One of the biggest names in the Dota 2 scene will not be competing at the upcoming ESL One Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia is set to welcome back top-tier Dota 2 teams from around the world as ESL One Kuala Lumpur takes place in December. Twelve teams will compete for a larger share of the million-dollar prize pool, but the tournament has already suffered a significant setback. One of the biggest Dota teams in the world has confirmed that they will not be participating in the event in the Malaysian capital.
Which Team Has Withdrawn from ESL One Kuala Lumpur?
Team Spirit have formally declared that they will not be participating in the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 tournament. The decision, communicated via an official statement from the event organizers, attributes health issues as the primary reason preventing the Dota 2 team from traveling to Malaysia for the competition.
Unfortunately due to health reasons @team__spirit are no longer able to attend #ESLOne Kuala Lumpur. We wish them a speedy recovery!
The available slot will be passed to the Western European Closed Qualifiers, as the next most competitive region according to our rankings. pic.twitter.com/2mL9NNL0kf
— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) November 9, 2023
ESL transferred Spirit’s slot to a team from Western Europe, citing it as ” the next most competitive region according to the rankings.” The decision will be determined in Closed Qualifiers, where EEU also possesses two slots.
Photo Credit: One Esports
Team Spirit has provided clarification regarding the absence of some of their players, citing the necessity for medical observation and subsequent treatment in Europe. The decision stems from a commitment to prioritize the health and well-being of the team members. Notably, Team captain Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naydenov has taken a temporary break from competitive play and is expected to make a return at a later date.
This development aligns with earlier statements from the team’s manager, Dmitry “Korb3n” Belov, who had hinted at the possibility of Team Spirit missing the event due to unforeseen health considerations.
“One of the players will take a vacation until January. I won’t say who. To be honest, I don’t even know if I’m allowed to. Of course, we will be playing with a stand-in. The question is, how many stand-ins. I’m not sure if we will attend ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, it will all depend on ESL rules. If we will be allowed to have two stand-ins and the rest will be ready to play after a month of vacation, we will be playing there,” Korb3n said.
Scheduled to take place in Malaysia from December 11 to 17, ESL One Kuala Lumpur is gearing up to host a thrilling competition among 12 teams. Powerhouses such as LGD, Gaimin Gladiators, and Azure Ray are among the invited rosters for this prestigious event. The latter team, however, is currently facing potential challenges as it stands to lose at least two of its players, a situation that could potentially impact their invitation status for the tournament.
