LGD Gaming will play with Topson as their stand-in for The Worldwide 2026 following TaiLung’s ban.
Two-time The Worldwide (TI) champion 
Topias Miikka “Topson” Taavitsainen has been confirmed because the stand-in for 
LGD Gaming on the upcoming TI 2026. Topson will probably be filling the vacant mid laner position left by 
Santiago “TaiLung” Agüero Gustavo, who was not too long ago banned by PGL and LGD Gaming due to “issues of competitive integrity”.
LGD Gaming introduced Topson’s addition on Weibo, with its full assertion studying (translated into English):
“We’re delighted to formally announce that Topson (Topias Miikka Taavitsainen) has formally joined the LGD Dota 2 staff after pleasant communication and negotiation.
Topson is a world-renowned high mid-laner with intensive worldwide match expertise and distinctive particular person ability. As one of many iconic gamers within the Dota 2 skilled scene, he has repeatedly demonstrated an excellent aggressive degree in top-level competitions, delivering numerous basic performances along with his distinctive hero pool, wonderful in-game judgement, and extremely artistic playstyle.
His addition will additional improve the staff’s tactical depth and aggressive expertise. We imagine that Topson, along with his power {and professional} angle, can shortly combine with the staff and meet new challenges collectively in future competitions.
Welcome Topson to LGD, and we sit up for working collectively to realize nice outcomes!”
Topson replaces TaiLung in LGD Gaming for TI 2026
On Sunday (9 August), a bombshell was dropped on the Dota group when it was introduced that TaiLung had been banned by PGL and LGD Gaming because of problems with aggressive integrity. Because of this, the 17-year outdated Peruvian prodigy was banned from taking part in at TI 2026 and all future PGL tournaments, successfully spelling the tip of his budding profession.
The announcement got here simply 4 days earlier than the annual Dota 2 world championship kicks off, leaving LGD Gaming scrambling for a last-minute substitute. Luckily, iconic midlaner Topson has answered the decision, agreeing to step into the South American roster and assist them of their TI 2026 marketing campaign.
Topson has loved an unprecedented degree of success in Dota 2, successful back-to-back titles at TI 2018 and TI 2019 with 
OG. He additionally got here near changing into the first-ever three-time TI champion, placing third at TI 2024 with 
Tundra Esports, which was his final correct aggressive look earlier than he opted for retirement.
Now, Topson is making an surprising return to the large stage below the LGD Gaming banner, along with his participation confirmed simply three days earlier than TI 2026 commences in Shanghai.
The sequence of occasions has despatched the Dota 2 group right into a whirlwind. TaiLung’s ban was a significant disappointment for the scene, significantly for followers of the younger expertise who had been wanting ahead to his seemingly shiny future, in addition to supporters of South American Dota 2.
Nevertheless, Topson’s arrival might provide loads of hope for the South American roster, as there’s little query about his expertise and prowess. LGD Gaming will now have to beat the setback and adapt in simply a number of days.
What’s The Worldwide 2026?
TI 2026 will probably be this yr’s iteration of Dota 2’s annual world championship match, happening in August in Shanghai, China. As with earlier iterations of the match, TI 2026 will characteristic a complete of 16 groups that earn their spots within the match by receiving direct invitations or incomes slots via regional qualifiers.
The checklist of directly-invited groups to TI 2026 embrace
Aurora Gaming, 
BetBoom Team, 
Team Falcons,
Team Liquid, 
1w Team, 
Xtreme Gaming, and 
Team Yandex. In the meantime, the groups that earned their spots via the regional qualifiers embrace European qualifier winners 
Team Spirit, 
TEAM VISION (aka PARIVISION), 
HULIGANI, and 
Nigma Galaxy, North American qualifier winner 
GamerLegion, Southeast Asian qualifier winner OG, South American qualifier winner LGD Gaming, in addition to Chinese qualifier winners 
Vici Gaming and Team Resilience.
TI 2026’s principal occasion will probably be hosted within the Oriental Sports activities Heart in Shanghai. Valve first announced that Shanghai will host TI 2026 throughout final yr’s world championship match, the place Team Falcons claimed the Aegis of Champions after defeating China’s Xtreme Gaming within the five-game grand finals.
This can mark the second time that Shanghai will host TI after TI 2019, the place Western Europe’s OG turned the first-ever two-time TI champions after defeating Group Liquid in 4 video games to assert the grand prize of US$15.6 million, out of the US$34.3 million prize pool.
TI 2026 will probably be cut up into two phases: the ‘Highway to The Worldwide’ and ‘The Worldwide’ principal occasion. The Highway to The Worldwide will probably be a Swiss-style Group Stage from 13 to 16 August, the place the 16 groups will probably be lower right down to the ultimate eight that can play within the sport’s largest stage from 20 to 23 August in Shanghai’s Oriental Sports activities Heart.
Whereas Valve have but to disclose the small print on TI 2026’s prize pool, the match is predicted to comply with final yr’s prize pool format with a US$1.6 million base prize pool. The prize pool will then be boosted via gross sales of the TI 2026 Compendium.
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