win.gg
Win.gg Dota 2 Topson steps away from pro Dota 2, may be retiring

Topson steps away from pro Dota 2, may be retiring

Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina Published 19/11/2021

Topias Miikka “Topson” Taavitsainen is going to be gone from professional Dota 2 for a very long time, and possibly forever.

OG Esports announced that Topson is looking to spend a lengthy block of time away from the game in order to spend time with his wife and young child. This comes as little surprise as Topson was openly discussing taking a break from the game ahead of The International 2021, with OG stating that those feelings of ennui didn’t dissolve over the course of the event.

“After TI10, Topson sat down with the team and explained that his motivation for competing had dwindled. He needed a season off to spend time with his wife and kid, and enjoy playing Dota for fun while streaming from home again. That his love for the game was the fuel behind how he played and was able to bring the best out of himself. And that right now, he needed time away with his loved ones to find peace and light the fire again,” OG said in a statement on its official website.

https://twitter.com/OGesports/status/1461721049712766978

Topson previously teased that TI10 might be his last pro Dota 2 event. While retirements in esports always ought to be taken with a grain of salt, there’s no question that Topson has the means to retire at this point.

What happened to Topson?

Topson is taking a break from competition in order to focus on his family. This may see him out of action until after 2023.

Topson and his wife announced the birth of their first child in September 2020, but the star mid laner never really took any time away from the game. He competed regularly in the final quarter of 2020 and was active with OG throughout the 2021 Dota Pro Circuit season.

Even before they had their child, Topson discussed how he preferred the new predominantly online Dota 2 format as it didn’t require as much travel. Odds are that having a baby at home only reinforced this, and spending less time at the computer and at LAN events likely holds more appeal than ever.

Who is on the OG roster?

At this time, the only official member of the OG Dota 2 roster is Johan “N0tail” Sundstein. 

OG’s roster at The International 2021 has effectively dissolved at this point. Alongside Topson’s hiatus, Martin “Saksa” Sazdov and Syed “SumaiL” Hassan were both released with the latter joining Team Secret, while Sebastian “Ceb” Debs committed to re-retiring. That means that OG is left with only N0tail.

https://twitter.com/OGesports/status/1461056321634066435

The good news for fans of the team is that OG is in the rebuilding process. The team has made vague teases that suggest the team has already signed new players, which likely means that the team won’t miss any action. The 2021-2022 Dota Pro Circuit season kicks off in just a few weeks, which likely means that the new lineup will be revealed in the very near future.

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
TI15’s opening ceremony weaves a tapestry of emotion for Valve’s storied title Dota 2
TI15’s opening ceremony weaves a tapestry of emotion for Valve’s storied title Michael Hassall The main stage of The International 2026, TI15, kicked off today with the traditional opening ceremony heralding the start of the biggest celebration of Dota 2 on the calendar. On Aug. 20 fans in Shanghai, China, and at home, were treated to a rousing 11-minute series of performances and video packages, introducing TI15’s main stage show. Here’s how the magic unfolded: The ceremony began with a graphic which quite literally ...
The International 2026 (TI15) Playoffs preview and predictions Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Playoffs preview and predictions Michael Hassall The Group Stage of The International 2026, TI15, is in the books and we’ve whittled down 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to just eight finalists. One of these talented lineups will be the ones lifting the Aegis of Champions come Sunday, Aug. 23, but until then, there’s plenty of playoff shenanigans that could go on. Below we’ve put together a preview of the upcoming Playoff Games, along ...
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027 News
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027 Ben Boland The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...
Team Spirit vs Iron Wing at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks Dota 2
Team Spirit vs Iron Wing at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks Owen Harsono The playoffs for TI15 starts off with an absolute banger of a match between Team Spirit and Iron Wing, and the betting odds could not be any closer. Here are our TI15 Team Spirit vs Iron Wing predictions. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Playoffs Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: This is the closest series we have at the first round of the TI15 playoffs, as ...
Who Will Win The International 2026 (TI15)? These Are Our Best Picks Dota 2
Who Will Win The International 2026 (TI15)? These Are Our Best Picks Owen Harsono The TI15 group stage is over, and we’re down to the top eight teams. We’ve now got a pretty good idea of which teams are the favorites heading into the playoffs based on recent performance and season results, so here are the teams we think have the best shot at winning TI15 and claiming some of The International  prize pool. The TI15 group stage saw eight teams exit the event ...
The International 2026 (TI15) Elimination Stage Preview and Predictions Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Elimination Stage Preview and Predictions Owen Harsono The TI15 Group Stage is almost over, and all that’s left is the very deadly Elimination Stage, which will eliminate five teams and allow the five survivors to advance to the playoffs. Below, we’ll walk you through how the Elimination Stage works, the matchups, and our best picks. The Elimination Stage is the final phase of the TI15 Group Stage. The modified Swiss format promotes the top three teams directly ...
Team Spirit vs TEAM VISION at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks Dota 2
Team Spirit vs TEAM VISION at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks Owen Harsono We’re two days into TI15, and we have our first significant match of the tournament. Team Spirit will take on TEAM VISION (PARIVISION) for the first playoff spot. Here are our predictions for the big match. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Group Stage Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: TEAM VISION enter TI15 as the tournament favorites, but Team Spirit are playing under zero pressure at ...