Tundra Esports, the victorious Dota 2 team of TI11, is facing further dissolution as Leon “Nine” Kirilin announces his retirement from competitive play on November 6th. This departure leaves only three members of Tundra’s championship roster, raising uncertainty about their future.
In September 2023, Tundra made the decision to move Martin “Saksa” Sazdov to the inactive roster due to health concerns. Now, with Nine stepping back, the team’s lineup is significantly depleted. However, there is a possibility that we may see Nine return to the competitive scene in the future, as he expressed his retirement could be temporary and his current focus is to take a break and enjoy life.
Despite achieving remarkable success during his three-year tenure with Tundra, Nine revealed that he had been under immense stress and could no longer continue. He mentioned the potential of returning to competitive Dota 2 if his passion for the game persists after a much-needed break from the demanding travel and intense gameplay.
Amidst Saksa’s departure, Nine made a significant sacrifice for Tundra by transitioning to a new role to accommodate the addition of Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen to the team. Nine adapted to the position four role within a short timeframe before The International 2023, allowing Topson to take over the mid-role.
Although Tundra had a strong performance in the group stage of TI 2023 with a 7-1 record, their tournament journey took a downturn afterward. The reigning champions faced a surprising defeat from an underdog team from North America, resulting in their placement in the lower bracket.
While many anticipated a resilient lower bracket run from Tundra, they were ultimately dethroned by Entity, suffering a crushing loss. In an interview with Dot Esports, Nine hinted that Topson’s future with Tundra might be uncertain beyond TI 2023. With two core members departing, Tundra may be looking at a complete overhaul of their roster.
Source: DOTESPORTS
