Two-time The International champion Topias Miikka “Topson” Taavitsainen will officially play as a stand-in for LGD Gaming's South American roster at the upcoming TI 2026. The Finnish esports player will fill the mid lane position left vacant following the sudden suspension of Santiago “TaiLung” Agüero Gustavo.
On August 9, just four days before the start of the Dota 2 World Championship, tournament organizers PGL and LGD Gaming's management announced a ban on 17-year-old Peruvian player TaiLung from all PGL tournaments due to “issues of competitive integrity.” This forced the organization to urgently seek a replacement on the eve of the most important event of the year.
Faced with this crisis, LGD Gaming invited the legendary Topson, who agreed to interrupt his career break and help the team. The organization confirmed the move by publishing an official statement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo:
“हम delighted to officially announce that Topson (Topias Miikka Taavitsainen) has officially joined the LGD Dota 2 team after friendly communication and negotiation. Topson is a world-renowned top mid-laner with extensive international tournament experience and exceptional individual skill. His addition will further enhance the team's tactical depth and competitive experience. We believe that Topson, with his strength and professional attitude, can quickly integrate with the team.”
For Topson, this marks an unexpected return to the big stage. He previously won championship titles at TI 2018 and TI 2019 with OG. His last major competitive appearance before stepping away from the scene was a third-place finish at TI 2024 with Tundra Esports.
This year's tournament will be the second in history hosted in Shanghai. The last time the city hosted TI was in 2019, where Topson himself lifted the Aegis for the second time with OG. The competition is divided into two key stages:
- “Road to The International” (August 13–16): A Swiss-style group stage, after which the top eight teams out of 16 will advance.
- Main Event (August 20–23): Decisive playoff matches at the Oriental Sports Center arena in Shanghai.
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