Where will SumaiL end up after leaving the OG roster?
Syed “SumaiL” Hassan finds himself in a position he’s become familiar with. After less than six months with OG, the star player is once again without a team.
The fearsome mid laner was unceremoniously cut from the organization after just six months. Though OG has one of the most star-studded rosters in Dota 2 history, the team posted generally underwhelming results. The team debuted in impressive fashion by sprinting through the crowded European qualifiers of the ESL One Los Angeles Major, but fell off from there.
Now teamless once again, it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens to him. What’s certain is that some Dota 2 teams are set for a big improvement if they can acquire SumaiL’s services.
Why was SumaiL released by OG?
It’s unclear what exactly led to SumaiL’s removal from the OG roster, with the organization offering no explanation beyond the fact that Sebastian “Ceb” Debs is coming out of retirement to take his place. His removal could be due to logistical difficulties brought about by travel restrictions, struggles transitioning to a carry role, or interpersonal issues between SumaiL and his teammates.
With SumaiL gone, OG’s Dota 2 roster looks like this:
- Yeik “MidOne” Nai Zheng
- Topias Miikka “Topson” Taavitsainen
- Sébastien “Ceb” Debs
- Martin “Saksa” Sazdov
- Johan “N0tail” Sundstein
One thing is for certain, though. SumaiL isn’t done with pro Dota 2 yet.
Bootcamp mood ????#DreamOG pic.twitter.com/2Jvw6zAMs9
— OG (@OGesports) July 27, 2020
At just 21 years old, he should have at least a few more years in him. There are very few teams that wouldn’t benefit from adding him as either a mid laner or a carry, which begs the question, what team will SumaiL be playing with next?
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Could SumaiL reunite with Evil Geniuses?
Evil Geniuses made the bold decision to put together a roster with players from four different regions for the 2019-2020 Dota Pro Circuit season, with SumaiL being among the sacrifices which made that maneuver possible. Though the squad looked strong early on in the season, it hasn’t actually competed as a full unit since March due to international travel restrictions.
Abed “Abed” Azel L. Yusop is one of the players most affected. The mid laner has been largely inactive while at home in the Philippines, playing in just one event as a substitute for TNC Predator. Evil Geniuses has been leaning on North American journeyman Eric “Ryoya” Dong as a substitute. Results were initially strong, but the team has since lost momentum.
A devious ult combo from RTZ and Ryoya secure the win for @EvilGeniuses against cr4zy!
— Beyond the Summit (@BeyondTheSummit) June 28, 2020
Can EG close it out 2-0 to make it to the finals? Find out soon????
????https://t.co/VZnt4kwr7v
????️@T_PandaDota & @Kipspul pic.twitter.com/hK5HlI1F5u
Though Ryoya has proven himself as a good fit for Evil Geniuses, there are few that would disagree with SumaiL being a straight upgrade in the mid lane. Coupled with the fact that he’d be reuniting with most of the successful 2018-2019 EG roster, the team would likely be able to coast through the competition in North America.
The trouble is that SumaiL wasn’t removed from Evil Geniuses for no reason. The team opted to drop him after four years with some reasoning behind th emove, even if it isn’t publicly known. The math has certainly changed since September in a way that could make the organization give him a second look, but if former teammates Andreas Franck “Cr1t-” Nielsen, Tal “Fly” Aizik, and Artour “Arteezy” Babaev aren’t keen on bringing him back, that will close the door on any sort of reunion talk.
It’s no secret that successful teams are willing and able to put interpersonal issues aside if they are finding success on the server. Because of that, SumaiL returning to Evil Geniuses could very well happen.
There are many possible Dota 2 teams for SumaiL
There’s no shortage of potential landing spots for SumaiL in North America.
The most logical spot might be CR4ZY. The North American squad helmed by SumaiL’s former teammate Kurtis “Aui_2000” Ling has generally performed well throughout the year, but has an empty spot on its roster in the carry position. SumaiL could likely walk into that team and have an immediate impact.
Another former teammate he could reunite with is Clinton “Fear” Loomis. Fear currently plays for business associates, which hasn’t had a dedicated mid laner since April. It’s been getting by with Jacky “EternaLEnVy” Mao as a mid laner, but EE’s at his best as a carry and has never been an especially dominant mid. business associates could hit the next level with the addition of SumaiL.
Though SumaiL has butted heads with former teammates such as Peter “ppd” Dager and has been rumored to have issues with other teammates, he’s had nothing but kind words to say regarding Fear.
Another possibility would be forming an all-new team. Surrounding the announcement of the upcoming regional leagues, a number of multi-game organizations entered into Dota 2 including Cloud9, CR4ZY, and Infinity Esports. That suggests that esports organizations are fans of this new format, and while many have actually stepped back from Dota 2 in the last few months, things could pick back up when plans for the leagues become more concrete.
SumaiL is the kind of player to build a team around long-term and North America is fertile territory for a large esports organization to take over. Evil Geniuses is the only big-name brand working in the region and there’s nothing stopping an organization like 100 Thieves or Immortals signing almost anyone they want in the region.
Surprisingly, one of the few landing spots that is basically out of the question is Quincy Crew. While SumaiL actually had a brief stint on the team, he’d have to get the team to either drop dedicated mid laner Quinn “CCnC” Callahan or SumaiL’s own brother, Yawar “YawaR” Hassan, while the team is riding a hot streak. Fans have long been intrigued over the idea of SumaiL partnering up with his brother, but now doesn’t seem to be the right time for that.
Regional leagues are likely to kick off in September or October 2020. Once those approach, expect SumaiL to find his landing spot.
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.
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