OG Parts Ways With TI9 Winning Coach Sockshka
OG announced on Twitter that it has parted ways with its assistant Dota 2 coach, Titouan "Sockshka" Merloz. In a statement uploaded by the organization, Sockshka said he would no longer be a part of OG Dota 2. In his time as the team's primary coach, Sockshka guided the team from April 2019 up until the International 10 (TI10), and during his tenure, the team lifted the Aegis of Champions at TI9. Sockshka was demoted to the position of assistant coach at TI10. His departure from OG follows the exit of players - Syed "SumaiL" Sumail Hassan and Martin "Saksa" Sazdov - in the past week.
Sockshka is no longer a member of OG Dota 2
“Today, I’m no longer part of OG Dota 2. I made some of the best memories of my life during those past 3 years with people I’m lucky to be able to call friends now,” read Sockshka’s statement. Sockshka extended his gratitude to all those he worked with in the organization, especially Johan "N0tail" Sundstein and Sébastien "Ceb" Debs.
OG's Dota 2 team is currently comprised of the following members:
TBD
Topias Miikka "Topson" Taavitsainen
Sébastien "Ceb" Debs
TBD
Johan "N0tail" Sundstein
Mikhail "Misha" Agatov (head coach)
Sockshka leaves the organization after having been with them for more than two years. He helped the team win TI for the second time in a row in 2019. The other notable results include a third place finish at the ESL One Katowice 2019 and a fifth and sixth place finish at the MDL Disneyland Paris Major. Sockshka also filled in for OG in various tournaments and games when they needed a replacement for one of their players. He also served as the coach for the organization's secondary Dota 2 team, OG Seed.
A couple of weeks before TI10, it was announced that former Team Spirit captain Mikhail "Misha" Agatov had joined OG as the head Dota 2 coach for The International 10 (TI10). Sockshka continued to be a member of the team but was appointed as the assistant coach. OG finished 7th-8th at TI10.
Apparently a roster overhaul is underway at OG. The departure of Saksa and SumaiL a few days ago has now been followed by the departure of Sockshka. Additionally, Ceb announced, after OG's elimination from TI10 that it was his last tournament and a few months before TI10, Topson stated in an interview that TI10 might be his last one as well.
Therefore, with all these recent and potential changes, OG appears to be on the verge of establishing a new set of players ahead of the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) 2021-22. The first regional league begins on 29th Nov 2021 and the roster lock date for the same is 21st Nov 2021. Not much time remains before these dates which entails that very soon the members of Dota 2's most storied team will finally be unveiled.
