A long trail of disappointing results has led to significant changes for Azure Ray. The Riyadh Masters 2024 play-in stage ended disastrously for the Chinese Dota team, with Azure Ray finishing with a dismal 1-9 overall game score.
This poor performance follows their earlier failure in the regional qualifiers for The International 2024 (TI13), leaving them out of the year’s two biggest tournaments.
Azure Ray’s Struggles
Azure Ray entered 2024 with high hopes following a successful end to 2023. They placed fourth at TI12 and won ESL One Kuala Lumpur. However, the departure of three key players to Xtreme Gaming forced Azure Ray into a restructuring phase, bringing Zhang “Faith_bian” Ruida out of retirement.
Despite having two legends on their roster, Faith_bian and fy, Azure Ray’s performance has been underwhelming. While they managed to stay at the top in their region and secure qualifier slots for several LAN tournaments, their international competition performance was lacking. Their only top 4 finishes this year were at BetBoom Dacha Dubai and Elite League Season 1, both in May.
What’s Next for Azure Ray
“It’s too embarrassing,” posted Azure Ray on their Weibo page after their elimination from Riyadh Masters 2024. “We can’t continue to lose far away from home,” the organization noted, announcing a period of restructuring.
While Azure Ray won’t be at TI13, their season is not completely over. The team received a direct invite to the $500,000 Snow Ruyi LAN event, taking place at the Chinese Olympic village Taizicheng from July 28 to August 4. This event will feature 12 teams and serves as a significant opportunity for Azure Ray to regroup and reassess their strategy.
Snow Ruyi Invitational
The Snow Ruyi Invitational could be a crucial turning point for Azure Ray. Alongside them, other teams like Team Secret, Nigma Galaxy, and Virtus.pro—all of whom have had disappointing years—will also be competing. These teams, including Azure Ray, are likely eyeing major roster changes in the post-TI shuffle.
Azure Ray’s Current Roster
The current roster for Azure Ray includes:
- Zhen “lou” Lou
- Jiaoyang “Ori” Zeng
- Zhang “Bach” Ruida
- Xu “fy” Linsen
- Jiang “天命” An
- Coach: Zhi Cheng “LaNm” Zhang
Key Takeaways
- Azure Ray announced a restructuring period after poor results in the Riyadh Masters 2024 and failing to qualify for TI13.
- The team will compete in the $500,000 Snow Ruyi LAN event, a crucial opportunity to reassess and strategize.
- Snow Ruyi Invitational features other teams like Team Secret, Nigma Galaxy, and Virtus.pro, all looking at potential roster changes.
Final Toughts
As Azure Ray looks to rebuild and strengthen their roster, the Snow Ruyi Invitational offers a chance to regain momentum and prepare for future competitions.
Fans can expect significant changes and improvements as the team aims to reclaim their position in the upper echelons of Dota 2 esports. Stay tuned for updates on Azure Ray’s progress and the evolving competitive landscape.
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