Old-school Dota 2 followers will recall the formidable presence of Team Liquid in 2017. This exceptional squad, consisting of Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi Takhasomi, Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen, Ivan “MinD_ContRoL” Ivanov, Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi, and Maroun “GH” Merhej, clinched victory at The International 2017 (TI7), securing their status as TI7 Champions. Their unique synergy and prolonged teamwork won them a special place in the hearts of many fans. Now, with the Dota 2 roster shuffles, none of the players will be seen playing together.
Dota 2 Roster Shuffles: MinD_ContRoL Departs from Nigma Galaxy, GH Takes a Break
Joining the list of post-TI12 Dota 2 Roster Shuffles 2023-2024 is MinD_ContRoL, also known as MC, who recently left Nigma Galaxy, parting ways with long-time teammates KuroKy and GH, whom he played alongside for 8 and 6 years respectively. These changes, among others, were announced by the organization. MC’s future plans remain undisclosed. Meanwhile, Yuma “Yuma” Langlet and Kasra “Mikey” Mesbah also exited Nigma’s roster, and GH decided to take a year off for personal time.
KuroKy is now the sole remaining player from the original lineup in Nigma.
Maroun “GH” Merhej takes a break from competitive Dota 2 (Image Credits: Nigma Galaxy)
Before joining Team Liquid, MC and KuroKy played together in 5jungz starting in August 2015. This team, once acquired by Team Liquid, rapidly rose to prominence in Western European Dota 2. Matumbaman, another former Team Liquid member, had a similar journey but was released from the team in 2019. More details about MC’s future endeavors are anticipated.
Matumbaman’s Exit from Team Liquid
Matumbaman’s departure from Team Liquid was a significant event in the Dota 2 Esports community. As a key figure in Team Liquid’s success and their TI7 championship, his release from the team was unexpected. Following his departure, he played for Team Secret and the new Team Liquid lineup, securing third place at both TI10 and TI11.
He has since retired but maintains contact with his former teammates, particularly William “Blitz” Lee, Liquid’s coach.
This is how @MATUMBAMAN is helping us win #TI12: pic.twitter.com/HJrA9CZIGG
— Team Liquid Dota (@teamliquiddota) October 26, 2023
Status of Other TI7 Team Liquid Team Members
The remaining players, now part of Nigma Galaxy, have had varied levels of participation in competitive play. Notably, Miracle- has taken a break due to health concerns, leaving MC, GH, and KuroKy as the primary active players. However, Nigma’s recent performance has been less than stellar, with limited competitive appearances in the 2023 season.
One can even argue that MC probably had more hours as a stand-in on other teams than in Nigma.
Reflecting on Team Liquid’s Legacy
The dissolution of Team Liquid’s successful 2017 roster marks a significant shift in the team’s dynamics. After Matumbaman’s exit in 2019, the team, with Aliwi “w33” Omar as a new member, reached the grand finals of TI9 but was ultimately defeated by Team OG. Despite their past achievements, including top-3 finishes at various majors and a second-place finish at TI9, the team (now Nigma) has struggled to maintain its former glory.
Currently, KuroKy is the only original member remaining in Nigma. However, the team anticipates a potential resurgence with Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan confirming his return.
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