Welcome to this week's Dota 2 Battle Report, where we break down the major roster moves, competitive developments, and storylines shaping the professional scene. This edition covers significant changes to powerhouse rosters, record-breaking performances, and the ongoing conversation around international esports representation.
Aurora Gaming Undergoes Major Roster Overhaul
Aurora Gaming announced significant changes to their competitive lineup this week, parting ways with two established players and bringing in fresh talent to reinvigorate their championship aspirations.
Chan "Oli" Chon Kien has officially become a free agent, while Alexander "TORONTOTOKYO" Khertek stepped away from professional competition to take a several-month break. The organization thanked both players for their contributions and expressed confidence in seeing them return to competitive play in the future.
The departures created immediate roster spots, which Aurora quickly filled with two new acquisitions. Chung "Ws" Wei Shen and Oleh "Kaori" Medvedok joined the organization to complete the revamped lineup. Both players bring fresh perspectives and mechanical skill to a team looking to establish itself among the region's elite competitors.
The timing of these changes positions Aurora to integrate their new players during the early season, giving them valuable tournament experience before the year's major competitions intensify.
TORONTOTOKYO Opens Up About Departure, Korb3n Weighs In
Following the Aurora roster announcement, TORONTOTOKYO provided additional context during an appearance on RAMZES666's stream. The veteran player revealed his immediate plans involve stepping back from competitive pressure to recharge mentally and physically.
"Where am I going after Aurora. I will just chill I basically dodged three qualifiers if not more so I'm going to chill. I need to chill a bit. I need 1-2 months to rest and then I will start playing Dota seriously again," TORONTOTOKYO explained during the stream conversation.
The statement suggests the break represents a conscious decision to avoid burnout rather than any dramatic falling out with the organization. His approach reflects growing awareness among professional players about the importance of mental health and sustainable career management.
Former professional player and current analyst Dmitry "Korb3n" Belov offered his perspective on both departures during his own stream. His analysis drew clear distinctions between the two roster changes.
Regarding Oli's removal, Korb3n was direct:
"Let's put it this way, with Oli it's clear why he was removed, it's super obvious why. He just played very poorly, he played very badly here. Sorry, but that's just a fact. I like Oli, two years ago he was playing insanely well, but right now he's playing badly."
TORONTOTOKYO's situation drew a different assessment from the analyst. "With TORONTOTOKYO it's actually unclear. TORONTOTOKYO played well, well, normally. Somewhere well, somewhere normally, overall definitely not terribly. So he was clearly removed not for gameplay reasons, I think," Korb3n explained.
The commentary highlights the complex nature of roster decisions, where performance represents only one factor among many organizational considerations. TORONTOTOKYO's departure appears more aligned with Aurora's strategic direction than any concerns about his competitive contributions.
Esports Nations Cup 2026 Introduces Flag Display Restrictions
The Esports World Cup Foundation released details about its upcoming Esports Nations Cup 2026, scheduled for November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The announcement included specific protocols regarding national flag displays that align the competition with International Olympic Committee standards.
Russia and Belarus will compete under restrictions preventing national flag displays, with exceptions made only for 1v1 disciplines in solo titles. These limitations reflect ongoing international sports policies that have extended into competitive gaming.
Taiwan will participate under the designation "Chinese Taipei," using a neutral flag design. This protocol mirrors Olympic practices established in 1981 and demonstrates the foundation's commitment to aligning esports with traditional international sports governance.
The competition introduces a three-tier national representation system. National Partners coordinate overall participation, including institutional communications, marketing campaigns, and local ecosystem development. Each partner must appoint a National Manager who oversees title-specific coaches responsible for building national rosters.
Selected partners receive participation licenses, operational support, and access to the ENC Development Fund, which maintains an annual endowment of 20 million dollars. The foundation covers travel and accommodation costs for competing teams. National Managers receive compensation up to 25,000 dollars, combining guaranteed service fees with performance-based incentives.
