Fnatic adds Raven from Geek Fam, drops 23savage in surprise move

Fnatic has once again shaken up the southeast Asian Dota 2 scene by signing Marc Polo Luis “Raven” Fausto. Only a couple of hours after it was announced that Raven will be leaving Geek Fam, Fnatic announced that the Filipino star will be replacing Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon in their starting lineup.

“In our pursuit to build a Southeast Asian super team and continue dominating the region, I welcome for the second time, SEA’s most promising carry into our roster. He will bring a new dimension to the team and add some firepower to our already stacked roster,” Fnatic’s Dota 2 team manager Eric “Reinnnn” Khor said in a statement.

This will not be the first time Raven has competed for Fnatic. The Filipino superstar had a short stint with the team in 2016.

One of the most well-known and successful players to come out of SEA, Raven became well known to Dota fans while competing with TNC Gaming. After climbing through the ranks in the SEA region, Raven and his teammates were catapulted into the limelight of the Dota 2 scene when they eliminated OG from The International 2016.

A core member of TNC’s roster for years, he helped turn the team into the SEA powerhouse we know today. Despite never replicating their TI6 success, TNC and Raven won a number of notable tournaments including WESG 2016 and 2018.

Further reading:

• 23savage became the second player to reach 11,000 MMR
• WIN.gg interviewed Geek Fam’s Kuku earlier this year

Raven left TNC in 2018 and has played for the likes of Lotac and, most recently, Geek Fam. Despite not qualifying for TI9 with the latter, the team’s fortunes turned in 2020.

After a strong start to the year and a third-place finish at the WePlay! Bukovel Minor 2020, Geek Fam went from a middle-of-the-pack team to one of the best in their region. Despite playing second fiddle to Fnatic, Geek Fam managed to topple their rivals in BTS Pro Series Season 2: Southeast Asia and ONE Esports Dota 2 SEA League, taking home first place in both tournaments.

Raven played a key role in both victories.

A true Dota 2 veteran despite only being twenty-one years old, Raven will bring necessary experience and composure to an already star-studded Fnatic lineup. With his addition, Fnatic are looking primed to take on the world’s best.

What’s next for 23savage after leaving Fnatic?

23savage’s departure will certainly send shockwaves throughout the Dota 2 scene. Long a pub star with limited experience in the professional scene, 23savage blossomed into one of southeast Asia’s top players. 

With each subsequent showing, it was clear that he had more than earned his keep in Fnatic’s roster. Just a couple of days ago the rising star became only the second person in the history of Dota 2 to reach 11.000 MMR. 

It has been apparent for some time that his mechanical skills are on par with the world’s best, but at certain moments his lack of experience showed. 

The 18-year-old Thai wunderkind is definitely a hot prospect in the Dota 2 scene and could be a difference maker with a different team.