It is expected that esports retirement will be short, but Pan “Fade” Yi’s is on a whole new level. Just two weeks after announcing his plan to retire from competitive Dota 2, the well-known support esports player confirmed his return to action.
If you were expecting him to stay with Vici Gaming, then your hopes will be shattered. That is because Fade has decided to leave the team in hopes of finding a better career with Team Aster. Fade is said to be the second free agent to join the organization following Song “Sccc” Chun’s arrival. Aster’s official roster for the upcoming highly anticipated Dota Pro Circuit season is now complete.
The big reveal was made by Team Aster on Weibo. Fade went on to confirm the news to the Dota 2 community himself.
Fade is already an icon in the Chinese Dota 2 scene. His skills were magnified during the 2018-19 Dota Pro Circuit season, where he helped Vici Gaming take home not one, but two major titles during their campaign. Despite the team's successful run during the season, the team displayed a rather disappointing top-six finish at The International 2019. During their round against Team Secret, they just could not find a way to counter every attack and push.
Immediately after TI9, which saw OG winning back-to-back championships, Fade was at the center of a poaching controversy involving Royal Never Give Up. According to the CEO of Vici Gaming, Fade was approached by RNG during the prestigious tournament. The allegations, however, were later withdrawn, but Fade decided to retire from competitive Dota 2. His said that his exit was due to the drama he was involved in and the poor performance displayed by VG.
During the confirmation of his return, Fade clarified why the allegations surfaced. Although he confirmed having a discussion with the manager of RNG, he denied having further talks relating to the poaching controversy.
It holds true that Team Aster is already a great Dota 2 team. But with Fade’s inclusion, they might just become a serious contender in next year’s The International 2020.
