Tundra Esports’ performance at the International 2024 (TI13) was undeniably successful. While the aspiration to see Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen become the first three-time TI Champion remained unfulfilled, the achievement of placing third at TI13 is a significant milestone for this Western European powerhouse.
Despite this success, Tundra has made the decision to part ways with Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev in order to bring new dynamics to their team for the upcoming season.
Recap of Tundra Esports at TI13
Tundra Esports at TI13 (Image credit: The International 2024)
Heading into TI13, Tundra Esports faced challenges due to Edgar “9Class” Naltakian’s visa issues, leading Martin “Saksa” Sazdov to stand in for the team throughout the tournament. Despite initial uncertainties about their performance with an incomplete roster, Tundra proved their strength and resilience at TI13.
During the event, Tundra excelled in the group stage, progressed to the Upper Bracket of Playoffs, and secured victories against formidable opponents such as Xtreme Gaming and Team Falcons. Although their journey ended in the semifinals with a loss to Gaimin Gladiators, Tundra’s third-place finish at TI13 was a major accomplishment.
Tundra Esports finishes third at TI13 (Image credit: Tundra Esports)
Tundra Esports’ Roster Changes
Although the team’s impressive performance suggested a potential continuation of their lineup, Tundra has decided to make changes for the upcoming season.
Firstly, offlane player Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev will be departing from Tundra. It’s essential to note that this decision was not based on performance issues. RAMZES666 was on loan from L1GA, and now that his loan period has ended, he will be returning to his original team.
RAMZES666 departs from Tundra Esports (Image credit: Tundra Esports)
Meanwhile, Martin “Saksa” Sazdov, who was initially benched during TI13, will return to inactive status. Tundra has not disclosed whether Saksa will remain with the team after his impactful role in their success at TI13.
What’s Next for Tundra Esports?
Securing a third-place finish at TI13 is a commendable achievement for Tundra Esports. However, in the rapidly evolving Dota 2 Esports scene, maintaining the same roster can make a team’s strategies predictable. Therefore, a roster shuffle is likely on the horizon for Tundra in the upcoming season.
It would be disappointing if Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko, who played a crucial role in Tundra’s success, is excluded from the future lineup. Pure, a loan player from BetBoom Team, may also return to his original team following the conclusion of TI13.
