Monthly Archives: February 2014

LGD officially announce xiao8’s departure; reveal transfer fee

LGD made the xiao8 transfer official today with an announcement on their Weibo:

“Former LGD.Dota captain xiao8 has completed his transfer as of today, officially moving from LGD Gaming Club to NewBee Esports Club. Thank you to xiao8 for the two years spent leading LGD and all the dedicated contributions and sacrifices along the way, and we would like to wish xiao8 all the best in leading his new team. This transfer has been conducted accordingly with D.ACE’s Transfer Regulations, under constructive attitudes from both parties, and ultimately has been concluded in accordance with the player’s personal wishes. The transfer fee was 500,000 RMB (81,367 USD as of writing).”

Source: http://t.qq.com/p/t/316990072167694

‘Dream team’ finally confirmed… as “Newbees”

The official Chinese Dota 2 Weibo just posted that xiao8’s new ‘dream team’ has been named “Newbee”, and will consist of xiao8, Mu, Hao, ZSMJ, and KingJ.

For some context, “Newbee” is similar in the way it sounds to “niubi”, which is a common slang used by youth to roughly mean “fucking awesome”.

Source: http://t.qq.com/p/t/385364134185984

VG.fy post-holiday interview

SGamer caught VG’s fy and asked some questions…

Q: Thanks for doing this interview with us; as usual, so hi to everyone~
VG.fy: Hi everyone, I am VG’s fy

Q: You’re back to the team house now right? How was your holiday? Did you partake in the New Year event and fight the Year Beast with friends?
VG.fy: I’m back at the team base, but our internet broke… The holiday went by very quietly, just sleep and internet every day. The Year Beast was too hard, doesn’t suit me…

Q: Let’s take a look back at last year, your team experienced some highs and lows. For you, what was the biggest thing in the past year? The EMS One title?
VG.fy: Indeed, my first time going abroad and we win an international title, that was for sure a very valuable experience.

Q: However, it seemed that after coming back from EMS One, your team’s form saw a drop, and you missed out on some other titles. Was this because you guys got complacent? Or were there issues with your team’s style and drafts?
VG.fy: Our style got figured out after we won a lot, and we also were slow to adapt, this caused our following results to be sub-par.

Q: Returning after the holiday, there are big events right on the horizon, the first of which being the Supernova Cup Season 3. As the defending champions, is the team’s goal to retain this title?
VG.fy: Of course, but we’re currently unfamiliar with the other teams participating, so the competition is sure to be exciting.

Q: As of now, most teams have undergone roster changes, with top ladder player Maybe joining LGD. You also had similar roots as a player, what are your thoughts on Maybe’s journey?
VG.fy: Maybe is very good, his choice to play professionally is definitely the right choice. I hope he can continue to improve.

Q: For newcomers on the scene, their first days will be met with lots of pressure, can you speak a bit regarding the gradual change in mentality from being brand new to becoming established as a player?
VG.fy: My mentality hasn’t seen big change, because if you have confidence in yourself, then you won’t really be worried about what others say.

Q: Our scene currently is in need of new talent, so what would you say to those hopeful of breaking into the scene?
VG.fy: Your parents must give you their support, and if you feel that your own skill is similar or even better than pros, then you’re ok.

Q: We all know of your signature hero, Rubick. NaVi’s Kuroky also has a very skilful Rubick, who do you think has the better Rubick then?
VG.fy: His Rubick is very strong, there are lots of things that are worthy for me to learn. I am striving to become the best.

Q: He’s even got a cosmetic set for his Rubick, have you considered doing the same for Rubick or another hero?
VG.fy: The club’s currently having it done, look forward to it.

Q: Alright, thank you again to Fy for this interview. Last word for everyone?
VG.fy: Thank you to everyone for your support. I hope you all can continue to support me and VG. I wish you all success in 2014. And thank you to our sponsors Tenwow Group, Dare-u, and Sina.

