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The newly-launched Crownfall offers a myriad of rewards including the popular Arcanas, Treasures, and even a new set of chatwheels. But among them all, there's one Mythical set perfect for a devoted Invoker player or just a funny hat collector. Take a look at the Invoker's Wyrdwing Exaltation set and how you can get it!



A look at the Invoker "Wyrdwing Exaltation" set



The Crownfall event released an ambient set for Invoker. This set styles Invoker in a long, messy ponytail and his abdomen is now visible. But the most striking part of the set is his new pair of monstrous wings. The feathery wings are colored in a glowy purple by default but the set also comes in three other styles that have the wings in different colors! Take a look below!




Style 1 













Style 2 









Style 3 









Style 4 








How to get the Invoker set via the Crownfall event



Crownfall brings forth a ton of hero sets and cosmetics. But out of all the sets, this Invoker one is particularly special because it is a reward that you can only get if you play the Crownfall event until the very end.







To get the Invoker "Wyrdwing Exaltation" set, you must complete the Main Quest on the Overworld Map of Act I (The Markets of Midgate). Finish the quests from "Start" to "Finish" and by the end, you'll earn yourself a set of rewards. You'll obtain the Invoker set, a "Crownfall Act I Completionist" medal, and three sets of decoration that you can put on your player profile.



Note that you don't have to complete the Side Quests which are marked in a purple line. This makes obtaining the Invoker set alongside the other rewards completely free!



Stay tuned to esports.gg for more Dota 2 news and guides!

Dota 2 Crownfall: How to get the Mythical Invoker "Wyrdwing Exaltation" set

Roll out the red carpet! The Dota 2 community is excited and ready to welcome the arrival of the mischievous Ringmaster, Dota 2's upcoming new hero. Valve first introduced Ringmaster during the culmination of The International 2023, teasing its arrival in 2024. With the highly-anticipated Crownfall update coming, many are also expecting Ringmaster's release. Here's everything we know about Ringmaster, including its release date, abilities, and voice actor.



UPDATE: Valve has yet to unleash Ringmaster following Crownfall's release, nor share updates regarding its release date. Many speculate that the hero will arrive in the next chapter of Crownfall, Act II, which may come in another week or more.



When is the release date for Ringmaster?







Ringmaster is scheduled to release in "early 2024". Ringmaster is likely set to release alongside the massive Crownfall update which will release in "mid April".



As we are sitting right in the middle of April, Ringmaster may come anytime soon! Valve typically releases Dota 2 patches on Tuesday or Thursday Seattle time, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled on these days.






What are Ringmaster's abilities?



There are many speculations when it comes to Ringmaster's abilities and concept. The hero has a distinct similarity to Heroes of Newerth's hero, Puppet Master. Aside from the name that aligns, both hero has the   "jester" look and a wickedly mischievous concept. 









HoN's Puppet Master has abilities that can tie an enemy hero to a puppet's string and restrain their movement. The Ringmaster trailer showed an image of Axe tied with a rope. The trailer also showed how Ringmaster is able to trick or deceive the enemy unit and control them to do what he wants, a similar concept to Puppet Master's mind-control ability "Puppet Show".



Puppet Master in HoN using his ultimate, Voodoo Puppet. (via HoN Killer)



A lot of hidden hero voicelines also reflect this mind-control ability of Ringmaster. A voiceline from

New Dota 2 hero Ringmaster: Release date, abilities, voice actor, and more

Crownfall has brought two new flashy Arcanas to Dota 2, but the first question on every player’s mind is if they can claim them for free. Valve has been generous in the past with free Arcanas in battle passes, or at least making them reasonably cheap. Now that the developer has returned to the standard $35 price tags, is there a chance it's willing to drop it even lower?



Eagle-eyed fans have noticed the coin discount in the shop, which can already knock a solid chunk off their prices. However, if you can get enough Crownfall coins, is it possible to claim the Skywrath Mage and Vengeful Spirit Arcanas for free?



Crownfall Arcanas aren’t free, but you can claim a discount



Crownfall coin discounts do not stack, which means you can’t get the Arcanas for Skywrath Mage or Vengeful Spirit for free. However, it's still possible to get them for a discount. 



Players can cash in Crownfall coins to get a $8 discount on anything in the store. This could be a free Crownfall Royal Bundle, which surreptitiously costs the exact amount as the discount. Players can also spend it on a few free Crownfall treasures if they purchase the $20 bundle of nine. This naturally leads to whether they can stack, and the answer appears to be no.



The discount is available on everything in the Crownfall store (Image via Valve)



The discount appears to only apply once to any single item in the store. The coupon is consumed at the time of purchase, so there’s no way to stack up 100 Crownfall coins and discounts and use them to get some free Arcanas. The most you can do is bring both Arcanas down to $26, which is still a nice discount, but far from complimentary.



Crownfall will include 60 free coins, which, if all stacked onto one of the two Arcanas, would theoretically allow players to claim one for free. We’ll have to wait and see if Valve changes the rules to allow this miracle as the event unfolds. 



Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest updates on all things Dota 2.

Can you get the new Crownfall Arcanas for free?

The Candyworks minigame has returned for Crownfall, and once again offers free Arcanas of your favorite heroes. Here's everything you need to know about it and how to get your hands on those free Arcanas.



