AVULUS drop Fly, Xibbe, and dEsire in major roster shake-up

After a series of underwhelming performances in recent months, AVULUS have begun a roster rebuild by releasing four players.

Western European (WEU) organisation AVULUS has made major changes to its Dota 2 roster, parting ways with four of its team members. Tal “Fly” Aizik, Andreas “Xibbe” Ragnemalm, Athanasios “dEsire” Kartsabas, and coach Andrij "Mag" Chipenko have all departed the team. Meanwhile, Aleksey “Smiling Knight” Sviridov and Vitaliy “Worick” Brezgin will remain with the organisation.

AVULUS announced the departure of its players on social media, adding gratitude for former players who had represented them this season.

“Due to weak results in recent months, we have made a tough decision. The cooperation between and the current Dota 2 roster has come to an end. We would like to thank Xibbe, dEsire, Fly, and Mag, as well as [Daniel “Stormstormer” Schoetzau], [Masrcel “Ekki” Hołowienko], [Akbar “SoNNeikO” Butaev], and [Fabian “Mo13ei” Knehr] for their contribution to the growth of AVULUS.”

The organisation then teased a future rebuild, keeping fans on their toes: “AVULUS’ ambitions in Dota 2 do not end here. In the new season, we plan to return with a renewed roster and once again compete at the highest level.”

AVULUS’ current Dota 2 roster:

As the world’s best teams gear up for The International (TI) 2025, others are already making moves for the next season. Shopify Rebellion, who failed to qualify through the North American qualifiers for two consecutive years, recently announced its departure from Dota 2. Southeast Asia’s Talon Esports parted ways with Carlo “KuKu” Palad and Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon, Team Yandex released captain Alexey “Solo” Berezin, and more changes are unfolding across the scene. Now, AVULUS joins the wave of roster shuffles with significant changes of its own.

AVULUS had been considered a strong contender for a slot via the Western Europe qualifier, having shown promising performances earlier in the season. The team secured a Top 8 finish at PGL Wallachia Season 2, placed Top 6 at ESL One Bangkok, and achieved another Top 8 at ESL One Raleigh. They have proven that they can deal damage in top-tier events.

However, their momentum was disrupted when key player SoNNeikO unexpectedly left in April, followed by the departure of two more players. After that, AVULUS struggled to replicate their early-season form and gradually lost ground.

In the Western Europe qualifier for TI 2025, AVULUS faltered, losing back-to-back series against 4Pirates and Yellow Submarine. With no major events left on the horizon, a roster overhaul seemed inevitable.

AVULUS is expected to unveil its new roster in the coming weeks. In the meantime, all eyes turn to Hamburg, Germany, where 16 teams are preparing for Dota 2’s most significant stage.

For more information on the biggest Dota 2 tournament of the year, check out GosuGamers' guide to this year's Dota 2 world championship tournament and TI 2025 tournament tracker.