The Big Chinese Christmas Shuffle

After delivering underwhelming results during the last trimester of 2025, Chinese teams went through a big Chinese shuffle during Christmas. Team Tidebound went in a hiatus and, as a result, Vici Gaming seized the opportunity.

At the same time, Yakult Brothers and Tearlaments founded a new organization. Finally, a new contender is born from the reunion and return of big names in the Chinese scenario.

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Chinese Shuffle: Team Tidebound and Vici Gaming

This whole change in several Chinese Dota 2 teams started off with Team Tidebound going into a hiatus on December 24, 2025. The announcement on Weibo also featured the dismissal of their Echo and Niu. Meanwhile, this move marked the first major step in the Chinese shuffle.

At the same time, the remaining members of the now defunct Tidebound became the foundation of the new Vici Gaming. Xm and Ws welcomed shiro, planet and y' to a renewed Vici Gaming to be tested in the month of qualifiers that January will be.

Vici Gaming placed 10th in the FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2, which means that they did not manage to get past the Group Stage. Now, however, they have the BLAST Slam Qualifiers and the ESL Challenger China ahead of them to try and get to the Slam, DreamLeague Season 28 and the next ESL One.

From Vici to Something New

While Vici Gaming brought three new players in, they also had to dismiss Lou, Pyw and Dy. Out of this group, Lou was the first one to find a new team, and he was matched once again with Echo and niu.

Yakult Brothers.Tearlaments is a new partnership born of the organizations they are named after. The core trio from the former Vici Gaming is joined by a lesser known support duo to add another team to the Chinese task force aiming to the top of the Dota 2 professional scenario.

Despite the creation of this new roster, Yakult Brothers and Tearlaments are still active. Moreover, all teams will take part on the BLAST Slam Qualifiers and the ESL Challenger China which will work as the Chinese Qualifier for the upcoming ESL tournaments.

Team Refuser: A New Challenger

Finally, China pulled one last card from their sleeves by adding another name to the "Chinese retirement" meme list. Paparazi comes out of retirement to join the roster of this new team, but he will change his nickname as part of this memorable moment during the Chinese shuffle.

The team's official announcement on Weibo lists YSR-04E as carry (Paparazi's usual role), Kikyo (Paparazi) as position 2 and Zeal as offlaner, joined by the support duo that left Vici Gaming.

Something interesting to note is that while playing DotA 1, Paparazi used the Chinese nickname "拒绝者" as his ID. This word means "abnegator" or "rejector", very similar to the team's name.

This might mean that Team Refuser is his last shot at the joined effort of Chinese players and organizations to win The International 2026, which will be held in Shanghai and would be a perfect place for a Chinese team to lift the Aegis of Champions after years of European domination.

Closing Thoughts

China has been focused in getting ready to The International 2026 since the announcement that it would take place in Shanghai. Organizations are working hard to field the best roster possible to try to lift the Aegis of Champions, especially now that the Chinese shuffle has reshaped the region.

Now that the 2026 Dota 2 season is officially starting with a month of qualifiers, all these new rosters will be tried in battle and maybe get a shot at the next BLAST Slam and the first couple ESL tournaments in 2026.

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Featured Image Source: Dota 2 and Liquipedia