How to access Candyworks Caravan in Crownfall







First released in the 2022 Battle Pass, the Candyworks is a much welcomed addition to Dota. Various kinds of in-game goodies such as treasure sets, Immortal gears and Arcanas are obtainable through a fun minigame. Now, it's back in the current Crownfall patch and dubbed as the Crownfall Candyworks Caravan—a similar but slightly simpler version of its predecessor.



To unlock the Candyworks Caravan and start obtaining free Arcanas, you need to play the first Act of Crownfall. By playing Dota games and collecting the necessary tokens, you can open the path toward the Candyworks Caravan. As the required tokens are random for each player, you need a little luck to get there. Needless to say, winning your games ensures the quickest route to the Caravan. For more details on understanding how the Crownfall event works, refer to our guide below.






Collect candies and get free Arcanas, Immortal treasures and more!



Just like the previous Candyworks, you can get Arcanas and all kinds of other treasures for free by trading in various types of candies. However, the Crownfall Candyworks is slightly different than that of the 2022 Battle Pass. For instance, instead of leveling up your Battle Pass to get Candy Sacks, you simply need to progress through the Crownfall Overworld Map by winning your Dota games. However, there are only two items displayed this time instead of three, making it more difficult for Arcanas to appear. Otherwise, everything else remains the same.




Collect Candy Sacks from the Crownfall map



Fill the candy slots in the Candyworks Caravan



Get the right combination to trade in your candies for the item you desire




You can also re-roll the displayed items up to 10 times per week. To get

Candyworks is back for Crownfall! Free Arcanas up for grabs!

It was only a matter of time before Dota 2 added a fishing minigame, and Crownfall finally did it. In a game full of playable fish and characters confirmed to eat them, the new game mode features Vengeful Spirit of all heroes tossing out lines. However, the minigame isn't just for show. Players can earn up to ten random tokens, which will go a long way toward unlocking all the fancy rewards in The Markets of Midgate.  



Look no further if you're struggling to nail that 10,000 score mark. This is the ultimate guide to Dota 2's new fishing minigame.



Crownfall fishing guide for Dota 2



The new fishing minigame is part of The Markets of Midgate on the ninth mandatory node of the map. The side event featured Tidehunter teaching Vengeful Spirit how to fish. The lore of the fishing minigame is that Venge must give a local merchant a fish to prove that she will stand up for the oppressed Flightless underclass. Don't ask questions, that's just how it goes.



The minigame is pretty typical for a video game fishing side activity. Players chuck out a line, react to the sinker going under, and then finesse a bar to reel it in. However, there are a couple of tips that can help you reach the 10,000 mark.




Prioritize fish size above all else



Sparking fish are variants that will grant bonus points, but the larger fish are still the better targets



Fish swim around at varying speeds, so wait for your target to slow down before sending out the line




This blue Boiling Sea Bass is worth way more than average (Image via Valve)




Fish can swim underneath the fountain, so there may be a hidden minnow waiting to snipe your max power cast



The bobber appears to always attract the fish closest to its landing spot, so wait for a big catch to swim out on its own before casting



Players have to wait for the bobber to splash to start reeling, so don't click as soon as it goes underwater



The reeling minigame appears to get easier after the first few seconds, so waiting

Dota 2 finally adds fishing: The ultimate guide to free Crownfall tokens

The Dota 2 lore-centric event, Crownfall, bombards the Dota 2 community with tons of cosmetics and rewards. The event is divided into four Acts in which each Act will bring a fresh set of quests and rewards on an entirely new map. We are currently in Act I as the event has just kickstarted. But when exactly is the Crownfall end date?






When does the Crownfall event end?



The Crownfall event end date is not yet announced. However, we have a rough timeframe of how long the event lasts. On the official Crownfall website, Valve states that the Crownfall event will go on over the next few months. 



The Markets of Midgate is just the first act of an ongoing four-act narrative that will span the next few months.Valve on Crownfall's website.



If a single Act takes place across a month, the entire event will likely finish after four months. We speculate that the Crownfall end date falls on late August. This duration also aligns with the calendar if Valve is to launch a new event or the Compendium right before The International 2024. The prestigious TI is scheduled to kickstart early September in Copenhagen, Denmark.



More about Crownfall






The Crownfall event is a four-act narrative which stores a lot of quests and a myriad of rewards. The event revolves around the tragic lore of Skywrath Mage and Vengeful Spirit, who are both a canon pair of couple. The event takes Dota 2 players on a journey through their lore while also letting players enjoy gaming and collecting items. Here are more pieces on the Crownfall event on esports.gg:




An overview of the Crownfall update



Crownfall Ascension Day comic summary



All Crownfall Arcanas, treasures, and rewards



How to unlock the alternate Arcana styles




Stick around esports.gg for more Dota 2 news!

When is the Crownfall event end date?

Straightfaced streaming sensation Hans "Forsen" Fors has finally earned his rank in Dota 2, but for his fans who don't play the game, it's tough to tell if he's any good or not. 



Dota 2 is infamously complex, and returning players often feel like they're playing a brand-new game. This was the case for Forsen, but the Swedish sensation still managed to pull off some wins during his calibration period.



Forsen's Dota 2 rank is Crusader 1, which is roughly 1,600 MMR. This is a relatively normal rank for players with some gaming experience, but are new to Dota 2. 



