The reason Topson may have retired from pro Dota 2

Tundra Esports’ Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen has announced that he’s retiring from Dota 2 esports, ending one of the game’s most decorated careers.

Tundra Esports just finished in third place at The International 2024, taking home a share of $230,000. While it was a strong showing from the international team, Topson revealed on September 24, 2024 that he’s planning to retire now that this season has wrapped up. The two-time TI champion’s farewell has been emotional for Dota 2 fans.

“After many patches, countless tournaments and some crazy picks we will have to say farewell to Topson as he retires from competitive Dota,” Tundra Esports tweeted.

Fans reacted with sadness at the news, wishing Topson the best but expressing grief over his departure. But is he officially retiring for good this time?

Why did Topson retire from Dota 2?

Topson may have chosen to retire from Dota 2 to fulfill his mandatory Finnish military service.

Topson has not revealed exactly why he has retired from pro Dota 2 but there have been some rumors. Russian caster Vladimir “Maelstorm” Kuzminov shared on May 7 that Topson was likely going to leave the scene due to required military service. This has been the case for fellow pros from Finland, including Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka and Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen. It doesn’t seem like Topson will be getting the Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok treatment and earning the right to skip his country’s military requirements.

If Topson is retiring due to military service, he could potentially be back in as little as a year. Topson has taken breaks from pro Dota 2 in the past. However, it seems like Topson may be retiring for good due to this announcement.

Topson was initially signed to OG ahead of The International 8 after two of its members left for another team. At this point, Topson has zero competitive experience on LAN, but he ended up helping OG become TI champion. In fact, the team didn’t lose a single series during the main event. Topson won back-to-back TIs after also winning TI9 with OG.

Topson has since taken some breaks from pro play, but remained a respected player with a unique approach to the game. Coming in third at the largest event of the year is a great way to end his career. Of course, there’s always a chance he stages a comeback. His online hat store remains open.

Topson’s replacement on Tundra after retiring has not been confirmed. Tundra Esports will need to decide soon as it is competing in PGL Wallachia Season 2 at the start of October.

As Topson steps away from the scene, dive into Ringmaster’s Dota 2 release date, abilities, and more to explore the game’s evolving landscape.