Dota 2 Post-TI15 Roster Shuffle: The Biggest Rumors and Potential Transfers

The Post-TI15 Shuffle Has Begun

The International 2026 may have only just ended, but the Dota 2 offseason is already moving at full speed.

Team Spirit lifted the Aegis in Shanghai on August 23, completing a historic third TI victory for the organization. Just hours later, attention began shifting away from the tournament itself and toward the question that follows every International:

Who is staying, and who is leaving?

Several teams have already announced roster changes, while a growing number of reports and player comments suggest that some of the biggest Dota 2 organizations could look completely different next season.

It is important to separate confirmed moves from speculation. Some of the information currently circulating comes from players themselves or official team announcements, while other reports originate from regional social media, community posts and anonymous sources.

With that in mind, here is our rundown of the most interesting Dota 2 roster shuffle rumors after TI15.

Team Falcons Could Be Heading for a Major Rebuild

The biggest potential shake-up may be happening at Team Falcons.

The team entered TI15 as the defending champion but failed to make the playoffs, and the tournament ended with several members of the roster discussing their futures.

The first confirmed departures are already significant.

Cr1t- and Aui_2000 have announced plans to retire, while reports also claim that Skiter and Sneyking could leave the organization. Cr1t- previously said that TI15 might be his final International, making his retirement speculation considerably more credible than a typical transfer rumor.

That could leave Falcons with a very different-looking core.

Malr1ne and ATF Could Stay Together

One of the most interesting rumors is that Malr1ne and ATF could remain together.

That possibility matters because the pair have developed one of the most recognizable mid/offlane combinations in modern Dota 2.

There is also a community rumor that Malr1ne has discussed potential destinations outside Falcons, including BetBoom Team, Team Yandex and Team Liquid, depending on how those rosters develop. This particular claim is based on community discussion referencing an interview, rather than an official transfer report, so it should be treated strictly as a rumor.

Our take

Falcons rebuilding around Malr1ne and ATF would make sense.

They already have proven chemistry, and starting from that duo could be considerably more attractive than completely rebuilding from zero.

The question is who they can find for the remaining positions.

Team Liquid: Topson Rumors Could Change Everything

Perhaps the most surprising rumor of the first post-TI15 days concerns Topson.

The two-time TI champion confirmed after TI15 that he intends to continue playing competitively and is negotiating with a team.

Shortly afterwards, reports emerged claiming that Topson could join Team Liquid, with Ace potentially leaving and Nisha potentially taking a break or moving inactive. At this stage, these are reports rather than official roster announcements.

If the scenario materializes, it would be one of the most significant moves of the shuffle.

Topson joining Liquid would also create a fascinating tactical question.

Would he play mid?

Would the team move another player to accommodate him?

Or could the rumored departure of Nisha open the role naturally?

There are currently more questions than answers.

Why the Topson Rumor Makes Sense

Topson has repeatedly shown that he is not interested in simply maintaining a roster spot.

His hero pool, unconventional approach and willingness to experiment make him a unique player in the transfer market.

At the same time, Liquid already have an established infrastructure and a roster with championship-level experience.

A Topson-Liquid project would therefore be one of the most ambitious possible combinations of the offseason.

Status: Rumored, not confirmed.

Nisha Could Take a Break

The other half of the Liquid rumor is arguably even more important.

According to reports currently circulating, Nisha could take a break from competitive Dota 2 or move inactive.

There is no official confirmation of a retirement or permanent departure.

That distinction matters.

Nisha remains one of the world's most accomplished midlaners, and a temporary break would be very different from leaving professional Dota 2 altogether.

Nevertheless, if he does step away, the European transfer market could change dramatically.

A player of Nisha's caliber immediately becomes one of the most valuable free agents available.

SumaiL Could Be Retiring

Another legendary name potentially leaving the scene is SumaiL.

Following TI15, reports indicated that the Nigma Galaxy star is likely to retire, while SumaiL himself reportedly described TI15 as potentially his final tournament.

If confirmed, it would mark the end of another major chapter in Dota 2 history.

SumaiL's career includes a TI championship, years of success with Evil Geniuses and numerous appearances at the highest level.

However, there is still a difference between:

“This may be my last tournament”

and

“I have retired.”

Until an official announcement arrives, we would keep SumaiL's status in the possible retirement category.

Our take

If SumaiL does retire, Nigma will face a difficult rebuild.

Replacing a player with his experience and individual ability is not straightforward, and the organization would need to decide whether to build around its remaining veterans or move in a completely different direction.

Xtreme Gaming Could Rebuild Around a Star

The Chinese scene could experience one of the largest reshuffles of all.

Vici Gaming have officially disbanded their roster, and reports suggest that several of their players could move to Xtreme Gaming.

That immediately created speculation about a potential reunion involving several players from Xtreme's previous lineup.

However, one major problem remains:

What Happens to Ame?

Reports currently suggest that Ame may be considering retirement, which would make a direct reunion with his former teammates impossible. CyberScore has also highlighted the possibility that the previous XG lineup cannot simply be reconstructed because of Ame's potential retirement.

At the same time, other reports say Xtreme Gaming are building a new roster around a star player.

That has led to one of the wildest rumors of the shuffle.

The Ame–Topson–XinQ–Sneyking Superteam Rumor

One reported scenario involves:

• Ame — Carry

• Topson — Mid

• Ws — Offlane

• XinQ — Soft support

• Sneyking — Hard support

This lineup has appeared in Chinese social-media rumors and shuffle trackers.

On paper, it is an absolutely ridiculous combination of experience.

