Cover-Credits:
AFK Gaming
The Dota 2 scene in Southeast Asia (SEA) has been particularly vibrant this week, from breathtaking comebacks to Team Secret adding some Southeast Asian flavor to its roster and Bleed Esports' secret weapon unveiling, here's an in-depth look at the happenings that have stirred the competitive waters.
Aurora's Ascension and Talon's Twitter Tiff
Aurora Esports, after being knocked down to the drama-filled lower bracket, staged an epic comeback, making it all the way to the grand final to face Talon Esports. The showdown was less of a nail-biter and more of a jaw-dropper, as Aurora steamrolled over Talon with a 3-0 victory. The first game teased us with some competitive spirit, but as the series unfolded, it was clear Aurora had the upper hand, both in-game and in drafting the perfect burns.
The series' climax was punctuated by 23savage's “no class )” remark, a potentially playful jab that ignited a series of indirect exchanges between Aurora's coach, Lee "SunBhie" Jeong-jae, and Talon Esports' CGO, Kim "hooondo" Do-hoon, on Twitter.
Sunbhie fired shots at the Talon organisation, citing a "class" difference between the players and the organization.
Cue the Twitter tempest. SunBhie’s tweet unleashed a flurry of side-eyes and raised eyebrows, prompting hooondo to clap back with a tweet of his own, swirling the drama pot.
Flashback to the 2022-23 season when the current Aurora lineup donned Talon jerseys. Post-The International 12, they bid adieu, with SunBhie and co. jetting off to Aurora, leaving Talon to scout for new talent.
The plot twist? Hooondo, in a spicy tweet retort, branded some Aurora affiliates as "cowards," stirring the pot further while absolving the players of any drama.
The Twitter saga didn’t end there. Aurora threw shade at Talon's CEO for tweet-deleting antics, to which he defensively noted he was merely emphasizing a point.
As Aurora revels in their victory lap, the snarky exchange between SunBhie and hooondo reminds us that SEA Dota 2 isn’t just about the clash on the screens; it’s a full-blown rivalry with a passionate, sometimes petty, always entertaining narrative that keeps us all glued to the scene.
Team Secret's Strategic Reshuffle
Team Secret, a name synonymous with success in the game, made headlines this week with a significant roster update. Tue "ah fu" Soon Chuan, stepping down from his coaching throne to joust in the position four role, has replaced Marcel "Ekki" Hołowienko. This strategic maneuver left the coaching spot vacant, only for Lee "Heen" Seung Gon to emerge from his sabbatical like a knight returning for one last quest.
Ah fu, known for not just supporting his team but aggressively seeking out enemy players as if they owed him money, alongside Heen’s strategic wizardry, promises to bring a fresh dynamic to Team Secret's gameplay. Will this be the secret sauce they need to climb back to the top? Well not exactly.
The team crashed out of the DreamLeague Season 23: Western Europe Closed Qualifier after losing to MOUZ and Tundra Esports. Their hopes are all pinned on the upcoming Elite League (where they’ll have to battle through the Swiss Stages) and the PGL Wallachia Season 1 to which they were directly invited to.
Failure here would lead to even more questions being asked about the roster and potentially more roster shuffles as we move through the season.
Bleed Esports' Mystery Guest Star
Bleed Esports is reported to have made a high-profile addition to their roster by bringing in Zhou "Emo" Yi from LGD for the PGL Wallachia Season 1: Southeast Asia Closed Qualifier. This move is so cloak-and-dagger that neither party has made an official peep about it.
The implications are juicy: Rafli "Mikoto" Fathur Rahman, Bleed's regular midlaner, might be warming the bench for this round. It's like Bleed Esports decided to call in a celebrity guest star for a special episode, hoping to boost their ratings (or in this case, their game). The anticipation is high, and the potential for drama is even higher. Will this be the secret ingredient Bleed needs to shake off their 2024 performance blues? Grab your snacks, because this storyline is bound to keep us on the edge of our seats.
