Chinese Dota 2 fans, rejoice! There is speculation that legendary Chinese Dota 2 players are coming together for another fun run. We are familiar with the trend where pro players temporarily retire only to return later. Yet, Lu “Somnus” Yao, a notable Chinese Dota 2 player known for his achievements even up to last year, seems to prefer playing Dota 2 on a part-time basis, which he finds more enjoyable.
Lu “Somnus” Yao (Image Credits: The International 2023)
Who will be a part of “Elephant 2.0” alongside Somnus in Dota 2?
Somnus and Yang “Chalice” Shenyi are likely making a comeback to the professional Dota 2, forming a “fun stack” with Zhou “Yang” Haiyang, who shared this news during a live stream.
This new team has been humorously dubbed Elephant 2.0. Expected to join the lineup are Xiong “Pyw” Jiahan and Yu “Siamese.C” Yajun, with Chalice shifting roles from offlaner to carry.
Yang “Chalice” Shenyi (Image Credits: The International 2023)
Considering the timeline which Somnus and his friends have decided to join Dota 2, it’s clear that this team is assembling purely for fun and may participate in the open qualifiers for the International 2024 (TI13). If we are lucky, we might even get to catch them in several third-party tournaments, if they qualify via the open qualifiers.
History of Team Elephant
The original Team Elephant included celebrated players from PSG.LGD and Vici Gaming, like Zhang “Paparazi灬” Chengjun, Xu “fy” Linsen, Xie “Super” Junhao, Yang and Somnus himself. Despite high expectations, the team did not perform well and disbanded after the International 2021 (TI10).
Team Elephant at TI10 (Image Credits: The International 2021)
After this setback, Somnus announced his retirement in late 2022 but returned in mid-2023 to join Azure Ray, stating that his retirement was more of a break.
His return to competitive play at TI12 was notably successful and even enjoyable. This highlights that playing for fun was more satisfying than during his full-time professional days, which he felt was stressful.
Azure Ray’s Underdog Story
Azure Ray, though not the same team roster in question now, is remembered fondly for their surprising fourth-place finish at TI12. Their journey ended in a heart-wrenching yet satisfying manner, marking a memorable chapter in Somnus’ and the remnants of PSG.LGD’s Dota 2 career.
The formation of Team Elephant 2.0 now captures the attention of fans, albeit without the presence of former teammate, Xu “fy” Linsen, whose return remains uncertain.
Drama with BetBoom Team
In addition, the return of Somnus might reignite tensions with the Russian squad, BetBoom Team, stemming from a dispute during the Bali Major 2023. BetBoom’s Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko faced disqualification for rule violations, an incident BetBoom believes was influenced by Somnus’ team, though Somnus stated the decision was made by the organizers.
The beef continues to manifest in their encounters, notably when Azure Ray defeated BetBoom at TI12, ending the match with a provocative “?” typed in the game chat.
With all these dynamics, many fans eagerly await Somnus’ return to the Dota 2 scene, offering both entertainment and potential drama.
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