But there is a major caveat.

There is currently no official confirmation that this team exists.

Even Ame's future remains uncertain, while Topson is reportedly negotiating with a team elsewhere.

So this should be viewed as a rumored lineup, not an expected roster.

Still, it demonstrates how chaotic the Chinese shuffle could become.

Vici Gaming's Disbandment Opens the Market

Vici Gaming have already made one of the clearest moves of the offseason.

The organization officially disbanded its roster, which included Shiro, Xm, Bach, XinQ and y', along with coach Yao.

This immediately puts several experienced players on the market.

And because Xtreme Gaming are reportedly rebuilding, the two stories are closely connected.

Players to Watch

Xm is particularly interesting because he previously played alongside Ame at Xtreme Gaming.

XinQ is another high-profile name who could attract international interest. One current rumor suggests that he is looking for an opportunity in Europe and could potentially join Aurora Gaming.

None of these moves are confirmed, but the talent suddenly available from Vici could reshape the Chinese scene.

Sneyking Could Move to China

Another unusual rumor involves Sneyking.

Reports from Chinese social media have suggested that the veteran support could join a Chinese organization after leaving Falcons.

That would be a particularly interesting move because Sneyking has already spent years competing internationally and has previous connections to the region.

One reported scenario even places him in the aforementioned potential roster alongside Ame, Topson, Ws and XinQ.

Again, this is unconfirmed.

But if Sneyking really does move to China, it could become one of the most interesting international transfers of the offseason.

Aurora Gaming Could Also Make Changes

Aurora Gaming are another team surrounded by rumors.

One post-TI shuffle tracker has reported that Mira could leave the roster, while Nightfall's future has also been questioned. The same report suggests Aurora could look toward a more SEA-focused lineup.

Separately, XinQ has been linked with Aurora as a potential replacement for Mira.

At the moment, this is firmly in the rumor category.

But if Aurora do decide to rebuild, the organization could become one of the key destinations for players displaced by larger roster changes.

Virtus Pro Have Already Hit the Reset Button

Not every story is a rumor.

Virtus.pro have officially released their entire Dota 2 roster.

The organization parted ways with:

• Fly

• Abed

• Timado

• Hellscream

• SabeRLight-

The move creates another group of experienced players looking for opportunities heading into the new season.

For the wider shuffle, this is important because several players could become attractive options for organizations that want to build new rosters without paying transfer fees.

Team Yandex Could Become a Major Player in the Shuffle

Team Yandex are another organization worth monitoring.

Community rumors have linked ATF and Malr1ne with a potential Yandex lineup alongside Watson and Saksa.

There is also speculation that Sneyking could potentially fit into one of the new European/CIS combinations.

Again, there is no official announcement confirming these scenarios.

But Yandex's strong performance at TI15 means the organization is unlikely to be ignored when the transfer market opens fully.

What About Team Spirit?

Ironically, the TI15 champions may be one of the teams with the least reason to make major changes.

Team Spirit have just won their third International, and their current lineup has proven that it can compete at the highest possible level.

There have nevertheless been rumors around Collapse, with some reports suggesting that the offlaner could leave after TI15.

That would obviously be enormous news.

But right now, there is not enough reliable evidence to treat a Collapse departure as anything more than a rumor.

From a sporting perspective, breaking up a three-time TI-winning roster would also be a massive gamble.

The Roster Shuffle Could Be Bigger Than Expected

Looking at the current situation, the biggest potential moves can be grouped into several categories.

Confidence reflects the strength of currently available reporting, not the likelihood that a transfer will ultimately happen.

Our Biggest Question: What Happens to Falcons?

If we had to pick one team whose roster could look completely different next season, it would be Team Falcons.

Cr1t- and Aui_2000 have already discussed retirement, while Skiter and Sneyking have been linked with departures.

That potentially leaves Malr1ne and ATF as the foundation.

And honestly, that could be a very exciting starting point.

A new Falcons roster built around those two players could attract some of the biggest free agents of the shuffle.

The question is whether Falcons want to rebuild around their current stars or completely reset.

Our Take: The Three Rosters We Are Watching Closest

1. Team Liquid

The Topson/Nisha/Ace rumors could completely change one of Europe's most established teams.

2. Team Falcons

If the reports about Cr1t-, Aui_2000, Skiter and Sneyking all prove correct, Falcons will effectively be rebuilding from scratch.

3. Xtreme Gaming

The collapse of Vici Gaming's roster creates a huge pool of available Chinese talent, while the uncertainty around Ame makes XG's next move impossible to predict.

Rumor or Reality? That's the Big Question

The first days after TI are always chaotic.

Players are negotiating.

Organizations are testing options.

Insiders are posting information.

Fans are connecting dots.

And sometimes a rumor posted on social media in the morning becomes an official announcement by the evening.

For that reason, not every rumor in this article should be treated as fact.

We have deliberately separated official announcements, player statements and reported information from community speculation.

That distinction will become increasingly important as the shuffle accelerates.

Final Thoughts

The TI15 Aegis has barely had time to settle, but the next Dota 2 season is already taking shape.

Team Falcons could rebuild.

Team Liquid could potentially add Topson.

Nisha and SumaiL could take breaks.

Xtreme Gaming could construct a new Chinese superteam.

Vici Gaming have already disbanded.

Virtus.pro have released their entire roster.

And somewhere in the middle of all of this, dozens of professional players are trying to find their next team.

The most interesting part?

The biggest moves may not have happened yet.

The post-TI15 shuffle is only beginning.