Tundra Esports releases Dota 2 team acquired from TSM after one tournament

In a surprising development, Tundra Esports has announced the departure of most members of its Dota 2 roster, which it had acquired from Team Undying (formerly TeamSoloMid) just under a month ago.

This decision, communicated via Tundra’s Twitter, came in the wake of the team’s participation in their first and only tournament together, the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023.

Tundra Esports’ Brief Journey with New Dota 2 Roster

The team, comprising former TSM players, had embarked on their journey with Tundra Esports following their successful qualification for the ESL One event in Malaysia. However, they had a short-lived time at the tournament, concluding with a 7th-8th place finish.

Tundra got eliminated in the early stages of the playoffs. This also led to speculation about the team’s future. Before the tournament, there were rumors, particularly from player Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon, that the organization might release most of the team members after the event. Some reports suggested that Tundra Esports could retain only Enzo “Timado” Gianoli.

The Era of no-DPC Dota 2 Esports

Tundra Esports’ decision to overhaul its roster so swiftly reflects a potentially volatile trend in the Dota 2 Esports scene, especially outside the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC).

In the era preceding the DPC, team stability was not the norm. Most organizations, barring a few like Team OG, Team Secret, Team Liquid, LGD Gaming, EG, Newbee, Invictus Gaming, and Vici Gaming, frequently changed their rosters, often in reaction to a single poor tournament performance. Those days, team departures make Jacky “EternaLEnVy” Mao’s level of kicking look like child’s play.

For the unwary, EternaLEnVy is renowned for his tendency to fire his teammates after he joins the team, with Nicolas “Gunnar” Lopez and Khoo “Ohaiyo” Chong Xin as prime victims of the ‘pizza party’ meme.

DPC was great

The DPC system introduced penalties for frequent roster changes, which acted as a check on such practices. However, Tundra’s recent action suggests a possible return to a more fluid and unpredictable team management approach. This also increases the performance pressure on players within a “do well or get kicked” environment.

The Road Ahead for Tundra Esports

Following this roster shake-up, Tundra Esports retains Whitemon from the original lineup. Additionally, Martin “Saksa” Sazdov and Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen are currently on the inactive roster, opening up roster speculations.

Then, speculation is rife about Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko joining the team as the new carry, a move that is stirring controversy due to Pure’s infamy as a pro player. Nevertheless, uncertainty shrouds the future composition of Tundra’s Dota 2 team, especially after the sudden and swift disbandment of the newly formed team in just 20 days.

This development raises several questions about the stability and longevity of Dota 2 Esports teams. The decision by Tundra Esports could set a precedent for other teams in the industry. This could potentially lead to a more aggressive approach towards team management and player retention.

The Esports world watches to see how this move will impact Tundra Esports’ performance in upcoming tournaments. It also remains to be seen how this will influence the broader Dota 2 competitive scene. Meanwhile, it’s probably back to Team Undying’s namesake for the ousted ex-Tundra players.