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EG reveal new South American Dota 2 team with Pakazs, Chris Luck, Wisper, Matthew, Pandaboo

Evil Geniuses has finally revealed its new South American roster, featuring Pakazs, Chris Luck, Wisper, Matthew, and Pandaboo. (Photo: Evil Geniuses)
Evil Geniuses have finally revealed its new South American roster, featuring Pakazs, Chris Luck, Wisper, Matthew, and Pandaboo. (Photo: Evil Geniuses)

Evil Geniuses (EG) have finally unveiled their new South American roster on Thursday (24 November), consisting of some of the region's biggest stars in Crhistian "Pakazs" Savina, Jean "Chris Luck" Salazar, Adrián "Wisper" Dobles, Farith "Matthew" Puente, and Jose "Pandaboo" Padilla.

EG sent shockwaves through the scene back on 16 November, when they released their entire North American roster and announced a move to South America.

EG's new South American squad are a veritable superteam with a mix of experienced veterans and rising stars.

Prior to joining forces under the EG banner, the trio of Pakazs, Matthew, and Pandaboo previously played for Thunder Awaken while Chris Luck and Wisper had been with Beastcoast.

Matthew has been designated as captain and the team will also be coached by former Thunder Awaken coach Juan "Vintage" Angulo Nicho.

South America's superstars have a new home

EG's new South American superteam is headlined by Pakazs, who many consider as one of the best carry players in the world right now following Thunder Awaken's meteoric rise during the 2021-2022 Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) season.

Pakazs, alongside the support duo of Matthew and Pandaboo, led Thunder Awaken in dominating the South American regional league.

They finished first in all three Tours, finished third in the Winter Regional Finals, and qualified for the season's two Majors.

Matthew (left), Pakazs (second from left), and Pandaboo (middle) with Thunder Awaken during The International 11. (Photo: Valve Software)
Matthew (left), Pakazs (second from left), and Pandaboo (middle) with Thunder Awaken during The International 11. (Photo: Valve Software)

Thunder Awaken put the whole circuit on notice with a Top 6 finish at the ESL One Stockholm Major. However, they only finished 15th-16th in the PGL Arlington Major as they were forced to play with a stand-in due to visa issues.

At The International 11 (TI11), the trio of Pakazs, Matthew, and Pandaboo led Thunder Awaken to a Top 6 finish — the highest placement for a South American team at any TI so far.

On their way to the Top 6, Thunder Awaken notably knocked EG's former squad down to the lower bracket in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Pakazs, Matthew, and Pandaboo were released by Thunder Awaken on 8 November, facilitating their eventual move to join EG.

Meanwhile, flanking EG's trio of rising stars is the veteran duo of Chris Luck and Wisper. The two have been with the Beastcoast roster since 2019, the longest-running roster in the circuit before their departure earlier this month.

Wisper (second from left) and Chris Luck (second from right) with Beastcoast during The International 11. (Photo: Valve Software)
Wisper (second from left) and Chris Luck (second from right) with Beastcoast during The International 11. (Photo: Valve Software)

Chris Luck and Wisper have helped Beastcoast remain a dominant force in South America as well as a menace in international competitions for years, even with Thunder Awaken's rise to power.

In their time with Beastcoast last season, Chris Luck and Wisper finished third in South America's Winter Tour regional league, first in the Winter Regional Finals, then second in the Spring and Summer Tours.

They then helped the team finish in the Top 6 of the Stockholm and Arlington Majors, notably knocking out many favourites from other regions in lower bracket upsets.

At TI11, Chris Luck and Wisper helped Beastcoast finish in the Top 8. They were the ones that eliminated the former EG squad in yet another one of the biggest upsets in the tournament.

With Pakazs, Chris Luck, Wisper, Matthew, and Pandaboo now all playing together under the EG banner, the organisation is poised to become the dominant force in South America and a strong contender in international competitions.

In a statement posted on his personal Twitter account, Matthew said it was a "dream come true" to play with his fellow South American stars for an organisation as storied as EG.

"One of my biggest dreams as a Dota 2 professional player was always able to work for a well-known Tier 1 organisation in the world of esports, and today one of my dreams come true together with four incredible players whom I respect and admire very much," said Matthew.

"I am super excited and proud of myself for achieving one of my goals and I want you all to be part of this joy with me! I want to give special thanks to the Evil Geniuses organisation for trusting us and allowing us to be their new Dota 2 squad."

The reveal of EG's new South American squad is the latest of many roster moves in the global Dota 2 scene's ongoing post-TI11 roster shuffle.

With so much of the Dota 2 competitive scene cantered around TI and its multimillion-dollar prize pools, most teams are formed with the goal of getting to the game's world championship tournament in a bid to claim the Aegis of Champions and the lion's share of the massive prize pool.

But only one team can win TI, with Tundra Esports being crowned as the champions of TI11 this year. With that, the rest of the scene is now scrambling to assemble the best rosters possible to try again next year.

For all the biggest moves in the ongoing Dota 2 post-TI roster shuffle you should know about, check here.

Evil Geniuses roster:

  1. Crhistian "Pakazs" Savina

  2. Jean "Chris Luck" Salazar

  3. Adrián "Wisper" Dobles

  4. Farith "Matthew" Puente

  5. Jose "Pandaboo" Padilla

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