The streamer returned to Valve's MOBA on April 18 just before the release of Crownfall. He finished his calibration period in just a couple of days.    



Is Forsen actually good at Dota 2?



No, Forsen is not good at Dota 2. 



Crusader is the third-lowest rank in the game, roughly equivalent to silver in League of Legends and VALORANT. In terms of percentiles, According to Esports Tale's rank distribution, Forsen is better than approximately 26.22% of all Dota 2 players. 



Based purely on percentile, Forsen's rank is closer to Bronze 1 in Riot titles. Notably, Forsen calibrated in Western Europe, which is often considered the most difficult matchmaking environment at the competitive level. 



Forsen will need to grind around 4,020 more MMR to hit Immortal (Image via Forsen)



However, this rank is pretty respectable for a player who rarely plays the game. Forsen took an extended break from Dota 2 after briefly playing it on stream in 2019. 



The game has changed quite a bit in five years, but he seems to have kept some of his skills. Unfortunately, Forsen's account is not registered on Dotabuff or OpenDota, so it's difficult to check his gameplay history.



While not particularly impressive to longtime Dota 2 fans, Forsen's relative success shows that anyone can still pick up and play the game in 2024 and find a reasonable amount of success. 



Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest

Forsen earns his Dota 2 rank, but is he any good?

The prominent Middle Eastern organization once again shifts its roster, parting ways with position 4 player, Farith "Matthew" Puente. This roster change takes place after the team competed in the massive online tournament, Elite League. Matthew's replacement has yet to be revealed.



Nigma Galaxy announced the departure of Matthew on its socials, stating that his trial period has ended. "Our trial period with Matthew has ended and we mutually decided to part ways," the post reads.




Our trial period with @MatthewDotaaa has ended and we mutually decided to part ways.Thank you for everything and we wish you the best💙💜 pic.twitter.com/N1TBoRnwl0— Nigma Galaxy (@NigmaGalaxy) April 19, 2024




Matthew departs Nigma Galaxy after poor results in Elite League



The 19th of April marks the final day Matthew represented for Nigma Galaxy. The South American player first joined the team in January 2024 but it seems like the squad didn't have a convincing chemistry. Nigma Galaxy participated in their first and only tournament so far, Elite League, after making it through the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) qualifier. They had a decent early performance but quickly crashed from the second day onward.







Nigma hasn't been doing particularly well in the past years, but a 20th-22nd placement at Elite League is just as sour. Following this result, the team will move forward with a new position 4 in place. This roster shift is taken with mixed reactions from the community. Many fans felt like Matthew performed well in their recent games and his departure is not expected. But Nigma Galaxy is also notorious for their constant roster adjustments and their struggle to find a solid lineup.



Matthew announces that he is now looking for a team. He also expressed gratitude for his time with Nigma Galaxy.




LFT - Pos 411.5k Mmrhi@matthewdota.comHello everyone! 👋 I’ve had the honor of being part of the Nigma Galaxy team in Dota 2 for the last tournaments and I want

Nigma Galaxy parts ways with Matthew after trial period ends

It's the first Dota 2 event of the year for PGL, and they want to get all the eyes on them. Now that qualifiers and over and the tournament is around the corner, the PGL Wallachia talent lineup has been revealed. 



The announcement includes two desk hosts, four analysts, eight casters, and two interesting roles: reporter and interviewer. Get to know them here!




🎉 We&#39;re thrilled to unveil the talent lineup for PGL Wallachia Season #1! 🇷🇴 🥁Get ready for epic battles and top-notch commentary 🚀🎲Let the games begin! 🎙️#PGLWALLACHIA pic.twitter.com/xmB0J9vwHQ— PGL (@pglesports) April 18, 2024




PGL Wallachia Broadcast talent




Jorien "Sheever" van der Heijden (Desk host)



Natalie "NatTea" Mahoney (Desk host)



Neal "Tsunami" Khandheria (Reporter)



James "BanKs" Banks (Interviewer)



Robson "TeaGuvnor" Merritt (Analyst)



Clinton "Fear" Loomis (Analyst)



Maurice "KheZu" Gutmann (Analyst)



Admir "lizZard" Salkanović (Analyst)



Owen "ODPixel" Davies (Caster)



Kevin "Purge" Godec (Caster)



Mike "MLPDotA" Le Phoenix (Caster)



John "johnxfire" Nathan Fernandez (Caster)



Trent "Trent" MacKenzie (Caster)



Gabriel "Lyrical" Cruz (Caster)



Benjamin "Bkop" Kopilow (Caster)



Dominik "Lacoste" Stipić (Caster)




Something worth nothing is the return of BanKs to the Dota scene. His name is appearing as "interviewer" for the PGL Wallachia talent lineup. Let's not forget that he was also the stage host at the PGL Arlington Major, back in 2022. On the other hand, Tsunami as a reporter should be in charge of the content made on the city and some sketches with the players.



For their qualifiers stage, PGL made a revolutionary move, inviting community casters to take over the show. To get an invitation, there was a simple form to fill and, if selected, you could stream all the games in your personal channel. This included full access to the lobbies and the chance for new names to come out. 




🎙️ Calling all casters!

