HEROIC has announced a major roster change in their Dota 2 division, moving Peruvian carry player David "Parker" Nijo Flores to the bench. This decision follows internal disagreements during the ESL One Bangkok 2024 South American Closed Qualifiers, where HEROIC narrowly missed out on first place, losing 2–3 in the final series. According to the organisation, the decision was made due to Parker's behaviour during a match, which was deemed unprofessional and inconsistent with the team's standards.
Official Statement from HEROIC:
In their statement, HEROIC mentioned strategic disagreements during the qualifiers as the trigger for the situation. Parker reportedly "displayed a lack of desire to win," which led to a breakdown in team cohesion. HEROIC expressed appreciation for Parker’s skill but cited this and prior incidents as reasons for the move. They have also opened discussions for Parker’s potential transfer to other organisations.
For the upcoming BLAST Slam I, the team will play with Yuma Langlet from Nicaragua as a stand-in.
HEROIC's Line-up for BLAST Slam I:
- Yuma "Yuma" Langlet (stand-in, Nicaragua)
- João "4nalog" Gabriel Giannini (Brazil)
- Cedric "Davai Lama" Deckmyn (Belgium)
- Elvis "Scofield" De la Cruz Peña (Peru)
- Matheus "KJ" Santos (Brazil)
- Igor "kaffs" Guimarães Estevão (Coach, Brazil)
- Andrei-Vlad "Mangusu" Satianu (Assistant Coach, Romania)
Parker's Response:
Parker responded on social media, expressing frustration with the team’s dynamics and drafters’ decisions. He highlighted conflicts with teammates and coaching staff, particularly pointing out Davai Lama and coach kaffs as sources of tension. Parker criticised the team’s drafting priority, which he felt favoured Brazilian players, and shared his views on issues with preparation and focus during practice.
Additionally, Parker announced he is now seeking a new team, open to playing in any region as a carry (position 1).
Future of HEROIC:
Despite internal challenges, HEROIC continues to hold a strong presence in the South American Dota 2 scene. They recently made history as the first South American team to win an international tournament with a $1 million prize pool. The upcoming BLAST Slam I, set to run from 26 November to 1 December, will test their resilience with a reworked line-up as they compete for another significant title.