Ceb’s 2025 return: OG’s chance glory — again

OG, the famed Dota 2 team, has not been quite up to their winning ways for some time now. Leaving aside their two fantastic victories at The International (TI), 2022 was probably the last time that OG challenged valiantly for any tournaments. With constant roster changes through the years, the team has struggled to find their footing. But one thing has remained a constant almost every year since their last TI victory — Sébastien “Ceb” Debs.

The struggle to find a position 3 offlaner has hit the team hard, but thankfully they have a co-founder who can stand-in — during the times that he does not come out of retirement to rejoin the roster. But is his return really something that will make a difference or is OG going to disappear into nothingness soon?

Between retirement, inactive states, and standing in, OG’s ex-captain makes another return to the roster of his team. With an interesting roster that includes Yap “xNova” Jian Wei, Leon “Nine” Kirilin, and Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon, the offlane is Ceb’s kingdom once again. Having already played alongside the team at a few qualifiers, his return may mean a lot to the fans of the team and the player.

Currently, the OG roster seems to be in a mess, with players coming and going and nobody making any sort of major impact. Without a position 4 support right now, or a stable roster for more than a few months at a time, the impact of Ceb's return remains to be seen.

Everyone remembers OG, the team that won back-to-back TIs, taking down everyone in their path when it seemed as though they could not make it. That is a core memory for many, almost as much as the “Million Dollar Echo-Slam”. However, much like how big rosters have fallen away over time, so could this be the time for OG.

Over the last few years, this has been the path for OG, no matter how many times Ceb returns. Adding monumental players such as 23savage or xNova to the roster has certainly been a highlight for fans, but their impact remains unremarkable. With that said, we know that OG has that never-say-die attitude built into every player that joins their ranks, which means that there is always a chance.

Two tournaments are on the cards for OG in the coming months — the Asian Dragon Series: Continental Collision and PGL Wallachia Season 3. With the former event having already begun, the team only has a few hours to reveal their final member. However, the tournament is more of a showcase, with OG being one of the only teams with recognizable members. Utilizing this event to glue a makeshift squad together over the next few days could be worth it — but whether it sticks is what we will be watching.

It's always hard to say that any team will struggle before a tournament when we have not seen much from them. There is always the chance of a surprise patch from Valve that favors OG’s roster. Right now, OG can rely on their captain and a veteran roster to pull off some miracles, but there is no telling how long it will last.

Nostalgia keeps us excited by the names and faces that thrilled and entertained us previously in Dota 2. This is certainly the case for OG, who have a special place in our minds and hearts. To see them return to the top would be magical, but there is little chance that a simple return for Ceb for the twentieth time will make the difference.

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