Chinese Dota 2 team Azure Ray has announced that TI-winning three position player Zhang “Faith_bian” Ruida, also known as Bach, has left the team. The announcement was revealed on Sep. 18 across social media.
His replacement will be Li “niu” Kongbo, formerly of LGD Gaming, where he achieve a third place finish at TI12.
Image Credit: ESL FACEIT
As part of the announcement, Azure Ray welcomed the Chinese three position:
“We warmly welcome the new member Niu to join. As a well-known domestic player, Niu has played for many well-known clubs and achieved an impressive third place in TI12.”
The Azure Ray roster now currently consists of the following players:
- Position 1: Lou (Lou Zhen)
- Position 2: Han (Gu Jiahan)
- Position 3: Niu (Li Kongbo)
- Position 4: planet (Lin Hao)
- Position 5: Piqiu (Yu Yajun)
- Coach: Super (Xie Junhao)
- Manager: Suan (Xie Xinbo)
Faith_bian’s departure ends a comparatively short run with the team. Ruida, who also goes by the in-game name Bach, joined Azure Ray in December 2023, right at the cusp of the new year. During that time, he helped Azure Ray re-affirm the Chinese region as one of the best in the world at Dota 2, following a disappointing 2023.
However Bach’s run with Azure Ray ended in disappointment as the team failed to qualify for The International 2024, instead missing out to regional rivals Team Zero and G2 x iG. That qualifier was played with Zeng “Ori” Jiaoyang as a stand-in midlaner as Gu “Han” Jiahan had broken his elbow.
The roster shuffle also continues a transitional period for Azure Ray. The organization currently has two players which it fields on loan from other team. Midlaner Han is on loan from Dark Horse while Lin “planet” Hao is on loan from LGD Gaming.
Azure Ray are scheduled to take part in both PGL Wallachia Season 2 and the DreamLeague Season 24 qualifiers in just a few weeks.
