Ana And Topson Join T1 'Dota 2' Team Just In Time For The TI Qualifiers

Two-time The International champions, ana and Topson, have joined Southeast Asian Dota 2 powerhouse T1 ahead of the Southeast Asian regional qualifier for The International 11. (Photos: T1) — Two-time The International champions, ana and Topson, have joined Southeast Asian Dota 2 powerhouse T1 alee of the Southeast Asian regional qualifier for The International xi. (Photos: T1)

Two-fourth dimension The International (TI) champions Anathan "ana" Pham and Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen are making their grand return to competitive play after they joined T1's Southeast Asian Dota 2 roster in a bid to qualify for The International 11 (TI11).

T1 officially listed ana equally their new player while Topson was designated as a stand-in, according to the announcement on Tuesday (xvi Baronial).

Ana and Topson will exist taking over the behave and midlaner roles from Kim "Gabbi" Villafuerte and Karl "Karl" Baldovino, who parted ways with the team on xi August.

Ana and Topson are both legends of the Dota two competitive scene, having played huge roles in OG'south incredible run to back-to-back TI championships in TI8 in 2018 and TI9 in 2019. Prior to joining T1, ana was retired while Topson was inactive.

Ana announced his retirement dorsum in June 2021 afterward a short comeback stint back with OG in the 2021 Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) flavour. He apparently warmed upwards for his return to competitive play by standing-in for Team Liquid in the Riyadh Masters 2022 and for Royal Never Give up in the PGL Arlington Major.

Meanwhile, Topson announced in November 2021 that he volition be taking a pause from competitive play in lodge to spend time with his family. During his time abroad from competitive play, Topson was staying in Malaysia and focused on streaming.

OG offered well-wishes to ana and Topson as they joined T1, declaring both players every bit "forever family" in a tweet from the team's official Twitter account.

"Jerseys can modify, just their friendship won't. We cannot wait to meet y'all grow under new colors, and to hopefully see you lot both at TI. Take care of our boys, T1. Come across y'all very before long," said OG.

The two TI champions will be joining forces with Carlo "Kuku" Palad, Kenny "Xepher" Deo, and Matthew "Whitemon" Filemon in T1.

T1 was the all-time team in Southeast Asia during the 2021 DPC season, being the just squad from the region to earn a direct invite to TI10, where they finished in 7th-eighth place.

However, T1 has put on a relatively disappointing showing in the electric current 2021-2022 season, finishing the ESL One Stockholm Major in 9th-12th place and missing out on the Arlington Major altogether.

As a result, the team failed to earn enough DPC points for a direct invite to TI11 and will take to earn their place in the tournament either through the regional qualifier or the Concluding Take chances Qualifier (LCQ).

Ana and Topson will make their official debuts with T1 in TI11's Southeast Asian regional qualifier, which will take identify from 3 to 18 September.

The winner of the qualifier will earn a spot in TI11'south Group Stage while the second and third-placed teams will go another shot to qualify for the tournament through the LCQ.

TI11 is this yr'south iteration of Dota 2's marquee million-dollar earth championship tournament. It will be hosted in Singapore in October, featuring a revamped format with 30 participating teams and a new LCQ.

T1 Dota ii roster:

Anathan "ana" Pham
Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen (stand-in)
Carlo "Kuku" Palad
Kenny "Xepher" Deo
Matthew "Whitemon" Filemon

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