Virtus.pro (VP), one of the most iconic organizations in Dota 2, has announced a full roster overhaul, bringing in talent from Chimera Esports in a bold bid to reclaim its former dominance. Once a powerhouse in the Eastern European scene, VP has faced a steep decline in recent years. The latest roster shake-up comes ahead of the DreamLeague Season 26 playoffs, signaling the team's renewed competitive intent. VP parts ways with Squad1x and Noticed As part of the rebuild, Ilya "Squad1x" Kuvaldin and Evgeniy "Noticed" Ignatenko have been officially released. The move marks a complete reshuffle of the Dota 2 division—one that aims to revive VP's standing on the international stage. Virtus.pro's new Dota 2 lineup: * Aybek "TA2000" Tokayev (Carry) * Artem "Lorenof" Melnick (Mid) * Nikita "Daxak" Kuzmin (Offlane) * Ivan "OneJey" Zhivitsky (Soft Support) * Vladislav "Rein" Kosygin (Hard Support) The lineup reunites core players from Chimera Esports, a squad that stunned fans with a fourth-place finish at DreamLeague Season 25 despite limited expectations. Strategic leadership and regional shift In parallel with the roster update, Georgy "drAmer" Faleev has been appointed head of VP's Dota 2 division, reinforcing the team's strategic reset. In a surprising twist, VP—traditionally a CIS team—will now compete in the Middle East and Southwest Asia (MESWA) Closed Qualifier for DreamLeague Season 26. The team received a direct invitation and is set to face regional contenders such as Nigma Galaxy and Winter Bear, beginning April 1. Experience and chemistry at the core The new squad blends veteran presence with fresh talent: * TA2000 impressed with Quest Esports in 2023, earning top-four finishes at the Bali Major and Riyadh Masters. * Lorenof, despite being only 22, brings Tier 1 experience from stints with Aurora Gaming and Tundra Esports. * Daxak, the team's most seasoned player, made his mark with Gambit Esports and other top Eastern European teams. * OneJey, a Chimera original, retains his role. * Rein, formerly with L1GA TEAM and One Move, rounds out the support duo. A critical moment for a storied legacy Following a disappointing eighth-place finish at The International 2023 and a poor 2025 qualifier run, VP's reputation has taken a hit. This rebuild—and their entry into a new regional circuit—could mark the start of a new chapter. With a fresh roster, revamped leadership, and regional repositioning, Virtus.pro is betting on synergy, experience, and bold change to write the next chapter of its storied legacy in Dota 2.