PGL Wallachia talent lineup: Sheever, ODPixel, NatTea and more

XDefiant has plenty of customization when it comes to its weaponry. Its on par with the likes of Call of Duty in that sense. So, if you want to know the best weapon loadouts for Ubisoft's XDefiant, we've got you covered.



There are multiple weapon categories that any FPS veteran is familiar with. And the same goes for the guns in those categories, as the weapons are popular ones often used in shooters. With our help, you'll know which one to use and how to kit it out for each category.






The best XDefiant loadouts



XDefiant has six weapon categories to choose from, which let you create a loadout filled with customization. You pick a gun, add attachments, decide on a secondary, and finish with a Device, which is the likes of a grenade or mine.






Here's each category and the best XDefiant weapon loadout for it:



Assault



(Screenshot via esports.gg)




Weapon: ACR 6.8

Barrel: Recon



Front Rail: Handstop



Optics: Reflex



Magazine: Quick Mag



Rear Grip: Heavy Grip





Secondary Weapon: M9

Muzzle: Brake



Optics: Reflex



Magazine: Fast Mag



Rear Grip: Leather Wrapped





Device: Frag Grenade




This XDefiant loadout is all about staying in the game. The ACR is definitely the top Assault-class weapon available. The chosen attachments boost its accuracy, allowing for clean shots, and up its ammo capacity so you can keep on shooting.



The secondary is simple enough. The M9 is a reliable sidearm, and if you need to finish the job, this version will make it easy for you to swap it out and land your shots. Then go with a Frag for the Device to cause some havoc.



SMG



(Screenshot via esports.gg)




Weapon: MP7

Front Rail: Tactical



Optics: Reflex



Magazine: Quick Mag



Rear Grip: Grip Tape



Stock: Padded





Secondary Weapon: M1911

Muzzle: Barrel Extender



Optics: Reflex



Rear Grip: Lightweight Grip





Device: Flashbang




The MP7 is arguably the best all-around SMG in XDefiant, and this loadout improves upon that

Best XDefiant loadouts for each weapon category

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North American Dota 2 organization, Quincy Crew has announced Maurice "KheZu"Gutmann as the team’s coach ahead of TI10. KheZu has been helping the team in the bootcamp for a couple of weeks and the team is ready to bring glory to NA Dota 2.


North American Dota 2 organization, Quincy Crew has announced Maurice "KheZu"Gutmann as the team’s coach ahead of TI10. KheZu has been helping the team in the bootcamp for a couple of weeks and the team is ready to bring glory to NA Dota 2. 


Quincy Crew is one of the three North American teams at TI10 alongside Evil Geniuses and Team Undying. Despite not having a sponsor throughout the season, QC has been consistent in its performance. The team finished fourth in the DPC points behind <a href="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/ti10-na-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evil Geniuses</a>, PSG.LGD and <a href="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/ti10-cis-preview-ft-capitalist-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virtus.Pro</a>. Quincy Crew finished second in the first season of the Dota Pro Circuit just behind Evil Geniuses. The team further improved on its performance in Season 2 with a first-place finish in Season 2.


Quincy Crew is one of the three North American teams at TI10 alongside Evil Geniuses and Team Undying. Despite not having a sponsor throughout the season, QC has been consistent in its performance. The team finished fourth in the DPC points behind Evil Geniuses, PSG.LGD and Virtus.Pro. Quincy Crew finished second in the first season of the Dota Pro Circuit just behind Evil Geniuses. The team further improved on its performance in Season 2 with a first-place finish in Season 2. 


OG released an unfortunate announcement revealing that Sébastien "Ceb" Debs may not be able to participate in The International 10. The team obtained Team Liquid’s Michael "miCKe" Vu to be an official stand-in for OG in TI10.


OG released an unfortunate announcement revealing that Sébastien "Ceb" Debs may not be able to participate in The International 10. The team obtained Team Liquid’s Michael "miCKe" Vu to be an official stand-in for OG in TI10. 


MiCKe has already traveled to OG's bootcamp and started practicing together with the team. However, it remains unclear whether Ceb will end up partaking in TI10 or if the defending champions will have to play with an abrupt stand-in.


MiCKe has already traveled to OG's bootcamp and started practicing together with the team. However, it remains unclear whether Ceb will end up partaking in TI10 or if the defending champions will have to play with an abrupt stand-in.


"During a very routine medical check up, I was informed by the doctor that I was undergoing a retinal detachment in my left eye, and that I was few hours away from losing sight irreversibly," said Ceb in his own personal post on <a href="https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1srr8ho" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Twitlonger</a>.


"During a very routine medical check up, I was informed by the doctor that I was undergoing a retinal detachment in my left eye, and that I was few hours away from losing sight irreversibly," said Ceb in his own personal post on Twitlonger. 


"Only solution was to get emergency surgery, which I of course went through with. No matter how much we love DotA, some things will always come first. It went well, and that was the most important part."


"Only solution was to get emergency surgery, which I of course went through with. No matter how much we love DotA, some things will always come first. It went well, and that was the most important part."


