Spirit leading the charge.
Game one was one-sided, but game two was even more of a rout, with GG cruising to a 26-3 victory in just 24 minutes.
With BetBoom and Aurora eliminated, Xtreme Gaming remains the only non-European team in the tournament.
XG will face Tundra Esports in the lower bracket, while Team Falcons take on Cloud9.
At the top, Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators are set to clash in the upper bracket finals, ensuring both teams a spot in the top three.
As The International 2024 continues, each remaining team fights to have their names immortalised on the Aegis of Champions, with millions of fans watching their every move.
Gaimin Gladiators put on a dominant display against Tundra, securing their spot in the Upper Bracket Final. They will now face Team Liquid #Dota2 #TI13 pic.twitter.com/lP5zv2vBxc
— The International (@dota2ti) September 13, 2024
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The abrupt departure of MinD_ContRoL, who had only recently joined Tundra on January 8, left the Dota 2 community reeling with surprise and speculation.
Minutes before facing Shopify Rebellion, MinD_ContRoL took to social media to reveal his unexpected removal from Tundra’s roster, sending shockwaves through the community.
LFT , just got kicked before the match
— Ivan Ivanov (@MinDcontRoLDotA) February 26, 2024
The timing of his dismissal, coupled with his short tenure with the team, raised eyebrows and fuelled rumours about internal conflicts within Tundra.
To fill the void left by MinD_ContRoL’s departure, Tundra hastily enlisted Vladislav ��laise�� Lais, a former Natus Vincere member and a highly ranked player, as their new off-laner for the match against Shopify Rebellion.
However, despite the substitution, Tundra’s performance suffered noticeably without their iconic off-laner, resulting in a tied series against their opponents.
Speculation regarding the reasons behind MinD_ContRoL’s removal from the team ran rampant.
The appointment of Ludwig ��Zai�� W?hlberg, as Tundra’s general manager on February 23 added fuel to the fire, with fans questioning his potential involvement in the decision.
In an attempt to shed light on the situation, MinD_ContRoL appeared on Janne “Gorgc” Stefanovski��s stream to share his side of the story.
He expressed discomfort with the team’s dynamics, particularly the infringement on his agreed-upon role as captain and drafter, as well as his objection to working with certain teammates.
Despite voicing his concerns, MinD_ContRoL felt disregarded by Tundra’s management, leading to a breaking point where he presented the organization with an ultimatum.
However, Tundra deemed his demands “unreasonable” and subsequently suspended him indefinitely, sparking further backlash from the community.
The fallout from MinD_ContRoL’s departure has left Tundra Esports facing criticism over their handling of the situation and calls into question the organization’s integrity.
As the Dota 2 community waits for further developments, the saga serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges within the competitive gaming landscape.
Update on MinD_ContRoL#RoadToRiyadh pic.twitter.com/YruI0surXp
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) February 26, 2024
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The organization has been causing waves in the Dota 2 community with unexpected roster changes over the last three months, including the short-lived partnership with MoonMeander��s ex-TSM, which lasted barely a month.
Tundra’s decision to bring in the ex-TSM roster just before the ESL One Kuala Lumpur Major raised eyebrows, especially given the quick dissolution of the majority of the roster after finishing in eighth place at the tournament.
Players such as Enzo “Timado” Gianoli, Jonathan “Bryle” De Guia, Ilyas “kasane” Gainullin, Aleksandr “Immersion” Khmelevskoi, and David “MoonMeander” Tan Boon Yang have all left Tundra, leaving fans puzzled about the organization’s intentions for their Dota 2 division.
Thank you @MoonMeanderated, @Timadota, @bryledota, kasane and Immersion for your time and dedication and all the best for your future!
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) January 2, 2024
Interestingly, Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon remains on the roster, adding an air of uncertainty to Tundra’s plans.
Speculation has been rife on Reddit, with some suggesting that Tundra might have signed the TSM roster to fulfil sponsor obligations before 2024.
The organization seems to have had one foot out of the Dota 2 world for some time, but there are indications of a commitment to staying if the right formula can be found.
Whitemon’s retention could potentially signal Tundra’s desire to build a strong team, especially with notable free agents like Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, Ivan “MinD_ContRoL” Ivanov, and Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko available in the market.
Tundra currently has a short roster, and with players like Martin “Saksa” Sazdov on the inactive roster, there is potential for a formidable team if Saksa decides to return to competitive Dota 2.
However, Tundra doesn’t seem to be in a rush to make decisions.
The absence of a Dota Pro Circuit appears to have sparked a season of significant shuffling.
The decision follows a disappointing 8th-place finish at ESL One Kuala Lumpur, though the abruptness of the move has left fans speculating about Tundra’s imminent rebuild.
