Dota 2’s The Worldwide 2023 is over, and it ended on a candy observe for Chinese language followers. The area’s two reps achieved a top-four end within the occasion out of nowhere, and what made this achievement much more fascinating was the surprising success of Azure Ray (AR), a group composed of retired gamers—one in every of whom was peer-pressured into taking part in.
AR was based in the course of the midst of the Dota 2 season by Lu “Somnus” Yao, who was having a tough time staying away from the aggressive scene. Itching for a style, Somnus quickly gathered a team of legends together with Xu “fy” Linsen.
Regardless of their humble beginnings, AR swiftly ascended to the highest of their area, surpassing the expectations of each followers and the gamers themselves. In fy’s exit interview at TI 2023, he was requested about his private satisfaction with their season and whether or not he had anticipated this degree of success as they bought collectively on the finish of the 2023 DPC season.
“I don’t know, I bought dragged into taking part in TI.” fy jokingly stated—but it surely has been revealed that’s truly what ended up taking place.
Whereas entertaining the concept of a possible return, Somnus, fy, and Yang “Chalice” Shenyi have been merely looking for causes to re-enter aggressive Dota 2. Contemplating that they had been away from the scene for some time earlier than Might 2023, the trio determined to not ask for a single greenback in wage whereas becoming a member of Azure Ray.
AR proved to be greater than only a group; it was a gaggle of buddies who needed to take pleasure in taking part in Dota 2 on the sport’s most prestigious stage. Even in defeat, followers may clearly see that the members of AR have been having a good time each inside and out of doors the participant sales space.
Up to now, Somnus, fy, and Chalice had reached the TI finals collectively in 2018, securing a third-place end in 2019. Falling simply wanting glory ultimately shattered each the gamers and the group’s morale, resulting in their disbandment. Nonetheless, their time aside allowed them to mature as gamers and overcome among the most devastating losses of their careers.
Azure Ray won’t have lifted the Aegis at TI 2023, however Dota 2 followers have been more than pleased to observe the Uncrowned Kings of the sport having the time of their lives.
In regards to the writer