" During a very routine medical check up, I was informed by the doctor that I was undergoing a retinal detachment in my left eye, and that I was few hours away from losing sight irreversibly"

Ceb may not play for OG at TI10; miCKe steps up as stand-in

It seems like more Dota 2 teams are facing mishaps as OG recently announced Ceb’s possible absence in TI10. According to its announcement, Ceb is not in a good condition to compete.&nbsp;Last week, the offlaner was diagnosed with an eye condition that could permanently damage his eye. The team flew Ceb back to France where he has undergone surgery. Fortunately, the procedure went smoothly and he is currently recovering.


It seems like more Dota 2 teams are facing mishaps as OG recently announced Ceb’s possible absence in TI10. According to its announcement, Ceb is not in a good condition to compete.&nbsp;Last week, the offlaner was diagnosed with an eye condition that could permanently damage his eye. The team flew Ceb back to France where he has undergone surgery. Fortunately, the procedure went smoothly and he is currently recovering.


OG stated that it had received the help of Team Liquid’s carry player,<a href="https://liquipedia.net/dota2/MiCKe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> miCKe </a>who will be the official stand-in for OG in TI10 should Ceb be deemed unfit to play.


OG stated that it had received the help of Team Liquid’s carry player, miCKe who will be the official stand-in for OG in TI10 should Ceb be deemed unfit to play.


We are very thankful to Micke for stepping up immediately, and for joining us in Portugal the next day to start practicing with us.

The organization expressed its gratitude towards Team Liquid who had ensured the player's loan and also to Valve who had been helpful regarding the situation.


The organization expressed its gratitude towards Team Liquid who had ensured the player's loan and also to Valve who had been helpful regarding the situation.


OG stated that the team is still deciding on who they will play with. They are currently waiting for the doctor's verdict and confirm whether or not Ceb is of favorable health to compete.


OG stated that the team is still deciding on who they will play with. They are currently waiting for the doctor's verdict and confirm whether or not Ceb is of favorable health to compete. 


Players' health and well-being is vital to us and we will ensure that he is not in any danger before returning to work. But we know for sure that Ceb is doing everything he can to expedite his recovery and compete in TI10.

The International 10 faces a surge of issues

The news regarding Ceb’s possible absence came after a wave of complications hit several TI10 participants. Only a few days before, Team Aster announced <a href="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/covid-team-aster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">three of its players tested positive</a> for COVID-19, which later <a href="https://twitter.com/LeonArthurDota/status/1443754893202714640" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">the whole team was confirmed to be infected</a>. Then, Invictus Gaming <a href="https://twitter.com/invgaming/status/1443310367707439111" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">revealed</a> that its offlaner is also unwell due to the COVID-19 virus.


The news regarding Ceb’s possible absence came after a wave of complications hit several TI10 participants. Only a few days before, Team Aster announced three of its players tested positive for COVID-19, which later the whole team was confirmed to be infected. Then, Invictus Gaming revealed that its offlaner is also unwell due to the COVID-19 virus.


These issues arose less than a week before The International 10 kicks off. We are yet to see what unfolds following these consecutive problems and if any big changes will happen in TI10. We wish for everyone partaking in the event to stay safe and hopefully, good news comes about.


These issues arose less than a week before The International 10 kicks off. We are yet to see what unfolds following these consecutive problems and if any big changes will happen in TI10. We wish for everyone partaking in the event to stay safe and hopefully, good news comes about.


OG released an unfortunate announcement revealing that Sébastien "Ceb" Debs may not be able to participate in The International 10. The team obtained Team Liquid’s Michael "miCKe" Vu to be an official stand-in for OG in TI10. 



MiCKe has already traveled to OG's bootcamp and started practicing together with the team. However, it remains unclear whether Ceb will end up partaking in TI10 or if the defending champions will have to play with an abrupt stand-in.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/OGesports/status/1443953869772533760
</div></figure>



"During a very routine medical check up, I was informed by the doctor that I was undergoing a retinal detachment in my left eye, and that I was few hours away from losing sight irreversibly," said Ceb in his own personal post on <a href="https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1srr8ho" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Twitlonger</a>. 



"Only solution was to get emergency surgery, which I of course went through with. No matter how much we love DotA, some things will always come first. It went well, and that was the most important part."



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>" During a very routine medical check up, I was informed by the doctor that I was undergoing a retinal detachment in my left eye, and that I was few hours away from losing sight irreversibly" <cite>OG Ceb on his emergency surgery on his eye</cite></blockquote></figure>



<h2 id="h-ceb-may-not-play-for-og-at-ti10-micke-steps-up-as-stand-in">Ceb may not play for OG at TI10; miCKe steps up as stand-in</h2>



It seems like more Dota 2 teams are facing mishaps as OG recently announced Ceb’s possible absence in TI10. According to its announcement, Ceb is not in a good condition to compete.&nbsp;Last week, the offlaner was diagnosed with an eye condition that could permanently damage his eye. The team flew Ceb back to France where he has undergone surgery. Fortunately, the procedure went smoothly and he is currently recovering.



