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OG have released Marc Polo “Raven” Fausto, Erin “Yopaj” Ferrer and Timothy “TIMS” Randrup from their Dota 2 roster. The organisation confirmed all three departures on September 9, beginning a substantial rebuild after The International 2026. OG thanked the players for their work through a season of “many ups and downs,” but did not announce replacements. The immediate picture is therefore three confirmed exits and three open places, not a completed new lineup.
The timing follows a season that reached its biggest target but ended quickly on the main stage. OG returned to The International through Southeast Asia’s regional qualifier, then finished 14th-15th in Shanghai. Moving on from three members at once signals that the next version of the team will look markedly different, even though the organisation has not yet shown what that version will be.
Three exits after a difficult TI campaign
Raven had joined OG ahead of The International qualifiers, replacing Nikko after the team’s short experiment with TORONTOTOKYO ended. The reporting identifies Raven as the offlaner in that final change. OG have not attached new signings to the departure notice, so speculation about who takes his position—or the places vacated by Yopaj and TIMS—remains separate from the official announcement.
Before the roster broke up, OG beat Grind Back 3:1 in the Southeast Asian qualifier grand final and claimed the region’s only TI berth. The run in Shanghai was much tougher. OG went 1-4 in group-stage series, recording their only win against HULIGANI, before GamerLegion eliminated them 2:0. That contrast explains the mixed tone of the season: qualification put OG back on Dota’s largest stage, but the team did not turn that achievement into a deep tournament run.
For Raven, Yopaj and TIMS, the announcement closes a specific chapter rather than explaining what comes next. All three were part of the roster that completed the regional-qualifier run, and all three are now free of that project. OG’s farewell did not assign blame to an individual player or identify one role as the reason for the TI finish. Reading the move as three confirmed personnel decisions is more accurate than turning it into a public verdict on any one member.
What remains unresolved
OG’s announcement did not address the futures of John “Natsumi-” Vargas or captain and support Andrei “skem” Ong. Their omission should not be treated as a formal confirmation of the next roster. It only describes where the public information stops: Raven, Yopaj and TIMS are out, while OG have yet to name incoming players or present a final five for the new season.
Replacing three roles at once can change far more than the names on a lineup. Lane pairings, drafting responsibilities and the voice that guides mid-game decisions all have to be rebuilt around whoever remains. OG may choose continuity around Natsumi- and skem or make additional changes, but the September 9 statement does not answer that question. Any prospective lineup circulating before an official announcement should be treated as speculation.
The organisation also has to decide which part of the past season it wants to preserve. The qualifier showed that the lineup could handle a high-pressure series and win a regional bracket. The group stage in Shanghai showed that the same group struggled when the level rose across repeated international matchups. A successful rebuild will need to keep the resilience that secured the berth while finding more consistency against a broader field.
- Confirmed: Raven, Yopaj and TIMS have left OG.
- Not announced: replacements for any of the three departing players.
- Still unaddressed in the statement: the future status of Natsumi- and skem.
| Player | Status after the announcement |
|---|---|
| Raven | Departed |
| Yopaj | Departed |
| TIMS | Departed |
| Natsumi- | Future not addressed |
| skem | Future not addressed |
OG’s next meaningful update will be the roster itself. Until the organisation names replacements, the only firm conclusion is that the TI 2026 lineup has lost three players and the rebuild is still in progress.
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