The decision comes after a lacklustre performance in the playoffs at ESL One Kuala Lumpur, where Tundra faced a tough 0-2 defeat against BetBoom Team.
Notably, the players were part of the team for less than three weeks before being released.
Tundra’s original squad for The International 2023 fell apart after a 16th-place finish, leading to the hyped signing of Team Undying, who had just left TSM.
The jersey-hopping trend is expected to continue in 2024, with four of the five players yet to announce their plans.
Former Tundra carry Timado, one of the players released, hinted at the timing of the decision by posting on December 31 that he was looking for a new team and had received an offer from Quantum Infinity CEO Igor Campos.
This suggests that Tundra made the decision to disband the squad right after Kuala Lumpur but delayed the announcement.
The lack of a collective statement indicates a likely separation of the core trio��Timado, Bryle, and MoonMeander, who have been together since early 2021.
His continued presence raises speculation about a potential Southeast Asian Tundra roster for 2024, although the full line-up remains uncertain.
]]>This collaboration is set to generate content highlighting ViewSonic’s top-tier monitors throughout the Dota 2 showcase �� The International.
Tundra Esports, who will enter the International as defending champion after defeating Team Secret in 2022, aims to leverage this alliance to ��enrich the global gaming community.�� This goal will be achieved by combining the extensive social network reach of Tundra with the advanced technological offerings of ViewSonic.
The partnership isn’t a debut for ViewSonic in the esports realm. Previously in 2021, ViewSonic entered a collaboration with North American esports entity Soniqs. Additionally, the display company landed a multi-year agreement to equip the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas, owned by Allied Esports.
As The International 2023 approaches, with its commencement slated for October 12 in Seattle, United States, it has garnered attention not just for the gameplay but also for its prize pool. While the event has been historically known for its sizable prize funds, like the whopping $40 million in 2021, this year witnesses a notable reduction. The decrease in the prize amount is attributed to fans expressing dissatisfaction with TI12��s Compendium, a pass instrumental in funding the prize pool.
In the lead-up to the renowned tournament, Tundra Esports has been proactive in forging valuable partnerships. Apart from the recent collaboration with ViewSonic, Tundra has exclusively partnered with Ballantine��s scotch whisky specifically for the Dota 2 event. The esports team also lists esports betting site Winline among its commercial allies.
Tundra Esports�� Chief Executive Officer, Carleton Curtis, expressed enthusiasm over the new partnership with ViewSonic.
��We are delighted to welcome ViewSonic as the Official Supplier of our Dota 2 roster,” he said.
“This partnership is a fantastic opportunity for our organisations to showcase the product use of the ViewSonic product line and build valuable touchpoints together.��
��We are looking forward to working with ViewSonic during The International 2023 to bring a lot of exciting moments to our fans.��
Beyond its commercial endeavors, Tundra Esports has also been in the spotlight for expanding its presence in the gaming sector, notably entering the Rocket League esports scene through a collaborative venture with French club PSG earlier this year.
Tundra Esports is paying $8.00 to win The International, with Team Spirit ($4.50), Gaimin Gladiators ( $4.50) and Team Liquid ( $4.50) ahead of them in the betting.
]]>This move generated excitement, among fans, although some, like MiCKe from Team Liquid, have expressed concerns. According to miCKe in an interview with esports.gg, “I believe it will definitely require an adjustment period because when you have a core player transitioning to support, it won’t be completely seamless.
Saksa is a position four player, and Nine [Leon “Nine” Kirilin] who will be assuming the support role, is a player as well.
However, he hasn’t had prior experience playing as a support.”Nine has primarily built his career as a laner.
Has been regarded as one of the top performers in that role.
While some of his skills will carry over to his position, Saksa brings ten years of experience specifically as a support.”It’s quite a change,” miCKe added.
“I anticipate that Nine will need some time to adapt.
However, I’m confident that he will eventually find his footing because he possesses talent.””While there have been instances of role swaps in the past, they have become less frequent recently.
In the case of Nine, he had already begun practicing his role in August.
Tundra and Topson are also performing well in Dota 2 scrims, suggesting that the TI-winning organization may have discovered a winning strategy. Thankfully, Dota 2 enthusiasts won’t need to wait until The International 2023 to witness the Tundra lineup in action.
They will make their debut in DreamLeague Season 21, a tournament with a prize pool of $1 million scheduled to commence on January 13th.
OG will also feature an addition during this event, as they have made a roster change by bringing back a legendary player on loan.
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You��ve all been saying it, and now we��re saying it.
