Dota 2 post-TI15 reshuffle: transfer leaks, rumors and official roster changes

Vici Gaming and Virtus.pro have both confirmed full roster disbandments, while Team Falcons parted ways with long-time head coach Kurtis "Aui_2000" Lang per his interview with esports.ru. The Chinese circuit took the heaviest early hit: VG had just logged a fourth-place finish — their strongest TI run in years — before owner VG_Qc posted the disbandment notice on Weibo hours later.

Confirmed casualties

Virtus.pro pulled the trigger first, releasing the ex-Evil Geniuses BuLba stack on August 24. The lineup logged only one tier-1 appearance all year — at EWC Dota 2 — and failed to clear the group stage. The organization has signaled it intends to rebuild rather than exit the scene, stating publicly that it remains committed to fielding a roster "capable of competing at the highest level."

Vici Gaming followed suit almost immediately after dropping an Elimination Round series 0-2 to Team Falcons on the eve of the TI 2026 playoffs. The squad had stacked multiple TI-winning veterans, and a fourth-place finish marked the best result of any China-based team this cycle. The collapse leaves one of three Chinese TI-participating outfits already off the board, per Sportskeeda's regional breakdown.

On the coaching side, Aui_2000 confirmed his retirement after five years at the Falcons helm — a tenure bookended by a TI championship in 2025 and an early lower-bracket exit this year. The Falcons core of ATF, Cr1t, Malr1ne, skiter, and Sneyking — a stack that has logged 799 tier-1 games without a single roster change — now faces its first real rebuild window.

Rumors and rebuilds in motion

Not every organization is breaking apart. Team Nemesis has quietly rebuilt around captain Anucha "Jabz" Jirawong, adding new pieces and a fresh coach, with a debut targeted at the BLAST SLAM VIII open qualifiers later this month. Southeast Asia's perennial dark horse is back on the entry list.

Meanwhile, an insider rumor flagged by Sportskeeda has Nigma Galaxy potentially sitting out the upcoming pro season entirely. Carry SumaiL has publicly indicated that TI 15 was his final appearance as a player — possibly his last tier-1 event altogether — while support GH is reportedly weighing a break from competitive play. Midlaner Lorenof, per the same report, has fielded an offer from Aurora Gaming. NGX exit TI 2026 with a fifth-to-sixth place finish, matching their result from the previous International.

What to watch next

With tier-1 qualifiers and tier-2 circuits queued up for the final stretch of 2026, the CIS region's usual post-TI overhaul pattern is suddenly in question — its teams just posted one of their strongest collective seasons in years. Watch for Aurora's response if Lorenof signs, NGX's official roster announcement (or conspicuous silence), and whether Virtus.pro names a new captain before the next qualifier cycle opens. The first major domino outside China has already fallen; the question now is which stack forms around it.