Fnatic drop MP, promote Jabz and Dubu prior to The International

gabhernandez Published 28/06/2019

After its early exit from the Epicenter Major, Fnatic has announced huge roster changes for the upcoming International 2019 event.

Fnatic had a roster shakeup just a few weeks before the big event. It may seem that it’s too late for the team to make such changes, but it’s a risk Fnatic is willing to take.

Noa “MP” Pyo departs from the team leaving the carry position vacant. Meanwhile, support player Anucha “Jabz” Jirawong will step up to fill the new vacancy.

Coach Kim “DuBu” Doo-young will return to the active playing roster as the new captain and support of the team.

MP was part of the post-TI8 roster for Fnatic. Since the start of the 2018-2019 Dota Pro Circuit, he has carried the team to its current footing in the DPC rankings.

Fnatic was the first Southeast Asian team to qualify for The International 2019. The team showcased decent results through the year’s DPC rankings. However, these results went downhill after a strong third-place finish at DreamLeague Season 11.

The 2100 points garnered from the tournament secured Fnatic the direct invite for The International, but Fnatic’s performance in the last two major tournaments played was underwhelming.

The team was quickly eliminated in the first round of the lower bracket from each tournament. Currently, Fnatic ranks seventh in the Dota Pro Circuit Rankings.

The organization explained the reason behind its roster change in a lengthy blog post. Several issues were raised that caused the team’s underperformance, such as problems obtaining visas and passport renewals, failures to adjust to an evolving meta, and a general lack of preparation.

“With lackluster results towards the end, issues with our playstyle have surfaced and after a lengthy discussion with everyone, we feel that we needed a fresh change in our cores’ synergy,” Fnatic team manager Eric Khor said.

Fnatic also revealed that not everyone from the team was comfortable with each other’s playstyle. A decision not to add any more new players was finalized after consideration of all available options.

MP will still receive a portion of Fnatic’s prize winnings from The International 2019, which will take place in August.

Read Also

Dota 2

Team Yandex stop the magic, defeating LGD in BLAST Slam VII finals Michael Hassall Team Yandex have defeated LGD Gaming in the grand finals of BLAST Slam VII in a dramatic 3-1 series that saw both teams pushed to the limit, but ultimately Yandex come out on top. Concluding the last major tournament before teams head to the Esports World Cup and The International 2026 next month and in August, Yandex were able to counter the momentum of LGD that had brought them into ...

Dota 2

BLAST Slam VII Finals Predictions and Picks – Can LGD make it all the way? Michael Hassall LGD Gaming in the top three of a tournament!? What is this 2021? BLAST Slam VII has been one of the most surprising tournaments of the year, and has capped off the pre-EWC and TI season with some of the most thrilling gameplay we’ve seen in months. And the finals are set to be even more exciting. With just three teams left there’s a lot on the line, from the ...

Dota 2

Easiest Dota 2 Heroes for Beginners – Best Picks to Learn the Game Simon Day We can all agree that Dota 2 is a complex game, but starting with the right heroes can make the learning process much smoother. Choosing one of the best Dota 2 heroes for beginners is key to building your skills and enjoying your matches. That’s why it’s time to explore the heroes that are easy to understand, effective in the game and great for learning the fundamentals. Without going into ...

Dota 2

BLAST Slam VII Playoffs Preview – Visa issues transform the playoff picture Michael Hassall BLAST Slam VII is the last major tournament before teams lock-in and compete at the EWC and The International, and as a result, we’re seeing a tournament with some unique outcomes. With teams seemingly treating this as a last-minute tune-up before the championship clashes of the next two months, a South American team has topped the table and some of the best teams in the world are either without players ...

Dota 2

TI-Champions Tundra Esports exit Dota 2 as roster transfers to 1win Michael Hassall Tundra Esports has revealed it’s leaving Dota 2 after six years and a victory at The International 2022. The UK-based organization has announced its roster will transfer directly to 1win for future events. The announcement, posted on Tundra's socials on June 1, confirms rumors and earlier social posts from 1win which hinted at a new lineup. With the move, however, questions about 1win’s existing EEU roster and attendance at The ...

Dota 2

A full weekend of TI15 tickets will cost you just $280 – If you don’t mind the view Michael Hassall Alongside the team invites for The International 2026, Valve today (May 26) unveiled the pricing and details of how to purchase tickets for TI15, and the price is the lowest in years. For years we’ve seen the price of The International Prize, with a peak of around $700 as a lowest price for a full weekend for both 2023 in Seattle, and 2024 in Copenhagen. But after a fall in ...

Dota 2

Valve has announced the TI15 invites: Here’s why some team names are very different Michael Hassall It’s around three months until The International 2026, TI15, and Valve has just unveiled the direct invites and qualifier invites to the event, but eagle-eyed fans will notice some strange names in the team lists. Valve unveiled the invites in the small hours of the morning on May 26 (late evening on May 25 for their HQ in Bellevue, Washington), detailing the seven direct invites, regional qualifier invites, and some ...