win.gg
Win.gg Dota 2 T1 adds 23savage, kicks JaCkky ahead of Singapore Major

T1 adds 23savage, kicks JaCkky ahead of Singapore Major

Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina Published 04/03/2021
Google Preferred Source

T1 made it to the ONE Esports Singapore Major and the team is wanting to make the most of that opportunity, even if that means making big changes.

The team announced the sudden removal of carry player Souliya “JaCkky” Khoomphetsavong from its active roster. Less than 24 hours later, T1 confirmed the signing of new carry player Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon on its Twitter account.

As such, T1’s roster for the ONE Esports Singapore Major will be:

  1. Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon
  2. Karl “Karl” Jayme
  3. Carlo “Kuku” Palad
  4. Kenny “Xepher” Deo
  5. Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon

The signing of 23savage is a big one for T1. 23savage enjoyed a breakout year in 2020 with Fnatic, but abruptly left the team for Vici Gaming at the end of summer. 

23savage never ended up playing for Vici Gaming as visa issues kept him from traveling to China, which was followed by stand-in Yang “Erica” Shaohan performing very well. He was released from the team in January and has competed as a stand-in for BOOM Esports and HOYO in the PGL Southeast Asia Dota Pro Circuit league.

We are pleased to welcome ’23savage’ to our @DOTA2 roster. Please look forward to our team heading toward @ONEEsports Singapore Major 2021.

T1 DOTA2 팀에 ’23savage’ 선수가 합류하게 되었습니다. 팬 여러분들의 많은 관심과 응원 부탁드립니다.#T1WIN #T1Fighting #T1DOTA2 pic.twitter.com/46cnuX6Q0x

— T1 (@T1) March 4, 2021

As a result of the roster change, T1 will incur a penalty on any Dota Pro Circuit qualifying points earned during the ONE Esports Singapore Major, as well as those earned from placing third in the winter season. T1 likely believes 23savage was enough of an upgrade to warrant this pair of penalties.

23savage shows that new Dota 2 rules still have issues

The signing of 23savage by T1 is a familiar phenomenon to Dota 2 fans. On many occasions in the past, teams have qualified for a major or large event and moved to cut a member of the roster that helped them make it there. 

The most famous examples of this are Khoo “Ohaiyo” Chong Xin getting kicked from Fnatic in 2018 and Nico “Gunnar” Lopez getting kicked from Team Team in 2019, both of which saw Jacky “EternaLEnVy” Mao play a central role in the controversies. While EternaLEnVy took the heat in both cases, there are a slew of other similar examples of this from other teams in years past.

While it’s hard to blame T1 for making this move given how standard these sorts of cutthroat decisions are across sports, this still represents a loophole in the system. T1 is bringing a different roster into the ONE Esports Singapore Major than the one used in the Dota Pro Circuit leagues, and that undermines the integrity and legitimacy of the leagues as a whole.

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 ...