Team Liquid Welcomes 33 As New Offlaner Following zai's Retirement

On 10th November, Team Liquid (TL) made a significant announcement about its position three player for the upcoming 2024 season in Dota 2 esports.

Team Liquid placed 5th-6th standing at The International 2023 (TI12) and in the wake of the team's elimination, during a post-game interview with Neal "Tsunami" Khandheria, TL's Ludwig "zai" Wåhlberg hinted at taking an indefinite break from Dota 2 pro scene.

The news of zai's departure prompted various speculations about his successor, with cyber.sports.ru suggesting that Tundra Esports' offlaner, Neta "33" Shapira, might be the chosen replacement.

This was officially confirmed on 10th November as Team Liquid unveiled the "last link" of its Dota 2 roster.

Team Liquid Signs 33, Completes Its Dota 2 Roster

During the exit interview at TI12, zai said, “It was probably my last World Championship. I plan to take a break and see how it goes. Not quite sure where it will lead me."

Following this, rumors suggested 33's inclusion in Team Liquid. The suspense surrounding the team's offlane position rose to a new high on 10th November as the organization noted that it shall be revealing a new force joining the Dota 2 team. It noted that it would announce the final player and the replacment for zai via a tweet. 

The tweet read, "A new force joins the @teamliquiddota roster today👑 Announced live today at 4 PM CET only on [BSJ & qojqva's Twitch] Join us in welcoming the last link of our DOTA2 Roster live! 💙 #LETSGOLIQUID”

The announcement stream featured popular Team Liquid streamers Brian "BSJ" Canavan, Max "qojqva" Bröcker, Samuel "Boxi" Svahn and Aydin "iNSaNiA" Sarkohi. During the stream, Team Liquid announced the arrival of Neta "33" Shapira to its Dota roster. Following this, a tweet was also posted to welcome 33 into the ranks.

Neta "33" Shapira, a former member of Tundra Esports and a TI winner, was seen donning the Team Liquid jersey on stream. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Team Liquid's offlane position. Known for his exceptional mechanical and micromanagement skills, 33 has showcased his prowess with heroes such as Visage, Lycan, and Beastmaster.

The current Team Liquid roster features the following players:

• Michael "miCKe" Vu

• Michał "Nisha" Jankowski

• Samuel "Boxi" Svahn

• Aydin "Insania" Sarkohi

• Neta "33" Shapira

• Coach William "Blitz" Lee

With this loaded lineup, the team is looking like one of the strongest squads heading into the 2024 season.

With the addition of 33 to the roster, Team Liquid aims to reinforce its standing in the competitive Dota 2 scene. Team Liquid’s roster is complete and it shall soon participate in the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 open qualifiers. Fans are eager to witness the synergy and strategic depth that 33 will bring to the team as they embark on future challenges.

To stay updated on the latest developments in the Dota 2 offseason, be sure to follow AFK Gaming and our post-TI12 roster tracker.