Despite retiring from competitive Dota 2, Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen can’t resist the allure of the game. After joining the TI 2023 panel, the TI7 winner is now set to participate in a local LAN event in Finland with a $1,600 prize pool.
MATUMBAMAN’s team, called Lasse’s best men + Tommi, received a direct invitation to the tournament. They will be joined by seven other teams who will qualify through three rounds.
The Finnish core player has not made an official statement about his participation in the tournament, but it seems he is simply looking to have fun with his friends while supporting the local Dota 2 scene.
While there are no other notable names in the event, many Dota 2 fans have expressed interest in following the tournament, which begins on December 15th. Some fans have even expressed their desire for MATUMBAMAN to return to the competitive scene, as Dota 2 retirements tend to be short-lived.
MATUMBAMAN’s victory at TI7 with Team Liquid solidified his status as one of the most influential players in the Dota 2 scene. Despite facing a setback in 2019 when he was kicked from the team, he quickly found success again with top rosters such as Team Secret and the latest iteration of Team Liquid.
After announcing his retirement, MATUMBAMAN joined the Finnish army in 2023. However, even after a significant break from the game, he can’t seem to resist the allure of Dota 2.
Source: DOTESPORTS
