Topson returns to OG with two Filipino players for the 2026–27 Dota 2 season
Two-time TI champion Topson is back at OG after three years. The team debuts at BLAST Slam VIII from 29 September.
One of the most successful partnerships in Dota 2 is back together. On 23 September, OG announced that Finnish midlaner Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen has rejoined the team for the 2026–27 season, three years after he left.
Topson and OG won The International in 2018 and 2019, the first back-to-back titles in the tournament's history. The new roster also has a Southeast Asian core, with two Filipino players and a Filipino captain.
The new OG line-up
Dot Esports lists the roster:
- Carry: John Anthony "Natsumi" Vargas
- Mid: Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen
- Offlane: Valery "SSS" Lazarev
- Soft support: Ivan "OneJey" Zhivitsky
- Hard support and captain: Rolen Andrei "skem" Ong
- Coach: Igor "kaffs" Estevão
Natsumi and skem are both from the Philippines, and skem will lead the team. For Southeast Asian fans, this means OG, once known as a European team, now has SEA players in two key roles.
Topson's path back
Topson announced his retirement in 2024, but it didn't last. Dot Esports reports that he played in the TI 2026 open qualifiers and then joined LGD Gaming as a stand-in. That team finished 9th–13th at The International.
Joining OG means going back to the team where he won his titles. His creative, aggressive style in the mid lane was a big part of OG's back-to-back TI wins, and many fans still remember him for it.
The Dota 2 scene after TI 2026
The International 2026 was held at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai from 13 to 23 August. Team Spirit beat TEAM VISION 3-2 in the grand final, and game five lasted 64 minutes. According to GosuGamers, Spirit became the first team to win three Aegis of Champions. Yatoro and Collapse became the first players to win TI three times.
Rosters always change after TI, and OG's move is one of the biggest so far.
First test: BLAST Slam VIII
The new OG will play first at BLAST Slam VIII. BLAST has made the event bigger this season:
- 16 teams, up from previous editions
- Online group stage: 29 September – 3 October, with every match a best-of-three
- LAN finals: 8–11 October at BLAST Arena Studios in Malta, with fans in attendance
- Prize pool: US$750,000, made up of US$550,000 in prize money and US$200,000 in team earnings
The invited teams include Team Spirit, OG, Team Yandex, LGD Gaming, Team Liquid and Natus Vincere. BLAST also held four regional qualifier slots: two for Europe, one for China and one for Southeast Asia.
Malaysian viewers can follow OG and the Southeast Asian qualifier team in the online stage, which starts next Tuesday.
Why it matters
The first event after TI shows early on which new rosters work. OG have a two-time world champion in the middle and an experienced SEA captain, so they are one of the teams to watch. The online groups should show quickly whether they can win again.
Key takeaways
- Topson has rejoined OG for 2026–27, three years after leaving.
- The roster is Natsumi, Topson, SSS, OneJey and captain skem, coached by kaffs.
- Topson came out of retirement in 2026 and played for LGD at TI, finishing 9th–13th.
- OG start at BLAST Slam VIII on 29 September. The event has 16 teams and a US$750,000 prize pool, with the finals in Malta.
FAQ
How many TIs has Topson won? Two, both with OG, in 2018 and 2019.
Who won The International 2026? Team Spirit, who beat TEAM VISION 3-2 in Shanghai for a record third TI title.
Where are the BLAST Slam VIII finals? At BLAST Arena Studios in Malta, from 8 to 11 October 2026.
Sources: Dot Esports, GosuGamers, BLAST.tv