win.gg
Win.gg Dota 2 North America has no sponsored Dota 2 teams after CR4ZY release

North America has no sponsored Dota 2 teams after CR4ZY release

Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina Published 05/10/2020
Google Preferred Source

Desperate times are calling for desperate measures when it comes to esports organization CR4ZY.

The European brand has announced the release of its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 rosters. CR4ZY says this stems from a downturn in business.

“CR4ZY has terminated the contracts with all of its esports teams on the 30th of September in order to prepare for the upcoming year. Although this feels like a loss, we believe this was the right decision…With limited travel options, tournaments regionally locked, and lower investor/partner activity we believe it is the right time to reevaluate our strategy in 2020 and do our best to prepare for 2021,” CR4ZY CEO Antonio Meić said in a statement on the team’s website.

The statement reiterates that this is not a closure for CR4ZY, and that the organization will rebuild its stable of players in 2021.

CR4ZY releases a big hit for Dota 2

It was in 2019 when CR4ZY, formerly known as Valiance, was riding high on its CSGO team’s success. This ended when the team was sold for parts with all five of its players being transferred to G2 Esports and c0ntact Gaming.

From there CR4ZY spread its wings into a number of titles by signing a new CSGO lineup, sponsoring the Fighting PandaS Dota 2 team, and sponsoring R6 team MnM Gaming. The R6 team lasted a matter of months before its roster was broken up and transferred to other organizations, but the CSGO and Dota 2 teams remained active.

The CSGO team was largely relegated to regional play, but the Dota 2 squad was among the best in North America. Unfortunately, travel restrictions and event closures ultimately saw CR4ZY never appear on a major stage in the game. With the Dota Pro Circuit’s return date wholly unclear, CR4ZY opted to not bother waiting and instead look elsewhere.

This is doubly noteworthy as CR4ZY was possibly the only sponsored North American Dota 2 team with Evil Geniuses reportedly considering a move to Europe. Many esports organizations, including DIGNITAS, Immortals, and OpTic Gaming have stepped into the North American Dota 2 scene and then stepped back away after a short time.

If Evil Geniuses completes a move to Europe, this will leave North American Dota 2 with precisely zero sponsored Dota 2 teams when it previously had Cloud9, J.Storm, Chaos Esports Club, and more.

The current CR4ZY roster will likely continue competing together under a different name. Expect CR4ZY to announce new rosters at some point in 2021.

Steven Rondina Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

View full profile
Read Also
Team Yandex stop the magic, defeating LGD in BLAST Slam VII finals 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 ...
BLAST Slam VII Finals Predictions and Picks – Can LGD make it all the way? 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 ...
Easiest Dota 2 Heroes for Beginners – Best Picks to Learn the Game 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 ...
BLAST Slam VII Playoffs Preview – Visa issues transform the playoff picture 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 ...
TI-Champions Tundra Esports exit Dota 2 as roster transfers to 1win 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 ...
A full weekend of TI15 tickets will cost you just $280 – If you don’t mind the view 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 ...
Valve has announced the TI15 invites: Here’s why some team names are very different 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 ...