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Polaris Esports disband Dota 2 roster just two days after winning APAC Predator League 2022

Polaris Esports has disbanded just two days after they won the Asia-Pacific Predator League 2022 Grand Finals in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Polaris Esports)
Polaris Esports has disbanded just two days after they won the Asia-Pacific Predator League 2022 Grand Finals in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Polaris Esports)

Filipino Dota 2 powerhouse Polaris Esports announced on Tuesday (15 November) that it has disbanded its roster just two days after they won the Asia-Pacific Predator League 2022 Grand Finals in Tokyo, Japan.

Polaris said in a statement on its official Facebook account that "there were offers for the players that were too far out of our reach", while others were looking to "go and try a different environment".

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the team and players' mutual separation. It's not a secret that Polaris Esports is still a relatively young and small organization and as such we cannot go toe to toe with the financial capabilities of other, much larger, and established organizations," said Polaris.

"We have always and still prioritize the growth and welfare of our peers. Without reservations, we are happy to see them prosper and grow even if it is not with us."

Polaris' all-Filipino Dota 2 squad were first formed in September 2021, quickly establishing themselves as a rising power in a very competitive Southeast Asian scene.

The team started the 2021-2022 Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) Winter Tour in Division II, where they cruised through the competition to compete in Division I for the Spring and Summer Tours.

Polaris were looking like they could finally make a breakthrough as the season drew to a close, finishing second in The International 11 (TI11) Southeast Asian regional qualifier. However, they only managed a 9th-12th place finish at the tournament's Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) after an upset loss to North America's Wildcard Gaming.

In their last tournament together, Polaris dominated the Asia-Pacific Predator League, losing only one game to fellow Filipino squad Execration in the grand finals en route to claiming the championship and the US$75,000 grand prize.

With the flashes of potential they showed, Polaris' departing players are sure to be among the most sought-after free agents in Southeast Asia. Based on the team's statement, some of them have already received offers from other teams.

Polaris' disbandment 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 are 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.

Former Polaris Esports roster:

  1. John Anthony "Natsumi" Vargas

  2. Mc Nicholson "Lelouch-" Villanueva

  3. Nikko "Force" Bilocura

  4. Marvin "Xavius" Rushton

  5. Nico "eyyou" Barcelon

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For more esports news updates, visit https://yhoo.it/YahooEsportsSEA and check out Yahoo Esports Southeast Asia’s Facebook page and Twitter, as well as our Gaming channel on YouTube.