The International 2023: Legends of Dota 2 Returning to the Tournament

The strongest teams from around the world will converge in Seattle to battle for supremacy starting on October 12th. TI inevitably attracts many well-known names who have participated in previous editions of the tournament in Romania.

However, here, we will focus on prominent names who did not qualify last year. They had to wait and diligently prepare for a whole year or even more, and now they are back on their biggest stage.

Topson – Tundra Esports

The most anticipated return to TI this year belongs to none other than Topson. His remarkable achievement of winning TI in 2018 and 2019, especially considering that TI8 was his first major LAN, was something extraordinary. After OG's 7-8th place finish at TI10, Topson took a break due to extended COVID-19-related restrictions and had relatively unnoticed stints with T1 and Old G compared to his high standards.

However, just before TI 2023, Topson received an invitation to join defending champions Tundra Esports. Topson's mystical connection with the TI stage is legendary, and the Dota 2 community eagerly anticipates the opportunity to witness this magic again at this year's annual tournament. His return adds even more excitement to an already highly anticipated event.

Solo – 9 Pandas

Next, one of the greatest captains in the history of professional Dota 2, Solo. He has been a reliable player for most of Dota 2's history and has won a record-breaking FIVE Majors with Virtus.Pro. VP was perhaps the most dominant team from 2016 to 2018, largely thanks to Solo's qualities as a player and leader. They couldn't crack the top 4 at TI, always falling short even after brilliant group stage performances. Solo's last appearance at TI was in 2019 with his beloved Virtus.pro. It was a forgettable tournament for the CIS giants as they lost to RNG and finished 9-12th.

The roster disbanded after TI9, and Solo played for many teams since then. None of them were stable, and Solo seemed like a shadow of his former self, struggling to fit in with the teams. However, everything changed dramatically in 2023 when Solo joined 9Pandas, playing alongside his former VP teammate RAMZES666. 9Pandas looked like one of the best teams this year, securing 4th place in the DPC rankings. They secured their spot at TI early, and Solo hopes to change his fate, returning to the stage after four years.

No[o]ne – Team SMG

No[o]ne, a terrifying midlaner who even made Miracle- afraid to look in his direction. No[o]ne, along with Solo, was a key member of the legendary Virtus.Pro roster that struck fear into their opponents. His last appearance at TI was TI9 with VP in 2019. After leaving Virtus.Pro in 2020, No[o]ne had short stints with AS Monaco Gambit and Natus Vincere in 2021 and 2022, leaving little impact.

Then, he took a year-long break from professional Dota, starting in December 2022, and returned shortly before the regional qualifiers for TI 2023, joining Team SMG and showcasing his mastery in the midlane. Returning to The International 2023, he hopes to recapture the glory of his past performances.

MidOne – Team SMG

This talented export from Southeast Asia last played at The International 2019 with Team Secret. Secret looked very strong at TI9, reaching the top 4 before losing to eventual finalists Team Liquid. The talented midlaner spent some time with OG during the pandemic, but the team couldn't stay together for long. MidOne returned to Southeast Asia and formed his own team, Team SMG, in mid-2021. In 2023, they faced difficulties and barely made it to the Lima Major before being eliminated in the group stage.

However, everything changed when the legendary No[o]ne joined SMG in August 2023, instantly improving the team's performance. SMG confidently made it through the qualifiers, defeating Blacklist International, led by Kuku, with a convincing 3-0 score, securing their spot at The International. MidOne hopes to return to the pinnacle of Dota 2.

Gabbi – Entity

He gained recognition as far back as 2016 during MDPL, primarily due to his mastery of Puck. Gabbi's journey led him to TNC, a team that elevated Southeast Asia's status by winning a Major in 2019. Gabbi last appeared on the TI stage in 2019 with TNC, showing great promise but losing to Team Liquid. TNC disbanded at the end of 2021, and Gabbi had short stints with various teams but couldn't secure a TI slot, causing concern among fans.

A few months ago, Entity announced Gabbi's arrival as an offlaner, and he quickly made a strong impression. Entity became the first team to emerge from the competitive Western Europe regional qualifiers. After a four-year absence, this Southeast Asian superstar is returning to the TI stage, aiming to make his mark on the biggest stage of Dota 2.