Vici Gaming Loses Its Superstar Player, Eurus

As usual, the Chinese region is in complete disarray at the start of the new season. Every team is trying to get the best possible roster while the players are trying to find a roster they can win everything with. On the one hand, everyone is running the risk of ending up in a worse place than before. On the other hand, it’s hard to climb higher if you don’t make any changes and players who have been together for a long time are not likely to achieve a massive improvement overnight. The group potential has been reached, the team might even be over the hill, and the ideal has still not been attained. This is the typical scenario in which you’re likely to see transfers.

The Value of Eurus

This man is the main reason why Vici Gaming had so much success over the last 3 years. He joined the organization after The International 2017 and in 3 years, he won several Majors and placed 5^th – 6^th at The International 2019. Prior to his signing, VG had had a long period of failures. For two years, the organization had struggled to return to the strength it had in 2015, when they finished 4^th at TI.

Eurus is widely regarded as one of the best position 1/2 players in the world. He’s famous not just for reaching new MMR heights in pub games, but also for winning 1v1 competitions at big events. These duels cemented his reputation as one of the most mechanically talented competitors on the scene. Even the likes of Arteezy and Miracle would have trouble against him.

Prior to being called Eurus, Zhang Chengjun also played under a few other aliases. Older Dota 2 fans will recognize him as Paparazi.

What Can Vici Gaming Do

Now that Eurus is gone, the real question is: can Vici Gaming maintain its top position in China and can they continue to be one of the best Dota 2 teams in the world? I think the answer is no. And the reason is simple: you cannot easily replace a legendary player who has such an amount of skill and experience. Or at least, you’d have to bring in someone of similar quality. And even if you do, that new player will need to blend in and learn how to play effectively together with 4 new teammates. This takes a lot of time and in esports, time is always against you. Especially if you don’t succeed early.

One of the tricky parts about professional Dota 2 is that the top competitors are highly experienced and have been playing in more or less the same formula for years. When you need to beat a team like Secret, whose captain has been in the game for 10-15 years and whose systems are highly optimized, you’re going to be throwing stones at a mountain.

The player who was brought in to replace Eurus seems to be 23savage. He’s just 18 and has shown good skills at Fnatic, where he stayed for a year. But I’m skeptical about his ability to fill the void that Eurus left behind.

 

Photo credit: Valve