The end of 2024 brought a flurry of activity and significant developments in the world of Dota 2. From roster shuffles in China to successful tournaments and organisational changes, these key events captured the community's attention.
Yakult’s Brothers: A New Carry and Plans for 2025
Chinese team Yakult’s Brothers has announced a roster change. Their primary carry, Jin "flyfly" Zhiyi, has departed, making way for former Gaozu player Wang "Ame" Chunyu. With Gaozu, Ame demonstrated solid performances, notably securing qualification for ESL One Bangkok 2024, where the team finished 9th–10th.
Now, Yakult’s Brothers are preparing for a new challenge: the FISSURE PLAYGROUND Belgrade 2025 qualifiers, running from 23 to 27 December. Eight Chinese teams will compete for a single LAN slot, with a prize pool of $1 million awaiting the contenders. The updated Yakult’s Brothers roster includes:
- Wang "Ame" Chunyu
- Zhou "Emo" Yi
- Nicolas Lim "zeal" Eng Han
- Ye "BoBoKa" Zhibiao
- Li "Undyne_" Qiancheng
Cloud9: The End of an Era in Dota 2
Organisation Cloud9 has officially concluded its presence in the professional Dota 2 scene. Recent departures include assistant coach Alexey "TheChosenOne" Karanevich and team manager Noah "Th3RealJP" Eigenhir, with the organisation expressing gratitude for their contributions and wishing them well in future endeavours.
On 2 November, the contract with the final player of the previous roster expired, leaving Cloud9’s Dota 2 division without any active members. The organisation has yet to announce its plans for 2025.
Chimera Esports Crowned Champions of 1win Series Dota 2 Punch
The year ended with the 1win Series Dota 2 Punch, an online tournament held from 21 to 22 December. In the grand final, Chimera Esports, led by captain Nikita "Daxak" Kuzmin, convincingly defeated L1ga Team 3–0 to claim the championship title.
The prize pool was distributed as follows:
- 1st Place: Chimera Esports — $15,000
- 2nd Place: L1ga Team — $8,000
- 3rd Place: 1win Team — $5,000
- 4th Place: 9Pandas — $2,000