The ESL One Birmingham 2024 group stage has come to an end, with Gaimin Gladiators being one of the teams that did not make it to the playoffs. Despite their previous successes, including three Major Championships, Gaimin seems to be struggling in recent tournaments.
Quinn “Quinn” Callahan (Image credit: ESL)
ESL One Birmingham 2024 Group Stage Recap
Looking at Gaimin’s performance in group B of ESL One Birmingham 2024, it may seem decent with two losses, two draws, and a win. However, for a team with three Major Championships under their belt, this result falls short. The team, known for its diverse lineup and star player Quinn Callahan, faced what was considered an easier group without Team Falcons present.
Reasons behind Gaimin’s Struggles
Gaimin’s poor performance can be attributed to the latest Dota 2 patch, version 7.35, which significantly impacted the playstyle of Marcus “Ace” Christensen and his signature offlane heroes. The nerfs to heroes like Primal Beast and Mars forced the team to adjust by using heroes like Magnus, which are not Ace’s specialty.
These changes have put Gaimin at a disadvantage in mid-game engagements despite strong performances from players like Quinn and Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov.
Gaimin’s Performance in 2024
Gaimin’s decline started at BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024, where they finished 5th to 6th. They continued to struggle at DreamLeague S22 and the Elite League 2024 playoffs, failing to make an impact in both tournaments. These repeated disappointments have undoubtedly affected team morale and their reputation.
Team Spirit’s Approach to Improvement
In contrast to Gaimin, Team Spirit, another struggling team, has shown willingness to address their issues by making strategic changes in their drafting decisions. Despite also being eliminated from ESL One Birmingham 2024, Team Spirit seems more proactive in analyzing and fixing their problems.
Eliminated teams at ESL One Birmingham 2024 (Image credit: ESL)
Potential Changes for Gaimin
With the 2024 Dota 2 esports season in full swing, Gaimin might need to consider a roster shuffle to rejuvenate their team dynamics and hero pool before The International 2024 (TI13). However, this could be a tough decision for their loyal fan base. Additionally, upcoming updates from Icefrog could potentially balance Ace’s offlane heroes, providing a glimmer of hope for Gaimin’s future performances in upcoming tournaments and TI13.
