Tundra Esports sign Ari as new position 4 support player

Heading into the new season, Ari will step into the big shoes left by Saksa at Tundra Esports.

The competitive Dota 2 roster shuffle period sees more big changes being made. Prominent Western European (WEU) squad Tundra Esports have officially signed British support player Matthew “Ari” Walker to its roster, replacing Martin “Saksa” Sazdov as they head into the new season. With Ari’s arrival, the roster is nearly complete, with just the carry position left to be filled.

Tundra underwent a significant roster shake-up following a Top 8 finish at The International (TI) 2025. While that placement is enviable for most teams, it fell short of expectations after an exceptional season with consistent top-tier results. Tundra had achieved three major tournament victories and four additional podium finishes, which positioned them among the favorites heading into TI.

However, a last-minute visa issue that sidelined Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon, combined with an overall lackluster team performance, led to a disappointing finish at the championship.

Heading into the 2025/2026 season, Tundra Esports has parted ways with position 4 player Saksa and carry player Remco “Crystallis” Arets. While Ari has been confirmed as Saksa’s replacement, the carry role remains unfilled.

Tundra Esports Current Roster:

Ari joins Tundra for the new season

In the past few years, Ari has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising potentials. He made his breakthrough in 2023 with TSM in North America, where he qualified for Dota 2 Majors and The International for the first time.

In 2024, Ari played under OG, though the season yielded disappointing results. He then spent most of this year on OG’s inactive roster but did compete briefly on loan for Natus Vincere, where he helped secure a Tier 2 tournament win and a Top 6 finish at PGL Wallachia Season 5.

Now, Ari steps into a big role–replacing TI champion Saksa, a well-established figure and key laning partner of 33.

Tundra’s final piece to be announced

Tundra’s roster is nearly finalized, with only the carry position left to be filled. With direct invites to several upcoming tournaments–including FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2 and BLAST Slam IV in October, as well as PGL Wallachia Season 6 in November and BLAST Slam V in December–the team will need their final player to soon compete in a hectic end-of-the-year schedule.

Rumors suggest that Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko could be stepping in as the new carry, following his recent departure from BetBoom Team’s active roster. While nothing is confirmed yet, an official announcement is expected in the coming weeks.