Latest news with #DreamLeagueSeason26
Saudi Gazette
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Talon Esports officially qualifies for the Esports World Cup 2025
THE ES TIMES — Talon Esports has officially booked its place in the Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2025, with a prize pool of $3 million (SR11,250,000). Their qualification came after a strong performance that saw them secure a top-four finish in DreamLeague Season 26, which propelled them into the top 8 of the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) standings. A Dominant Performance in DreamLeague Season 26 Talon started their campaign strongly, finishing third in Group B during the first group stage, ahead of elite teams like Gaimin Gladiators and Team Falcons. In the second stage, they continued their impressive form. Talon achieved best-of-three victories against BetBoom Team, Yakult Brothers, Gaimin Gladiators, and Nigma Galaxy. Despite their losses to PARIVISION and Aurora Gaming, the results were enough to secure a place in the knockout rounds. This performance earned them significant EPT points, propelling them to seventh place in the standings. Honestly, I really felt the energy the team has brought this season—it was amazing! Talon Joins the Elite in Riyadh By entering the Top 8 of the EPT standings, Talon joins giants like PARIVISION, Team Spirit, Team Liquid, Tundra Esports, and others. Two additional teams also qualified: Gaimin Gladiators as the defending champions, and Xtreme Gaming via the AFC Champions League. 23savage's Victorious Return Talon's recent resurgence can be attributed to the return of legendary Thai carry center Nuengnara "23savage" Teeramahanon. He returned to Talon on May 10 after an unsuccessful stint with OG. His return reunited him with mid-major Rafli Fathur 'Mikoto' Rahman. Together, they led Talon to Top 3 finishes at both the Lima Major and Riyadh Masters 2023. A Fierce New Lineup Emerges Talon now features: • 23savage • Mikoto • Rising stars Chung 'Ws`' Wei Shen and Tri 'Jhocam' Kuncoro • Veteran captain Carlo 'KuKu' Palad The team is looking its best right now. The chemistry between the players is back — and it shows in their play. Frankly, I've been waiting for this moment for this team to come together. And it's finally here. The Road Continues: The Playoffs and Beyond While they've already exceeded expectations, Talon's journey isn't over yet. The Dream League Season 26 Playoffs conclude on June 1. Talon is preparing to face elite teams such as PARIVISION, BetBoom, Gaimin Gladiators, and Aurora Gaming. With their World Cup qualification confirmed, they can enter the finals with greater confidence and composure. Esports World Cup 2025: What to Expect The Dota 2 Esports World Cup kicks off on July 8 and runs until July 19 at Boulevard Riyadh City in Saudi Arabia. Sixteen of the world's best teams will compete head-to-head, with the winner receiving the largest share of a prize pool of $3 million (SR11,250,000). The Talon Esports team has already proven itself among the best. Now, with all these improvements and developments in the world of video games, it's time to see how far the team can go in their journey.
Saudi Gazette
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Virtus.pro rebuilds Dota 2 roster with Chimera Esports players
The ES TIMES — (VP), one of the most iconic organizations in Dota 2, has announced a full roster overhaul, bringing in talent from Chimera Esports in a bold bid to reclaim its former dominance. Once a powerhouse in the Eastern European scene, VP has faced a steep decline in recent years. The latest roster shake-up comes ahead of the DreamLeague Season 26 playoffs, signaling the team's renewed competitive intent. VP parts ways with Squad1x and Noticed As part of the rebuild, Ilya "Squad1x" Kuvaldin and Evgeniy "Noticed" Ignatenko have been officially released. The move marks a complete reshuffle of the Dota 2 division—one that aims to revive VP's standing on the international stage. new Dota 2 lineup: Aybek "TA2000" Tokayev (Carry) Artem "Lorenof" Melnick (Mid) Nikita "Daxak" Kuzmin (Offlane) Ivan "OneJey" Zhivitsky (Soft Support) Vladislav "Rein" Kosygin (Hard Support) The lineup reunites core players from Chimera Esports, a squad that stunned fans with a fourth-place finish at DreamLeague Season 25 despite limited expectations. Strategic leadership and regional shift In parallel with the roster update, Georgy "drAmer" Faleev has been appointed head of VP's Dota 2 division, reinforcing the team's strategic reset. In a surprising twist, VP—traditionally a CIS team—will now compete in the Middle East and Southwest Asia (MESWA) Closed Qualifier for DreamLeague Season 26. The team received a direct invitation and is set to face regional contenders such as Nigma Galaxy and Winter Bear, beginning April 1. Experience and chemistry at the core The new squad blends veteran presence with fresh talent: TA2000 impressed with Quest Esports in 2023, earning top-four finishes at the Bali Major and Riyadh Masters. Lorenof, despite being only 22, brings Tier 1 experience from stints with Aurora Gaming and Tundra Esports. Daxak, the team's most seasoned player, made his mark with Gambit Esports and other top Eastern European teams. OneJey, a Chimera original, retains his role. Rein, formerly with L1GA TEAM and One Move, rounds out the support duo. A critical moment for a storied legacy Following a disappointing eighth-place finish at The International 2023 and a poor 2025 qualifier run, VP's reputation has taken a hit. This rebuild—and their entry into a new regional circuit—could mark the start of a new chapter. With a fresh roster, revamped leadership, and regional repositioning, is betting on synergy, experience, and bold change to write the next chapter of its storied legacy in Dota 2.
