Exciting news for Chinese Dota 2 fans! Speculation is swirling that legendary Chinese players are teaming up for a new venture in the world of Dota 2. It’s not uncommon for pro players to take a break and then make a comeback, and Lu “Somnus” Yao, a prominent player in the Chinese Dota 2 scene, seems to be opting for a more relaxed, part-time approach to the game, which he finds more enjoyable.
Lu “Somnus” Yao (Image Credits: The International 2023)
Exciting News: “Elephant 2.0” Coming Soon in Dota 2!
Somnus and Yang “Chalice” Shenyi are rumored to be making a comeback to professional Dota 2, joining forces with Zhou “Yang” Haiyang, who divulged this information during a recent live stream. The new lineup, playfully named “Elephant 2.0,” is also expected to feature Xiong “Pyw” Jiahan and Yu “Siamese.C” Yajun, with Chalice transitioning from offlaner to carry.
Yang “Chalice” Shenyi (Image Credits: The International 2023)
The timing of Somnus and his friends’ return to Dota 2 hints that this reunion is purely for fun, with a potential eye on the open qualifiers for The International 2024 (TI13). Fans might even get to see them compete in various third-party tournaments if they successfully qualify through the open qualifiers.
Remembering Team Elephant’s Past
Previously, Team Elephant featured top players from PSG.LGD and Vici Gaming, including Zhang “Paparazi” Chengjun, Xu “fy” Linsen, Xie “Super” Junhao, Yang, and Somnus himself. Despite high hopes, the team disbanded after The International 2021 (TI10) due to underwhelming performance.
Team Elephant at TI10 (Image Credits: The International 2021)
Following the disbandment, Somnus briefly retired in 2022 but made a comeback in 2023 with Azure Ray, clarifying that his retirement was more of a break. His return at TI12 was successful and enjoyable, emphasizing the satisfaction of playing for fun over the stress of professional competition.
The Rise of Azure Ray: A Memorable Tale
Azure Ray, though not the current team, made waves with their unexpected fourth-place finish at TI12. Their journey, while bittersweet, marked a significant chapter in Somnus’s and PSG.LGD’s Dota 2 careers.
As the buzz around Team Elephant 2.0 grows, fans keenly await the return of Somnus to the Dota 2 scene, anticipating both entertainment and potential drama.
Rekindling Drama with BetBoom Team
Somnus’s return may spark renewed tensions with the Russian squad, BetBoom Team, following a dispute during the Bali Major 2023. BetBoom’s Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko faced disqualification for rule violations, a move that BetBoom attributed to Somnus’s influence, though Somnus maintained it was the organizers’ decision.
The rivalry continued, notably culminating in Azure Ray’s victory over BetBoom at TI12, marked by a controversial “?” in the game chat.
With these intriguing dynamics at play, fans eagerly anticipate Somnus’s comeback to the Dota 2 scene, promising both excitement and potential conflicts.
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