OG stated that it had received the help of Team Liquid’s carry player,<a href="https://liquipedia.net/dota2/MiCKe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> miCKe </a>who will be the official stand-in for OG in TI10 should Ceb be deemed unfit to play.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">We are very thankful to Micke for stepping up immediately, and for joining us in Portugal the next day to start practicing with us.<cite>OG Esports</cite></blockquote>



The organization expressed its gratitude towards Team Liquid who had ensured the player's loan and also to Valve who had been helpful regarding the situation.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-default"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Micke.jpg" alt="Following Ceb's surgery, miCKe joins OG as its official stand-in for TI10 " class="wp-image-32633" width="838" height="558"/><figcaption> Following Ceb's surgery, miCKe joins OG as its official stand-in for TI10 </figcaption></figure>



OG stated that the team is still deciding on who they will play with. They are currently waiting for the doctor's verdict and confirm whether or not Ceb is of favorable health to compete. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Players' health and well-being is vital to us and we will ensure that he is not in any danger before returning to work. But we know for sure that Ceb is doing everything he can to expedite his recovery and compete in TI10.<cite>OG</cite></blockquote>



<h3 id="h-the-international-10-faces-a-surge-of-issues">The International 10 faces a surge of issues</h3>



The news regarding Ceb’s possible absence came after a wave of complications hit several TI10 participants. Only a few days before, Team Aster announced <a href="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/covid-team-aster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">three of its players tested positive</a> for COVID-19, which later <a href="https://twitter.com/LeonArthurDota/status/1443754893202714640" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">the whole team was confirmed to be infected</a>. Then, Invictus Gaming <a href="https://twitter.com/invgaming/status/1443310367707439111" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">revealed</a> that its offlaner is also unwell due to the COVID-19 virus.



https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/covid-team-aster/



These issues arose less than a week before The International 10 kicks off. We are yet to see what unfolds following these consecutive problems and if any big changes will happen in TI10. We wish for everyone partaking in the event to stay safe and hopefully, good news comes about.

OG confirm Ceb may not compete at TI10 following an emergency eye surgery operation

The former Vikin.gg Dota 2 player will now step into the shoes of a coach for Quincy Crew. Bringing his experience and game knowledge to the North American scene, KheZu can potentially help Quincy Crew surprise quite a few teams at TI10.


The former Vikin.gg Dota 2 player will now step into the shoes of a coach for Quincy Crew. Bringing his experience and game knowledge to the North American scene, KheZu can potentially help Quincy Crew surprise quite a few teams at TI10. 


KheZu has already been working with Quincy Crew in their bootcamp since the last few weeks. The 26-year-old is well-known for his offlane heroes but it is his in-game knowledge that makes him a valuable addition to any team.


KheZu has already been working with Quincy Crew in their bootcamp since the last few weeks. The 26-year-old is well-known for his offlane heroes but it is his in-game knowledge that makes him a valuable addition to any team.


The International 10 kicks off on October 7, with 18 of the biggest Dota 2 teams competing on LAN for a $40 million prize pool event. The event has already courted some controversy after Vici’s LaNm criticized PGL for their handling of the event. All members of the VG squad have tested positive for COVID in an unfortunate series of events. Other Chinese teams are taking precautions to ensure the safety of their players.


The International 10 kicks off on October 7, with 18 of the biggest Dota 2 teams competing on LAN for a $40 million prize pool event. The event has already courted some controversy after Vici’s LaNm criticized PGL for their handling of the event. All members of the VG squad have tested positive for COVID in an unfortunate series of events. Other Chinese teams are taking precautions to ensure the safety of their players. 


Update September 30: Team Aster Apologizes for LaNm's comments


Update September 30: Team Aster Apologizes for LaNm's comments


Today, Team Aster released a public apology regarding to LaNm's statements earlier with detailed clarifications.


Today, Team Aster released a public apology regarding to LaNm's statements earlier with detailed clarifications.


Team Aster mentioned that it was a collective decision from all Chinese teams to be having their boot camps in Romania after discussing the details with PGL to ensure the quality of practices. In result, the teams have signed contracts with PGL stating that the organizations will be bearing the costs while PGL assist in providing accommodations, internet and practice equipment.


Team Aster mentioned that it was a collective decision from all Chinese teams to be having their boot camps in Romania after discussing the details with PGL to ensure the quality of practices. In result, the teams have signed contracts with PGL stating that the organizations will be bearing the costs while PGL assist in providing accommodations, internet and practice equipment. 


LaNm was not involved in the contract signing session, hence the miscommunication within the team has caused this entire misunderstanding.


LaNm was not involved in the contract signing session, hence the miscommunication within the team has caused this entire misunderstanding. 


Team Aster apologized for the negative effects that this has brought to PGL. The organization has already taken disciplinary actions on relevant personnel.


Team Aster apologized for the negative effects that this has brought to PGL. The organization has already taken disciplinary actions on relevant personnel. 


Original Article Follows:

After Team Aster broke out the news where 6 members of the team are tested positive for COVID-19, LaNm expressed his disappointment at The International 10 tournament organizer, PGL, on the protective measurements for players and requirement for the team to arrive at the destination earlier.


After Team Aster broke out the news where 6 members of the team are tested positive for COVID-19, LaNm expressed his disappointment at The International 10 tournament organizer, PGL, on the protective measurements for players and requirement for the team to arrive at the destination earlier.


In LaNm's long Weibo posts, he expressed his confusion on the TI protocols. There was no prior-testing, unlike the Majors where they had to do a COVID test before checking in, and were only allowed to leave the room after results show negative. He said that everyone is free to do anything, but shouldn't TI be a lot more cautious?


