“This year has given me a lot of clarity”: Topson retires from competitive Dota

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As a gamer with years of experience under my belt, I find myself reflecting on Topson’s retirement from the competitive Dota 2 scene. It’s a bittersweet moment, knowing that we’ve lost another legendary player who left an indelible mark on the game.

The back-to-back TI champion retires after placing 3rd on The International 13.

On two separate occasions, Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen has opted to take a break and exit the professional Dota 2 arena. Despite his silence on the matter personally, Tundra Esports shared a heartfelt video addressing this development.

According to the formal statement, the organization failed to provide details about why he decided to retire. Although they didn’t secure a victory at The International this season, they managed to earn a commendable third place, featuring Martin “Saksa” Sazdov as their stand-in.

In my video farewell, I expressed that my journey has been deeply intertwined with Dota. As the sole midlaner to secure back-to-back TI championships during my time with OG, it’s fair to say that this epic victory at such a young age, and my very first LAN event being none other than my first TI, has played a significant role in this choice I’ve made.

At 26 years old, the Finnish athlete is stepping away from competition with roughly $5,898,600 USD earned in tournament winnings – a well-deserved sum for this player who significantly altered gameplay strategies on numerous occasions. Some examples include introducing the Diffusal Blade to Gyrocopter, mastering the Dazzle mid position, and devising the courier tormentor-kill strategy.

Why is Topson retiring from the Dota 2 competitive scene?

Previously mentioned, Topson has taken a step away from Dota 2 tournaments before. The initial retreat was to spend time with his newly born daughter following their 7th-8th placement at TI10. He later returned to play as a substitute for T1 during TI11. Subsequently, he participated in the Dota Pro Circuit alongside his former teammate, Sébastien “Ceb” Debs, under the team name “Old G”.

In this instance, many believe it’s another family matter. If so, there’s a possibility we might witness more of Topson streaming.

It’s been suggested that he might have been called up for military service, in accordance with Finnish law. Interestingly, Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen did this willingly following his retirement.

Rumors are traced back to Vladimir “Maelstorm” Kuzminov’s Telegram group, where he disseminates insider information from the competitive scene. Known as a reputable commentator in the Russian language, Maelstorm lends credence to his shared content.

Topson will leave Dota because it’s time for him to join the army.

Maelstorm’s Telegram

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2024-09-25 00:11