Applications opened through a two-phase selection process. Phase 1 runs until January 31, 2026, evaluating core eligibility criteria including legal registration, publisher relationships, and capacity to represent a country. Successful candidates advance to Phase 2, which examines local ecosystem understanding, community footprint, and operational capabilities.
The first National Partners will be announced in March 2026, with coaches submitted by March 29 and rosters finalized by April 26, 2026. The ENC recognizes more than 200 countries and territories, following frameworks aligned with international sports practice.
Xakoda Achieves Record-Breaking Jakiro Win Rate
Egor "Xakoda" Lipartia, support player for CIS team Cheeki_Breeki, reached a remarkable milestone this week by achieving the highest professional win rate on Jakiro. Over his career, he has played 22 matches on the two-headed dragon and lost only one game, establishing a 95.5% win rate that stands alone in competitive Dota 2 history.
His two most recent Jakiro performances came in qualifiers for BLAST Slam VI and DreamLeague Season 28. Cheeki_Breeki secured victories against Nigma Galaxy and Team Spirit Academy in these matches, demonstrating the hero's effectiveness in Xakoda's strategic approach.
The achievement highlights not just individual mastery but also team coordination around specific hero selections. Jakiro's dual-element abilities create opportunities for lockdown and area control that Xakoda has leveraged consistently throughout his professional career.
While Cheeki_Breeki failed to qualify for BLAST Slam VI, they advanced to the closed stage of DreamLeague Season 28 qualifiers. The team's new roster continues developing synergy as they compete for positions in major tournament lineups.
Team Spirit's Larl Takes Six-Week Personal Break
Two-time International champions Team Spirit announced that mid laner Denis "Larl" Sigitov will step away from competition for the next six weeks due to personal reasons. His absence impacts several crucial early-season events, including BLAST Slam VI and DreamLeague Season 28.
Yellow Submarine's mid laner Mirele will stand in for Larl throughout the break. The 20-year-old Russian player previously filled in for Larl during FISSURE Universe Episode 6 last August, when Team Spirit finished second behind eventual world champions Team Falcons.
Mirele began his competitive Dota 2 career in 2024 with moderate success in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 scenes. His connection to Yellow Submarine, widely regarded as Team Spirit's sister organization due to closely linked players and management, made him the logical choice for extended stand-in duty.
This substitution presents different challenges than Mirele's previous appearance. Rather than covering a single tournament, he must maintain performance across multiple high-pressure competitions while integrating with a roster that has established championship-level synergy over three years.
Team Spirit enters 2026 as one of the scene's favorites after securing consecutive second-place finishes at back-to-back tournaments. Larl's three-year tenure as the team's mid laner includes their TI 2023 championship victory, making his absence particularly significant for team dynamics.
The organization's announcement specifically mentioned participation in BLAST Slam VI (February 3-15), DreamLeague Season 28 (February 16-March 1), and an upcoming FISSURE Universe tournament, though no FISSURE Dota 2 event has been officially announced yet.
Make Your Predictions Count
Speaking of competitive action, now's the perfect time to test your Dota 2 knowledge with Pick'ems predictions. With major roster changes reshaping team dynamics and established powerhouses adjusting their lineups, the upcoming tournament season offers countless opportunities to demonstrate your analytical edge. Check out our detailed match predictions and analysis to make informed picks across all the competitive action ahead.
TL;DR
- Aurora Gaming replaces Oli and TORONTOTOKYO with Ws and Kaori
- TORONTOTOKYO plans 1-2 month competitive break
- Esports Nations Cup 2026 restricts flag displays for Russia, Belarus, and Taiwan
- Xakoda achieves 95.5% professional win rate on Jakiro (22-1 record)
- Team Spirit's Larl takes six-week break, Mirele stands in for three major tournaments
ChaiViz
Article TAGS
Dota 2
Aurora Gaming
Team Spirit
Esports Nations Cup