Source: http://dota2.sgamer.com/news/201402/154925.html

 

iG officially announces new roster on their Weibo

iG Dota 2 roster change announcement

Former iG Dota 2 player Hao has officially transferred away from the team. The well-known ChuaN returns to iG’s first team roster. Banana continues on with iG as a substitute player. After friendly negotiations with Speed Gaming club (formerly RattleSnake), their player Luo as of today joins iG under a loan format, and he will be on trial with iG. During this trial period, he will represent iG in all competitions. We hope that iG’s Dota 2 team can create new glories upon playing together in this new year!

iG Dota 2 roster:

Ferrari_430
YYF
Faith
ChuaN
Luo
Banana

As a sidenote, the previous ‘Luo interview’, posted across Chinese webspace, was fake.

Source: iG official weibo

 

LGD announces Maybe as their replacement for xiao8

On the official LGD Weibo account, they’ve just officially confirmed that newcomer, highly promising young player Maybe is their replacement for xiao8.

“Wonderkid Maybe has officially joined LGD-Gaming Club, and from today onward will play as LGD.Taobao.Maybe and represent LGD in various events. Here we wish to express our thanks to our fans, and welcome Maybe to the LGD family. In 2014, LGD will set their sights on the horizon, and go further with fresh faces.”

 

 

ZSMJ and Banana to round out ‘dream team’?

While the ‘dream team’ has basically confirmed its 1-3 roles as Hao, Mu, and xiao8 respectively, the new team’s 4-5 positions saw much uncertainty as only recently, originally rumored additions ChuaN and Faith have both been said to be returning to iG after the break. In their place, newest information suggests that ZSMJ and Banana will be joining the ‘dream team’. This essentially leaves TongFu with no first team squad remaining, so along with seeing this new dream team unfold, another point of interest will be to see how TongFu might look to recover.

There’s also the chance that KingJ may be involved in all this somehow. After being relatively inactive in the past few months, yesterday he posted on his Weibo two posts suggesting he was about to make a return, saying that “It’s almost time“, and “See you tomorrow guys“.

Sources: http://dota2.replays.net/news/page/20140218/1880417.html – http://t.qq.com/KingJ

 

 

New iG lineup rumored has 430 at carry, ChuaN solo mid…

According to SGamer, who are quoting ‘sources’, the rumor is that Ferrari_430 will be making the move from solo mid to carry for iG. This is to replace Hao, who looks to be leaving to the long-rumored ‘dream team’. Additionally, the sources claim that banana will be either retiring or moving to a ‘backup’ role with iG. While Ferrari_430 has often in recent times been a pseudo-carry for iG regardless of his actual role, the biggest rumored change comes with the news that ChuaN will take up the solo mid role for iG. Rounding out the changes, the source says that Faith, who was rumored to be going to the dream team as well, will instead be staying with iG. Former RattleSnake mastermind Luo rounds out the new iG roster as the other support player, while YYF continues on as the offlane player for iG.

Source: http://dota2.sgamer.com/news/201402/154867.html

Follow DOTALAND: twitter.com/Dotaland

 

 

Chinese Social Summary: Feb 7 — Feb 17, 2014 (and tributes to Zhou)

The past few days have been increasingly busy, as teams and players gather back following the Chinese New Year holidays. This edition of the summary has its usual fluff, plus hints at what may be in store for the Chinese scene in the next weeks. And of course, storied carry Zhou announced his retirement, so Dotaland has reactions from around the scene translated for your perusal. Explanation of add oil here.

Fy

Birthday: It was Fy’s birthday on Feb 12.

ZSMJ

Low priority: “Dropped twice from games in one day, twice put in low priority, what’s up with that? :'(”

IceFrog

Holiday spirit (with pics): “Today at the mall, I attended a traditional Chinese New Year performance. There were even some Chinese kids performing dragon dance.”

