Asian Aegis Agenda: Elephant in the Room?

This week in Asian Dota 2 has been a whirlwind of surprises, with a potential comeback of legends on the cards, the reasons behind Xtreme’s smack talk finally being revealed and more! From possible pranks to real power plays, here's the scoop on the most buzzworthy moments and storylines unfolding across the scene.

Elephant 2.0: Legends or Trolls? 

Zhou "Yang" Haiyan has apparently decided that retirement is just too boring and is suiting up once more for the Dota 2 professional circuit. He's not coming back quietly either; he's dragging Yang "Chalice" Shenyi and Lu "Somnus丶M" Yao (aka Maybe) into the fray, forming what they're calling Elephant 2.0. But here's the kicker: they might just be pulling our legs.

With Xiong "Pyw" Jiahang and Yu "Siamese.C" Yajun also on board, this lineup reads like a who's who of Chinese Dota legends—perfect for a powerhouse team or, equally likely, a top-tier meme factory. Given Somnus丶M and Chalice's track record of assembling joke squads that punch way above their weight, the community is left scratching their heads: Is this the comeback of the century or just another prank?

Imagine this squad rolling through the open qualifiers for The International 2024. Competitors might not know whether to prepare for a brutal match or just bring popcorn to watch the show. Either way, Elephant 2.0 is stirring up the Dota 2 world, and whether they end up stomping tournaments or just stomping on our hearts with troll plays, it’s sure to be a wild ride.

So, grab your tickets to the Elephant 2.0 circus—spectacle guaranteed, authenticity TBD. Who knows? This could either be the greatest storyline in esports this year or just another meme that got out of hand. But really, wouldn't either be absolutely glorious?

Xtreme Explains Why They Clapped Back in Chat Wars at Elite League

After a fiery match against Team Falcons in the Elite League, XG’s carry, Wang “Ame” Chunyu, paused to cheekily drop question marks while his teammates literally figuratively dropped some question marks in the all chat. Despite the loss, Falcons' Stanislav "Malr1ne" Potorak took it in stride, chuckling away the defeat with commendable sportsmanship.

Following this game, Zhao "XinQ" Zixing revealed the reason behind this cheeky strategy in a post-match interview: "They like to chat in the general chat, so we decided that if we beat them, we'll do the same."

The taunt was apparently direct clapback at Team Falcons' Ammar "ATF" Assaf, notorious for his spicy in-game banter and less-than-charming remarks—once calling the Xtreme gamers "jokers." Well, joke’s on him because Xtreme Gaming had the last laugh this time, using Falcons’ own favorite tactic against them.

Three Asian Powerhouses Spice Up the Dota 2 Scene at ESL One Birmingham 2024

ESL One Birmingham 2024 kicks off on Monday, and twelve top Dota 2 teams will duke it out for a cool $1 Million USD and 26,640 ESL Pro Tour Points, with their sights set on qualifying for the Esports World Cup 2024. Among the contenders, three Asian teams are ready to stir up the competition.

Xtreme Gaming is coming in hot off a victory at the Elite League 2024, ready to prove their championship wasn't a fluke. With their aggressive tactics and slick moves, they're the team to watch.

G2 x iG, a hybrid beast of Southeast Asian and Chinese stars, didn't quite take the cake at the Elite League, landing in the 7th-8th spot. They're in Birmingham to mix things up and show the world that this China meets SEA combo can go the distance.

Then there's Talon Esports, the underdogs from Southeast Asia, who stumbled at the Elite League but aren't down for the count. They’re hungry for redemption and ready to surprise everyone with a comeback.

As these teams clash, the stakes are sky-high, and every play counts. Will Xtreme Gaming dominate once more? Can G2 x iG find their groove? Or will Talon Esports make an unexpected leap to the top? Buckle up, because ESL One Birmingham is set to be a rollercoaster of epic Dota 2 action!