Team Spirit have announced that Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek will be leaving their Dota 2 roster. This change is coming just a few days before the league’s free agency deadline.
This move is sure to shake up the esports community and has fans wondering what the future holds for both Team Spirit and TORONTOTOKYO. The franchise made a press release on the matter, singing the Russian player’s praise and thanking him for his time with the organization.
“Having analyzed all the pros and cons, the management of the organization decided to part ways with Alexander TORONTOTOKYO Khertek,” Team Spirit announced.
“In two years on Team Spirit, Alexander has grown from a talented player who loves Dota 2 to a professional who has proven himself at the highest level. His nickname will forever stay in the history of our organization, but it’s time to move on and say goodbye.
“We believe that the decision will prove to be correct and mutually beneficial for Team Spirit and TORONTOTOKYO. We wish Alexander success in his future career and thank him for the time he spent with us.”
TORONTOTOKYO commented on his departure from the team and described his time with the franchise as “cool”. He shared his appreciation of the organization and all its staff, teammates and fans likewise.
“The past two years were cool! I met a lot of people I now consider my friends,” TORONTOTOKYO said.
“I gained useful experience both in game and in life. I’d like to say thanks to my teammates and the entire Team Spirit staff for all this time! A special thank you to all the fans who rooted for us and for me personally! Keep following me, my goal remains the same – to win every tournament. And remember: everything is for the better.”
After their early exit at The International 2022, it was widely expected that changes would be coming to Team Spirit’s roster, and TORONTOTOKYO was the most likely player to exit the team. The organization’s decision was said to have been made over a three-week period after long discussions and dialogue with each of the team’s players with the team’s growth and development at the core.
After spending over a year with Team Spirit, TORONTOTOKYO is now a free agent once again. This will be his first time on the market since he and the rest of the team, except for Mira, signed with the organization as Yellow Submarine in December 2020.
During his time with Team Spirit, TORONTOTOKO experienced many highs, including one of the biggest underdog runs in Dota history when they won $18 million at TI10. However, the team also faced some challenges and were unable to defend their title at TI11, falling in the elimination round and finishing 13th place. This disappointing result has left many fans with questions about the future of the team.
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