In LaNm's long Weibo posts, he expressed his confusion on the TI protocols. There was no prior-testing, unlike the Majors where they had to do a COVID test before checking in, and were only allowed to leave the room after results show negative. He said that everyone is free to do anything, but shouldn't TI be a lot more cautious?


Moreover, there is no mineral water provided by PGL, claims LaNm. This is the first time teams did not get mineral water in his experience after playing so many tournaments in his career. Not to mention, this is during the pandemic. Hence, it is inevitable for their staff to make grocery run every two days. To make it worse, the COVID situation is becoming more severe in Romania. People are still not wearing masks on the street, even the two bars in hotel lobby are always full of customers.


Moreover, there is no mineral water provided by PGL, claims LaNm. This is the first time teams did not get mineral water in his experience after playing so many tournaments in his career. Not to mention, this is during the pandemic. Hence, it is inevitable for their staff to make grocery run every two days. To make it worse, the COVID situation is becoming more severe in Romania. People are still not wearing masks on the street, even the two bars in hotel lobby are always full of customers. 


What struck him more was the fact that the staff that were doing COVID tests for them were only wearing simple masks, with no protection for the eyes and other body part, even though they knew that the team leader has tested positive.


What struck him more was the fact that the staff that were doing COVID tests for them were only wearing simple masks, with no protection for the eyes and other body part, even though they knew that the team leader has tested positive. 


Update September 30: Team Aster Apologizes for LaNm's comments



Today, Team Aster released a public apology regarding to LaNm's statements earlier with detailed clarifications.



Team Aster mentioned that it was a collective decision from all Chinese teams to be having their boot camps in Romania after discussing the details with PGL to ensure the quality of practices. In result, the teams have signed contracts with PGL stating that the organizations will be bearing the costs while PGL assist in providing accommodations, internet and practice equipment. 



LaNm was not involved in the contract signing session, hence the miscommunication within the team has caused this entire misunderstanding. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-38.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32481"/></figure>



Team Aster apologized for the negative effects that this has brought to PGL. The organization has already taken disciplinary actions on relevant personnel. 



Original Article Follows:



After Team Aster broke out the news where 6 members of the team are tested positive for COVID-19, LaNm expressed his disappointment at The International 10 tournament organizer, PGL, on the protective measurements for players and requirement for the team to arrive at the destination earlier.



In LaNm's long Weibo posts, he expressed his confusion on the TI protocols. There was no prior-testing, unlike the Majors where they had to do a COVID test before checking in, and were only allowed to leave the room after results show negative. He said that everyone is free to do anything, but shouldn't TI be a lot more cautious?



<h3 id="h-no-mineral-water-is-provided-by-pgl">No mineral water is provided by PGL</h3>



Moreover, there is no mineral water provided by PGL, claims LaNm. This is the first time teams did not get mineral water in his experience after playing so many tournaments in his career. Not to mention, this is during the pandemic. Hence, it is inevitable for their staff to make grocery run every two days. To make it worse, the COVID situation is becoming more severe in Romania. People are still not wearing masks on the street, even the two bars in hotel lobby are always full of customers. 



What struck him more was the fact that the staff that were doing COVID tests for them were only wearing simple masks, with no protection for the eyes and other body part, even though they knew that the team leader has tested positive. 



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>This is The International, shouldn't it be handled with cautious? Oh, so this is TI. <cite>LaNm expressed his confusion and disappointment on Weibo.</cite></blockquote></figure>



[esports_link url="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/covid-team-aster/"]



<h3 id="h-pgl-did-not-provide-individual-rooms-for-isolation">PGL did not provide individual rooms for isolation</h3>



Even more, he revealed that there was no individual room provided by PGL after the team leader was tested positive for self-quarantine. He said they only found out about this because the team leader went for a COVID test himself after feeling unwell, what if they had treated this as a normal flu? What would happen to the other teams that came here early? "The actions taken by the tournament organizer is confusing me, this is The International, shouldn't it be a lot more cautious? Oh, this is TI", said LaNm.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-16.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32056"/><figcaption>Team Aster's LaNm criticizing PGL on his Weibo.</figcaption></figure>



LaNm did not stop after this, he posted more of his feelings following this long complaint. One of the founder of ImbaTV, Hai Tao, replied to LaNm's post saying that "recent TIs were not the same to the initial ones, when TIs were in Seattle, it was completely handled by Valve themselves, they did not care about the cost. However, recent TIs were outsourced." 



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>PGL has hosted 3 TIs right. when will it change?<cite>LaNm replied to ImbaTV Hai Tao's comment.</cite></blockquote></figure>



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-17.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32076"/><figcaption>Team Aster's LaNm replying to Hai Tao from ImbaTV. </figcaption></figure>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">They said they will provide training rooms, indeed they did, and it was provided very nicely.<cite>LaNm said sarcastically. </cite></blockquote>



Nope, the man is not stopping. He further commented on the reason of criticizing PGL. He said that the team did not want to arrive earlier, but PGL insisted all the teams should gather together.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-18.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32080"/><figcaption>Team Aster's LaNm on the reason he criticized PGL. </figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-team-secret-s-ceo-john-yao-compliments-pgl-and-valve">Team Secret's CEO, John Yao compliments PGL and Valve </h2>



