Chinese esports organization Xtreme Gaming has officially unveiled its revamped Dota 2 roster, featuring Guo "Xm" Hongchen, Lin "Xxs" Jing and Zhao "XinQ" Zixing.
Xm and XinQ are making a return to Xtreme Gaming after a brief stint with Azure Ray in November, while Xxs is set to make his debut with the team.
The trio will join forces with Dota 2 veteran Wang "Ame" Chunyu, who announced his professional comeback to the scene after a break. In early December 2023, Xtreme Gaming's official statement revealed that the organization successfully conducted negotiations with multiple parties, facilitating the official transfer of Ame from LGD Gaming to its roster.
Ame is recognized as the "uncrowned king" of Dota 2, given his consistently high performances. His achievements include securing second place in two The Internationals, third place in another TI and other noteworthy rankings. He will reportedly take on the role of the team's carry player.
This new lineup will also be playing alongside Ding "Dy" Cong, an original member of XG's roster who temporarily stepped away from competitive play after missing out on The International 12. Dy had previously established himself as one of China's top five players during his impressive three-year stint with Vici Gaming from 2018 to 2021.
Adding further strength to the lineup, Wang "Liekkas" Yutian, the coach of Azure Rays, has been appointed as the head coach for Xtreme Gaming in 2024. The newly-formed team is set to make its debut at the upcoming qualifiers for the BetBoom Dacha 2024 Dubai, scheduled to commence tomorrow on January 3.
Azure Ray's new roster
The recent move of Azure Ray players to Xtreme Gaming comes as no shock to the esports community, given the shared ownership of both organizations by Yang Yiqing. Known for his unwavering determination, Yiqing has a clear vision of propelling China to the top of the Dota 2 competitive landscape.
Notably, Azure Ray has undergone rapid development in recent months. The team’s achievements include 4th place at The International 2023 and securing the championship title at ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023.
Following Xm, XinQ and Xxs' departure, Azure Ray also announced substantial changes to its roster last week. The esport organization revealed the return of Zeng "Ori" Jiaoyang and Zhang "Faith_bian" Ruida to the competitive scene, joining Lou "Lou" Zhen and Jiang An on the new roster. Azure Ray also appointed Zhang "LaNm" Zhicheng as its new coach.
In the Dota 2 scene, Faith_bian has been known for his loyalty to his teams. Spanning from 2014 to 2022, he was a part of four teams, including Speed Gaming, Wings Gaming, EHOME and PSG.LGD.
After his contract with PSG.LGD expired post The International 2022, he had initially announced his retirement from the pro scene. However, moved by the enthusiasm and sincerity of the Azure Ray team, Faith_bian has decided to make a comeback. With a TI win already to his name, fans are eager to witness his journey toward securing a second championship.
Similarly, Ori boasts a substantial Dota 2 career, starting in 2016 with DUOBAO and joining Vici Gaming in 2017 until 2021. However, after joining Team Aster in 2021, Ori surprised many by retiring after The International 2022. Reports suggested parental influence in steering him toward a different career, especially given his law degree and successful completion of the legal licensing exam in China.
The motivations behind Ori's return to the competitive scene were not made clear. However, Azure Ray's announcement hinted at a contractual arrangement respecting his personal wishes.
