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Who Will Replace MATUMBAMAN on Team Liquid
The post-TI shuffle has been completely crazy this season, largely thanks to the surprising results of The International 11 and the speculations that surround Evil Geniuses’ plans for the future.
Team Liquid finished the tournament in third place and would have probably been perfectly happy with their roster, but Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen decided to retire at the age of just 27.
His career was the stuff of esports legends. Most players can only dream of achieving what he achieved. But, after winning an Aegis of Champions in 2017 and finishing the tournament in thrid place in 2021 and 2022, Matu decided that his career had to end, so that he could better enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Team Liquid’s Next Carry Player
Team Liquid now need a great carry player and fortunately for them, there are several great options to choose from.
Arteezy
The first of these options is Artour “Arteezy” Babaev, who will almost certainly part ways with Evil Geniuses in the coming weeks. There are plenty of rumors that EG wants to release its entire Dota 2 roster and leave North America. The organization will sign Thunder Predator and start competing in South America in 2023.
This means that Arteezy, one of the game’s most famous position 1 players, will be free to join any organization he wants, as long as that org makes him a good offer. The only thing that’s in question here is his willingness to relocate to Europe.
However, we know that he’s done it before. Back in 2015 and 2016, he played for Team Secret and had good results. Now, either Team Secret or Team Liquid is rumored to have secured a contract with him.
Ana
The second option is Anathan “ana” Pham, who is currently playing for T1. It’s doubtful that the Australian is happy competing in Southeast Asia. Given the team’s failure to qualify for TI11, ana is likely going to accept Liquid’s offer, if the organization decides to make a proposal.
Ana would be a very good choice for Liquid, given his versatility and autonomous playstyle. He’s one of the few carry players who could reliably replace someone of MATUMBAMAN’s skill.
Nikobaby
The third option is Nikolay “Nikobaby” Nikolov, who left Alliance less than two months ago. He too could replace Matu, but he might need a bit of time to adapt to Liquid’s playstyle, as it is very different from his.
Header: Valve Corporation