In a reddit thread, Team Secret's CEO, John Yao, shared the opposite sentiment. He complimented PGL and Valve's effort on helping out with the teams' requests while offering help for boot-camping in Romania as well. Also, he stated that the responsibility is 100% on the organizations for anything that happens before the TI bubble starts, which is on October 3rd. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-23.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32095"/><figcaption>Team Secret's CEO, John Yao's response in a Reddit thread.</figcaption></figure>



Furthermore, Yao responded to the post where LaNm criticized PGL. He once again mentioned that PGL was doing a great job by providing assistance to the teams, such as setting up the boot-camps, providing PCs, helping with hotel accommodations and such. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-24.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32098"/><figcaption> Team Secret's CEO, John Yao's response in a Reddit thread. </figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-chinese-teams-update-fans-with-players-covid-results">Chinese Teams update Fans with Players' COVID results</h2>



<h3 id="h-everyone-is-safe-in-invictus-gaming">Everyone is safe in Invictus Gaming! </h3>



All members of IG that have taken COVID tests are reportedly negative. There is no frontline staff that feel abnormal. "We will be more cautious with protective measurements while waiting for the tournament organizer's instructions. It is a tough road for the CN army, wish everything goes smoothly, cheers."



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-19.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32083"/><figcaption>iG's public statement on the team's COVID tests results.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 id="h-all-players-test-negative-for-the-elephants">All players test negative for the Elephants! </h3>



All members are tested negative for COVID-19 from Elephant. "Carry on, we will be more cautious with sanitization and prevention, while waiting for official protocols, please do not worry." 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-21.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32089"/><figcaption>Elephant's public statement on the team's COVID tests results.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 id="h-no-worries-for-the-vici-gaming-s-team-leader-and-videographer">No worries for the Vici Gaming's team leader and videographer</h3>



Both the team leader and videographer of the team are tested negative. "We will be more cautious from now onwards", said Vici Gaming's statement. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image-22.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32092"/><figcaption>VG's public statement on the team's COVID test results.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-miscommunication-with-pgl-lanm-deletes-weibo-posts">Miscommunication with PGL, LaNm deletes Weibo posts</h2>



The Chinese Dota 2 teams reportedly contacted PGL to aid them in securing accommodation in Romania. PGL helped some teams set up bootcamps and provide PCs. It seems there was miscommunication between the Chinese teams and PGL. While the Chinese teams believed PGL would provide a full-service (including food, water and safety precautions), PGL was only providing a set of services.





LaNm has since deleted his Weibo posts and has said the team has secured medications. The entire squad will be in self-quarantine henceforth.



The battle with COVID-19 is only getting more serious by day with The International arriving soon. We wish a speedy recovery to Team Aster's members and best of health to all of the participants in TI10.



Stay tuned to <a href="https://esports.gg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">esports.gg</a> for the latest <a href="https://esports.gg/games/dota-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dota 2 news and updates</a>.

LaNm Criticizes PGL for Lack of COVID Precautions; Team Aster Apologizes Later

North American Dota 2 organization, Quincy Crew has announced Maurice "KheZu"Gutmann as the team’s coach ahead of TI10. KheZu has been helping the team in the bootcamp for a couple of weeks and the team is ready to bring glory to NA Dota 2. 



Quincy Crew is one of the three North American teams at TI10 alongside Evil Geniuses and Team Undying. Despite not having a sponsor throughout the season, QC has been consistent in its performance. The team finished fourth in the DPC points behind <a href="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/ti10-na-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evil Geniuses</a>, PSG.LGD and <a href="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/ti10-cis-preview-ft-capitalist-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virtus.Pro</a>. Quincy Crew finished second in the first season of the Dota Pro Circuit just behind Evil Geniuses. The team further improved on its performance in Season 2 with a first-place finish in Season 2. 



[esports_link url="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/ceb-may-not-play-in-ti10-due-to-eye-injury/"]



<h2 id="h-khezu-joins-qc-as-coach">KheZu joins QC as coach</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/Quincy_Crew/status/1443991600959524868
</div></figure>



The former Vikin.gg Dota 2 player will now step into the shoes of a coach for Quincy Crew. Bringing his experience and game knowledge to the North American scene, KheZu can potentially help Quincy Crew surprise quite a few teams at TI10. 



KheZu has already been working with Quincy Crew in their bootcamp since the last few weeks. The 26-year-old is well-known for his offlane heroes but it is his in-game knowledge that makes him a valuable addition to any team.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/KheZu/status/1443995258384261123
</div></figure>



The International 10 kicks off on October 7, with 18 of the biggest Dota 2 teams competing on LAN for a $40 million prize pool event. The event has already courted some controversy after Vici’s LaNm criticized PGL for their handling of the event. All members of the VG squad have tested positive for COVID in an unfortunate series of events. Other Chinese teams are taking precautions to ensure the safety of their players. 



[esports_link url="https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/lanm-criticizes-pgl-for-lack-of-covid-precautions/"]



Stay tuned to <a href="https://esports.gg/">esports.gg</a> for the latest <a href="https://esports.gg/games/dota-2/">Dota 2 news and updates</a>.&nbsp;

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Quincy Crew add KheZu as Coach Ahead of TI10

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LaNm Criticizes PGL for Lack of COVID Precautions; Team Aster Apologizes Later