Nigma Galaxy Lets Go of Its Best Player, But Why?

MENA-backed organization Nigma Galaxy has released its carry player, Daniel “Ghost” Chan, from the active roster. This comes as a surprising move, considering Nigma had its best year results-wise since the organization’s founding in 2021. After flashes of genuine synergy and visible improvement, this decision feels abrupt, so what’s the reason behind it?

Ghost’s Journey and Contribution at Nigma

Ghost for Nigma Galaxy was that homie you could call when you’re missing a person in your five-stack. During Nigma’s troubling times, with their star player Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi facing health issues after another, Ghost would always be ready to stand in and play with the team for any tournament. 

Despite entering these events with low expectations, Ghost exceeded them. He proved himself through multiple clutch performances, starting with a 3rd-place finish at Clavision: Snow Ruyi in 2024, which was the organization’s best result in two years. 

In 2025, he continued playing for the team and gradually helped them improve. Ghost became a key part of Nigma’s resurgence, helping the team qualify for their first TI since the organization’s founding. Not only did they make it to the event, but they also went all the way to the playoffs, finishing within the top six. 

Why This Release Doesn’t Make Sense

This announcement came as a major shock to the Nigma fanbase and the wider community, mainly because many would agree that Ghost is, quite simply, the team’s best player. He helped revive a dying organization that could barely qualify for LANs, taking them to the biggest stage. 

The Malaysian ended the tournament with several highlight performances to remember, including a Rampage on Templar Assassin against Team Liquid, and a Lone Druid performance that had the BetBoom Team stressed.

Thank you @Ghostdota98 for your hard work and dedication this past year.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavors💙💜 pic.twitter.com/y3tEmzaQq8

— Nigma Galaxy (@NigmaGalaxy) November 3, 2025

That being said, there are only two logical explanations:

1. Ghost himself wanted to leave, or
2. Nigma has a major replacement lined up. 

The first option sounds unlikely, given that the Dota 2 roster shuffle is essentially over and most teams have already settled in.

If the second explanation isn’t the reason, then this move would be a step backward for a roster that finally found some momentum and decent results. 

So, Who’s Replacing Ghost?

Let’s address the elephant in the room – Nigma still has one of the greatest Dota players of all time under its banner. Miracle- is still officially signed to the organization, and such a roster move immediately sparks speculation of his long-awaited return. 

The superstar has taken a step back from competition due to health issues since April 2025, meaning he’s had at least six months to recover. Should he return to the team, his comeback would reignite the scene. But the question remains whether he’s ready to return yet. 

If not Miracle-, there aren’t too many Tier 1 or Tier 1.5 carries left in the free agent pool, but one name that sticks out is Aybek “TA2000” Tokayev. TA2000 was recently benched from Team Yandex in favor of Alimzhan “watson” Islambekov, and he was previously teammates with Tony “No!ob” Assaf and Omar “OmaR” Moughrabi under Quest Esports. 

TA2000 may not have Miracle-’s aura, but his current form and past chemistry could give Nigma what they need to compete among the world’s best more consistently.