2020 had its fair share of surprises both globally and in the Dota 2 competitive scene. Some of the most famous players and talent ended their careers in the past year and we’re here to take a look who’s missing in 2021.
Last year kicked off with a series of Dota 2 events but certain pro players already made a decision to retire and focus on something else.
JerAx
The first to do so in 2020 was no other than Jesse "JerAx" Vainikka . The Finnish player already achieved what most Dota 2 players can only dream of. Multiple Major victories, two wins at The International, and a whole lot of experience over the years.
From Boston to Shangai, @iamJERAX allowed us to write a unique story with OG.All good things come to an end, and Jesse has decided to retire from pro Dota 2.Thank you Jesse! Read JerAx's statement https://t.co/izeufE6vU4#DreamOG pic.twitter.com/nIxvuP9gxK
— OG (@OGesports) January 26, 2020
By the looks of it, JerAx is definitely done with Dota 2. The same can't be said for the next entry on our list.
PPD
Peter “PPD” Dager was the one who captained Evil Geniuses to a victory at The International 2015. He’s without a doubt one of the most recognized players not only in the NA scene but Dota 2 as a whole. In April 2020 he announced his second retirement.
Moving on - Retiring from competitive Dota 2Read: https://t.co/7mZ0mpALwk
— Peter Dager (@Peterpandam) April 20, 2020
Much like the first one, it didn’t last long as he’s currently competing in the new Dota Pro Circuit 2021. His team Sadboys, even though created only a month ago, received a direct invitation for the Upper Division of DPC 2021 NA, so we’ll definitely see more of him.
Universe
Right after PPD, his fellow teammate Saahil “Universe” Arora announced retirement. Universe was not only in the same NiP roster when PPD retired but also in the TI-winning roster of EG back in 2015. Arora played for various other teams in the NA region, Fnatic in SEA and NiP in Europe.
RetirementRead: https://t.co/arwWHlRZqc
— Saahil Arora (@UniverseDota) April 23, 2020
Unlike Peter, we haven’t seen any recent news from Universe, and we doubt he’ll be making a return to the scene. Then again, one never knows.
TobiWan
Toby "TobiWan" Dawson was the Dota 2 caster. During some of the biggest tournaments in Dota 2 competitive history, he was behind the mic, hyping up fans. Some of his voice lines even made it to the annual Dota 2 Battle Pass but all changed in 2020. After the #MeToo movement made its way into esports, the Dota 2 scene didn't remain unaffected. After getting accused by several parties, Dawson announced that he's done casting in esports.
— Inactive (@TobiWanDOTA) July 2, 2020
TobiWan is the only English talent to attend every Dota 2 International. That's a title he still holds since the 2020 event never happened.
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