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Welcome to our weekly digest of the most significant developments shaking up the Dota 2 competitive scene. This week brought explosive roster moves, tournament format changes that will reshape playoff strategies, and dramatic moments that remind us why professional Dota never stops delivering storylines. From Thai firepower joining new squads to legendary organizations shuttering their operations, these are the stories defining the current state of competitive Dota 2.

Thai Thunder Strikes: 23savage Joins Team Nemesis

Team Nemesis unveiled their newest weapon with the signing of Nuengnara "23savage" Teeramahanon as their position 1 carry. The organization announced the move through social media, declaring "Curtain drops. Explosive Thai carry with insane mechanics officially joins the squad."

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The 23-year-old carry brings a reputation for aggressive laning and mechanical prowess that has made him one of Southeast Asia's most recognizable talents. His addition signals Nemesis's ambitions to compete at the highest levels of regional competition, adding experienced firepower to their lineup. The team's statement emphasized his explosive playstyle and technical skill, qualities that have defined 23savage's career across multiple organizations.

Mind Games Gone Wrong: Mind_Control's Mid-Match Meltdown

Professional composure cracked during Games of the Future 2025 when Ivan "Mind_Control" Ivanov directed heated words at opponent Henrik "AdmiralBulldog" Anberg during their match. The former TI7 champion was caught on Twitch broadcast stating "Why are you typing, trash? I don't respect you anymore. You're useless, you haven't achieved anything in 10 years."

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The provocative exchange occurred mid-series between Nigma Galaxy and Vikings, with tensions clearly running high. Ironically, Mind_Control's team fell 2-1 to AdmiralBulldog's Vikings, suggesting the trash talk may have backfired spectacularly. The incident highlights the pressure-cooker environment of top-tier competition and the fine line between psychological warfare and self-sabotage.

BLAST SLAM VI Raises the Stakes with Bo5 Playoffs

BLAST announced significant format changes for BLAST SLAM VI Malta, elevating the intensity of playoff competition. Every playoff series, including quarterfinals and semifinals, will now be contested in best-of-five format rather than the previous best-of-three structure. Only the grand finals previously featured Bo5 matches.

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The tournament organizers emphasized that "the competition is about to intensify" with this change, forcing teams to demonstrate greater depth in their strategies and stamina. The group stage and play-ins run from February 3-15, maintaining their existing format with 22 Bo1 matches per day across two streams during groups, while play-ins will feature 2 Bo3 matches per day on a single stream. This format adjustment rewards preparation and adaptability, potentially favoring teams with deeper hero pools and stronger coaching structures.

South American Shake-Up: Heroic Parts Ways with Scofield

Heroic announced the departure of Elvis "Scofield" De la Cruz from their active Dota 2 roster after two years with the organization. The team's statement read "After making history together as the best team in South America, Scofield is stepping away from the active roster. Thank you for everything, Chala."

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The move concludes Scofield's tenure with South America's most dominant squad, though no replacement has been announced. Heroic's reference to "making history" acknowledges their regional dominance during Scofield's time with the roster. The organization now faces questions about their competitive direction and potential roster reconstruction ahead of upcoming tournaments.

End of an Era: Team Tidebound Disbands

Chinese organization Team Tidebound announced they are ceasing operations effective immediately, closing the chapter on a brief but accomplished run. Despite existing for less than a year, Tidebound secured impressive results including the SnowRuyi 2025 championship, Asian Champions League 2025 runner-up finish, and advancement to TI playoffs.

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The organization's lengthy farewell statement thanked players, coaches, fans, and sponsors while explaining the decision was based on "the current personnel environment and long-term development of CN Dota." Tidebound emphasized this represents a "carefully considered decision" and concluded with "Although the Tidebound banner has been temporarily lowered, we still deeply love this arena. We'll meet again, brothers!"

The disbandment removes a competitive force from the Chinese Dota scene and leaves questions about the destination of their accomplished roster. The organization's statement about "continuous optimization and adjustment" suggests the challenging realities facing tier-two organizations in the current competitive landscape.

Looking Ahead

As roster shuffles continue and tournament formats evolve, the Dota 2 competitive scene remains in constant flux. These weekly developments shape the matchups you'll see in upcoming competitions and the storylines that will define the next chapter of professional Dota.

Speaking of upcoming matches, now's the perfect time to test your knowledge of these roster changes and format adjustments. Head over to our Pick'ems section and lock in your predictions for this week's competitive fixtures. With all these roster moves fresh in your mind, you'll have the inside edge on knowing which teams are strengthening and which might struggle through transition periods. Check out our detailed match predictions and analysis to guide your Pick'ems choices throughout the week.