by in
In a surprising turn of events, Tundra Esports has once again found itself without a Dota 2 roster, parting ways with the ex-TSM line-up less than a month after signing them in December 2023.
The organization has been causing waves in the Dota 2 community with unexpected roster changes over the last three months, including the short-lived partnership with MoonMeander’s ex-TSM, which lasted barely a month.
Tundra’s decision to bring in the ex-TSM roster just before the ESL One Kuala Lumpur Major raised eyebrows, especially given the quick dissolution of the majority of the roster after finishing in eighth place at the tournament.
Players such as Enzo “Timado” Gianoli, Jonathan “Bryle” De Guia, Ilyas “kasane” Gainullin, Aleksandr “Immersion” Khmelevskoi, and David “MoonMeander” Tan Boon Yang have all left Tundra, leaving fans puzzled about the organization’s intentions for their Dota 2 division.
Thank you @MoonMeanderated, @Timadota, @bryledota, kasane and Immersion for your time and dedication and all the best for your future! 💙 #TundraTribe pic.twitter.com/luXjs1s9OX
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) January 2, 2024
Interestingly, Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon remains on the roster, adding an air of uncertainty to Tundra’s plans.
Speculation has been rife on Reddit, with some suggesting that Tundra might have signed the TSM roster to fulfil sponsor obligations before 2024.
The organization seems to have had one foot out of the Dota 2 world for some time, but there are indications of a commitment to staying if the right formula can be found.
Whitemon’s retention could potentially signal Tundra’s desire to build a strong team, especially with notable free agents like Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, Ivan “MinD_ContRoL” Ivanov, and Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko available in the market.
Tundra currently has a short roster, and with players like Martin “Saksa” Sazdov on the inactive roster, there is potential for a formidable team if Saksa decides to return to competitive Dota 2.
However, Tundra doesn’t seem to be in a rush to make decisions.
The absence of a Dota Pro Circuit appears to have sparked a season of significant shuffling.
The decision follows a disappointing 8th-place finish at ESL One Kuala Lumpur, though the abruptness of the move has left fans speculating about Tundra’s imminent rebuild.
The decision comes after a lacklustre performance in the playoffs at ESL One Kuala Lumpur, where Tundra faced a tough 0-2 defeat against BetBoom Team.
Notably, the players were part of the team for less than three weeks before being released.
Tundra’s original squad for The International 2023 fell apart after a 16th-place finish, leading to the hyped signing of Team Undying, who had just left TSM.
The jersey-hopping trend is expected to continue in 2024, with four of the five players yet to announce their plans.
Former Tundra carry Timado, one of the players released, hinted at the timing of the decision by posting on December 31 that he was looking for a new team and had received an offer from Quantum Infinity CEO Igor Campos.
This suggests that Tundra made the decision to disband the squad right after Kuala Lumpur but delayed the announcement.
The lack of a collective statement indicates a likely separation of the core trio—Timado, Bryle, and MoonMeander, who have been together since early 2021.
His continued presence raises speculation about a potential Southeast Asian Tundra roster for 2024, although the full line-up remains uncertain.