Ferrari_430

Snow: “Just woke up, heard it snowed in Wuhan, went out and saw nothing”
Valentine birthday (with young Ferrari pic): “Happy Lantern Festival, Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone~~~~ And also, happy birthday to me~ :D:D:D”
It’s cold at iG team house: “I thought I’d be able to play without worries after getting back, who knew the heat would break down, I’m freezing like a dog!”

At the same time, ChuaN is also cold…: “Freezing like a dog” (could they both be at the iG team house?!)

Sylar

Matchmaking woes: “Straight lost 200 points, what a disastrous day”

Tributes to Zhou (not comprehensive, but a good selection)

Pikaxiu (tournament admin, contributor): “If I said I understood you, perhaps I don’t know you enough, I haven’t competed professionally before. If I said I didn’t understand you, I think I still can feel what’s going on inside. I remember that day, you and I chatted from an entire afternoon on QQ, we exchanged a lot of experiences and heartfelt thoughts. I feel you are a very sincere person, and I hope your future path is just as your competing career was, one height after another.”

Ferrari_430: “Add oil, the road ahead is long”

Mu: “Big Zhou add oil! I look fondly upon those short few months where we were teammates”

Faith: “Zhou add oil!”

banana: “Zhou-god add oil, your future path is very long”

LaNm: “I wish you success in your new life, just as your career was brilliant”

BurNIng: “Zhou-god add oil”

ChuaN: “Add oil, I wish you success in your new career”
Zhou’s words for ChuaN: “ChuaN, I don’t want to lecture you, but you should really work hard this time coming back.”

Sky (of Warcraft 3 fame): “Sending my good wishes to Zhou-god, you will find success in your new field. :)”

YYF: “Add oil, I hope you find even greater success”

Yao: “Good wishes”

King (ACE head): “Retiring isn’t an end, it’s just a new beginning. Zhou-god add oil”

LongDD: “Many of my viewers ask me, you’re so good, who were you most fearful of facing? And I can only light a cigarette, think a bit, and every time I think of you, Zhou-god. Add oil”

ZSMJ: “Zhou-god’s results and achievements speak for themselves. Even if we are no longer on the same paths from today onwards, we can still support each other. No matter what you do in the future, I hope your passion never fades.”

rOtK: “Add oil big Zhou. Wait for me a few months and we’ll commentate together hand in hand :)”
Zhou’s response to rOtK: “That’s not so good, Chinese Dota 2 needs you”

2009: “Zhou-god add oil!”

CuZn (TongFu manager): “I used to feel that Zhou-zhou’s external appearances were cold, but after working together for a period, I found that he is someone with a fire in his heart, and is full of passion towards Dota 2 and life. Of course, after that he became part of our TongFu jokester squad! I hope you can create new glories for yourself in your new field, just as you said yourself: persevere towards your dreams, step by step. Good luck.”

Zhou’s added thoughts: “Through the course of my career, anywhere I may have offended anyone, here I want to sincerely express my apologies. I hope to receive your forgiveness. And I hope that my friends who are still competing can add oil. I won’t ramble on more, but TI4 will be China’s! I want to once again see our flag rising in Seattle, that beautiful city.”

Follow DOTALAND: twitter.com/Dotaland

ForLove drops Dota 2 team, players now looking for new sponsors

After a bumpy 2013 in which For.Love saw the likes of KingJ and Zippo come and go, the past few months have been relatively quiet for the team. Recently, long-time ForLove player Hanci posted on his Weibo that the club had officially disbanded its Dota 2 team and that he and his teammates would now be on the hunt for new sponsors. His post is below.

“From last October to just before this past Chinese New Year, we’ve had three months to play together. Atmosphere amongst the team has been good, and even though this team hasn’t been together that long, we’ve continuously improved in competitions. In training, we’ve traded wins with top teams. Currently, due to ForLove disbanding their Dota 2 team, we are searching for new sponsorship. The team: hanci, prettyhaw, fan, yim, 5400

Contact phone: 18938924884
Contact QQ: 232170394”

Source: http://t.qq.com/p/t/339602069867720