Welcome two-time TI champion, the myth, the legend,@TopsonDota for TI12 #TundraTopson pic.twitter.com/XSbljEJPYs
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) September 7, 2023
This significant change in their roster comes shortly after Martin “Saksa” Sazdov revealed he would be taking a break from competitive gaming due to undisclosed health issues.
In response to this change, Tundra Esports is restructuring its team for the upcoming season to accommodate Topson, whom they believe will bolster their pursuit of another championship title.
Topson will take on the midlane role, while Leon “Nine” Kirilin transitions to a position four role.
This shift is a notable adjustment compared to previous seasons when Wu “Sneyking” Jingjun switched to position five to make room for Saksa in the soft support role.
Rumors of Topson joining Tundra had been circulating since August, especially when it seemed likely that Old G, Topson’s previous team, might disband.
Topson confirmed that he would not participate in the The International 12 qualifiers.
Nine had been seen playing position four heroes and rotating frequently in games, fuelling speculation about Saksa’s break and Topson’s potential involvement with Tundra, a team he had briefly stood in for at BetBoom Universe Episode One in February, albeit with a different line up.
This marks Topson’s return to The International after stepping away from OG’s main roster in November 2021 to prioritize family obligations.
He made a comeback by playing for T1 during the Southeast Asian qualifiers and the last chance qualifier for TI11 last season.
The revamped Tundra lineup, featuring Topson, will make its debut at DreamLeague Season 21 on September 18th.
This event will serve as their preparation before heading to Seattle to focus on TI12, which begins on October 12th.
]]>Due to health reasons, they have made the tough decision to move Martin “Saksa” Sazdov out of the roster.
This decision comes after Saksa had to be substituted multiple times during the season due to health issues that first arose back in June.
In a heartfelt statement, Tundra expressed their sadness regarding Saksa’s departure from the team, emphasizing their wishes for his swift recovery.
They also acknowledged the crucial role he played in their victorious journey at The International and assured him that he will forever remain a cherished part of their family.
We are sad to announce @saksadota will be taking an extended break due to health reasons and will not be on our active roster. We wish him all the healing and success possible.
Thank you, Martin, for playing a pivotal role in our TI victory. You��ll forever be a part of our�� pic.twitter.com/l3uFrGHTJU
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) September 6, 2023
While it’s not uncommon for teams to make adjustments during a season, it’s quite rare for the reigning TI champions to do so just before defending their title.
Tundra has yet to announce who will step in to replace Saksa, but they are fully aware of the urgency, with TI12 only a month away.
Although Tundra have chosen to drop Saska from its roster, they are still equal-third favourites with most esports betting sites at $8.00 to take out T112.
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TEAM SECRET vs OG Dota 2 BETTING & MATCH DETAIL |
|
|---|---|
| Best Odds: | Secret $1.20 at GG Bet | OG $4.33 at GG Bet |
| When: | January 11, 2023 | 15:00 CET |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/pgl_dota2) |
OG lost their opening Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) match of the 2023 season on Monday when they had to admit defeat to Tundra Esports (0-2). But despite kicking off the new season with a loss, OG played well and looked very competitive on the first map.
It’s not fair to make any conclusions after just one series, but we liked what we saw from OG, who displayed strong teamwork. But most importantly, the newest signing Dmitry “DM” Dorokhin seems to have fit in with the team well.
Team Secret had a rough start to the 2023 season. They looked completely lost against Team Liquid, which likely had to do with Micha? “Nisha” Jankowski who knows how to defeat Team Secret. Still, even with that in mind, we have a hard time defending Secret’s display.
It’s hard to criticise Secret after just one game, but we can safely say that OG looked better on Monday. At even odds, Secret would be the right play, but $2.25 on OG offers solid value.
OG To Win
NIGMA GALAXY vs TUNDRA ESPORTS Dota 2 BETTING & MATCH DETAIL |
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|---|---|
| Best Odds: | Nignma $4.00 at GG Bet | Tundra $1.22 at GG Bet |
| When: | January 11, 2023 | 21:00 CET |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/pgl_dota2) |
Tundra Esports took no prisoners on Monday when they defeated OG (2-0) with a very clean performance. We already know what we can expect from Tundra in the opening DPC tour of 2023, but we don’t know much about Nigma Galaxy.
Despite struggling in 2022, Nigma Galaxy decided to keep most of its roster intact �C adding just Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf as a replacement for Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi. Some might disagree, but this wasn’t a bad call, as we don’t feel Nigma Galaxy had to change much to be competitive.
They had their ups and downs, but this is a stacked roster, which can pop off – and likely will if ATF fits in with his new teammates.
As the Dota 2 betting odds suggest, Tundra Esports should win, but we have high expectations for Nigma Galaxy, who are good enough to win a map or even upset the reigning The International champions.