T1 to Play Without Xepher at ESL One Malaysia 2022: Closed Qualifier

In the ESL One Malaysia 2022 Southeast Asia: Closed Qualifier, T1 will be without position four player Kenny "Xepher" Deo. T1 announced on its social media accounts, before the team's first set versus TNC Predator in the qualifier, that Xepher will be skipping the tournament to take a "short break." Team SMG's offlaner Ryan "Raging Potato" Qui will take his spot for the duration of the event. While the roles of the players after this change were not acknowledged by T1, Raging Potato played position three for T1 while captain Carlo "Kuku" Palad shifted to soft support in the series versus TNC Predator, which it lost.

Raging Potato to replace Xepher at T1 for ESL One Malaysia 2022 Southeast Asia: Closed Qualifier

“T1's Dota 2 team will play the ESL One Malaysia 2022 SEA: Closed Qualifier with Ryan Jay 'Raging Potato' Qui as a stand-in, while 'Xepher' will take a short break during this time,” T1 posted on Twitter, asking for fans’ support throughout the event.

From position one to position five, T1's Dota 2 roster for the ESL One Malaysia 2022 Southeast Asia: Closed Qualifier is likely to be as follows:

1. Kim "Gabbi" Villafuerte

2. Karl "Karl" Jayme

3. Ryan "Raging Potato" Qui

4. Carlo "Kuku" Palad

5. Matthew "Whitemon" Filemon

• Park "March" Tae-won (coach)

It is currently uncertain whether this roster alteration will be permanent. T1 did not do well in the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) 2021-22, and this was exacerbated in Tour 3 when it even failed to qualify for the PGL Arlington Major. After the regional leagues have been completed, teams frequently reassess their lineups and plans, making adjustments in preparation for The International (TI) qualifier.

T1, however, has not started off well with the changed roster, surprisingly falling 2-0 to TNC Predator in the opening series of the ESL One Malaysia 2022 Southeast Asia: Closed Qualifier. The team will now have to make its way through the lower bracket.

The ESL One Malaysia 2022 Southeast Asia: Closed Qualifier is featuring some of the region's strongest teams competing for a single berth in the main event, which will take place from 23rd to 28th August. Fnatic was the only South East Asian team to gain a direct invite, with other top teams in the region, like BOOM Esports, Talon Esports, and RSG, now competing in the qualifier.

The qualifier will be held from 25th July through 27th July, with a total of eight teams participating. The teams are pitted against one another in a double elimination playoff tournament. Except for the grand finals, which will be a Bo5 event, all series will be Bo3.