There’s only a short off-season in the DPC, but that hasn’t stopped roster shakeups as Team Nigma benches Aliwi “w33” Omar. The news came late on Tuesday evening with a post on the organization’s official social media.
W33 has been removed from the starting lineup of Team Nigma after the team's disappointing performance at the Singapore Major (Image via EPICENTER)
W33 was a part of Team Nigma’s unsuccessful run at the Singapore Major. Entering as part of the Wild Card round, the team exited the event with the worst record of any team in the tournament, a dismal 0/1/4.
As part of their announcement, Team Nigma stated that W33 was moved to a sixth-man position and was free to look for new opportunities. They thanked him for his time with the team. W33 had been a part of the roster of Team Liquid and then Team Nigma since June 2019. Initially brought in to replace the departing Lasse Aukusti “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen, W33 quickly became a vital part of the lineup.
During his two-year tenure with the stack, the team found great initial success, winning the WePlay! Bukovel Minor in 2020, challenging for the title at both following Majors and Minors. But victories at the highest stage eluded them. A win over Team Secret at WePlay! Dota 2 Tug of War: Mad Moon saw them topple a significant foe but for no DPC gain.
During the shift to online events, W33 and Team Nigma were a staple of the European and CIS joint events, recording numerous top-three finishes. With the DPC beginning again in 2021, the squad looked to shoot for even greater heights. The defeats at the Singapore Major were a humbling return to reality. W33’s performance has been a particular focus of criticism, with few stand-out performances during the event.
Team Nigma will compete in the DreamLeague Season 15 DPC EU Upper Division. As a top-tier player, W33 will likely find a European roster to call home in short order.
