SumaiL will play for a Chinese team at the Berlin Major

William Davis Published 15/04/2023

Dota 2 all-star Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan will be attending the Berlin Major, but his jersey will be a shock to most fans.

SumaiL has been confirmed as a stand-in for Chinese squad Team Aster for the Berlin Major. The news comes after weeks of rumors surrounding a surprise appearance on a foreign team. Among other controversies, SumaiL is not known to speak any Chinese. He also made a career out of beating teams from the region, which further adds to the strangeness.

After a few days of rumors, the news was confirmed by none other than Team Aster cofounder Xiao Fei during a personal stream. After being translated and spread through English-speaking communities, the news shocked the scene. It’s very uncommon for teams to break language barriers for a stand-in, but The King may be worth it in the company’s eyes.

This is one of the strangest stand-in situations in the history of Dota 2 esports. SumaiL is an extremely iconic American player best known for his time on Evil Geniuses, a team that infamously dominated most Chinese opponents in its prime.

However, with a $500,000 prize pool on the line, SumaiL must do his best to give a region a strong showing at the Berlin Major.

SumaiL to solve Aster troubles at Berlin Major 

Team Aster has experienced issues with its roster since late 2022, and SumaiL at the Berlin Major will be the squad’s third mid player since they began. 

In late 2022, regional icon Zeng “Ori” Jiaoyang made the surprising decision to retire entirely from Dota 2. Aster struggled to find a replacement, ultimately promoting Zhai “Xwy” Jingkai from its development team Aster.Aries. However, despite placing top four in both tours and a respectable 8th place in Lima, he’s being removed from the squad right after qualifying for the Berlin Major.

Fans speculate that internal disagreements may have sparked the change, but the team’s playstyle also plays a role. Du “Monet” Peng and Lin “Xxs” Jing are rockstars in the carry and offlane roles, which often means a sacrificial mid to compensate. Xwy’s personal preference for scaling mids like Ember Spirit and Pangolier may not fit with the team’s gameplan.

Still, removing him right before the major definitely signals another type of conflict within the team.

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 ...