Team Aster Announces Roster Changes Ahead of TI12 Regional Qualifiers

Team Aster makes yet another change in their roster, is Hu “Kaka” Liangzhi the missing ingredient they were looking for?

Chinese esports organization Team Aster has decided to make adjustments to its Dota 2 roster in preparation for upcoming competitions, according to an official announcement on July 7, 2023. The team, known for continuously tinkering with its lineup, aims to find the winning formula for The International 2023 (TI12).

During the Berlin Major last May, Team Aster bid farewell to their mid laner and managed to secure a respectable top-eight finish with the temporary addition of Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan, who joined the team on loan from Nigma Galaxy. Following the tournament, SumaiL relocated to China and was announced as an official member of Team Aster for the time being.

However, the team's ambitions suffered a setback during the Bali Major, the final stop of the Dota Pro Circuit before TI12. Team Aster needed to secure a top-eight finish or higher to secure a direct invitation to TI12. Unfortunately, they faltered in the playoffs, losing two consecutive series and ultimately placing 9th-12th, failing to earn any DPC points.

Aster 1:2 9pandas @9pandasgg
We are sorry we let the fans down. We end our Bali journey today. And fail to secured a direct invite for Ti.
Good game well played from 9pandas. pic.twitter.com/ZbvgU9ENEI

— Team Aster (@CN_TeamAster) July 6, 2023

With their hopes of a direct invite shattered, Team Aster's remaining chance lies in the Chinese regional qualifiers, where only one slot is allocated by Valve. Understanding the importance of synergy and team cohesion, the organization has made an unexpected decision to temporarily say goodbye to Ye “BoBoKa” Zhibiao from the roster. BoBoKa, who has been with the team for nearly five years and contributed to their 4th-place finish at last year's TI and top-eight placement the year before, will step aside for the time being.

In light of this change, Team Aster has warmly welcomed Hu “Kaka” Liangzhi, a former position four support player from Xtreme Gaming, to their ranks as the new position four player. The team hopes to quickly adapt and overcome challenges together, as they believe that it is through hardships that they will achieve success. They expressed their gratitude to BoBoKa for his continuous effort and dedication, emphasizing that parting ways does not mean cutting off all ties. They also extended their appreciation to their fans for their unwavering support.

#aster.dota2#
【TeamAster Roster Update Announcement】
After internal discussions within the team and friendly negotiations with the players, Aster has decided to make the following adjustments for their upcoming DOTA2 competitions:

BOBOKA (Ye Zhibiao), the former position 4…

— Team Aster (@CN_TeamAster) July 7, 2023

Although the Dota Pro Circuit season has concluded for Team Aster, they have a high chance of receiving an invitation to the upcoming Riyadh Masters 2023 based on their ranking in the ESL Pro Tour. The Riyadh Masters is scheduled to commence on July 17th, providing Team Aster with their biggest and final opportunity to synchronize their gameplay and strategies before the TI12 regional qualifiers.

As Team Aster continues to refine its roster, Dota 2 fans eagerly await their performance in the upcoming competitions, hoping to witness the team's resilience and growth as they strive for success on the international stage.