LGD Gaming, a prominent name in the Dota 2 esports scene, has made a significant shift in its team composition. Following a series of underwhelming performances, the team has decided to reinvigorate its roster by introducing Gao “Setsu” Zhenxiong as the new mid-laner, moving Zhou “Emo” Yi to the inactive roster.
The Unfolding of Changes
This announcement, made on January 28th via the Chinese social media platform Weibo, marks a pivotal moment for LGD Gaming. The team’s decision comes in the wake of a disappointing 9th-10th place finish at ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 and a failed qualification for DreamLeague Season 22.
The Final Straw: A Lack of Team Synergy
The decision to shift Emo to an inactive role was influenced heavily by the team’s dynamic. Notable was Emo’s performance in the crucial game against G2.iG, where his lack of synergy and mispositioning, despite being well-farmed, contributed to LGD’s defeat.
Insights from the Dota 2 Community
Before the official announcement, the Dota 2 community had already sensed a potential change. Lu “Somnus” Yao’s observations about the lack of team chemistry with Emo echoed the sentiments of many. Additionally, retired player He “Inflame” Yongzheng had hinted at Setsu’s tryout and Emo’s possible substitution.
Emo’s Self-Reflection
Interestingly, Emo humorously remarked about his own performance, joking that even he voted for his replacement due to his subpar play.
🤣Joking
Emo: I got vote out of LGD, all six members of our team all vote me out including myself cuz I’m just too bad. xiao8 treats me very well, u guys shouldn’t flame him anymore, he’s a good coach who’s capable of doing a lot of stuffs, and he taught me a lot there too.— CN Dota In A Nutshell (@Tr1H4rd3rDota2) January 23, 2024
LGD’s New Era with Setsu
With Setsu on board, LGD Gaming has embarked on a new chapter. The team’s debut performance at ESL One Birmingham 2024 with this revamped roster showed promising signs of rejuvenation. Dominating against Go Along in the upper bracket quarterfinals, LGD now looks ahead to their next challenge against Team Bright in the semi-finals.
LGD Gaming’s Strategic Roster Shuffle
LGD Gaming’s bold roster change signifies their commitment to not only maintaining but elevating their status in the competitive Dota 2 landscape. The addition of Setsu could very well be the catalyst LGD needs to rediscover their winning formula.