Dota 2 giants Tundra announce TI 2023 stand-in as key player takes extended break

Reigning The International champions Tundra Esports have announced a stand-in for TI12 as one of the team’s players is forced to take a break from competition.

On X/Twitter, Tundra Esports announced that Macedonian player Martin ‘Saksa’ Sazdov will be taking “an extended break” from competition due to undisclosed health problems.

The announcement came without surprise in the Dota 2 community as it was already known that Saksa has been battling health issues. In July, he even withdrew from the Riyadh Masters halfway through the group stage due to illness.

We are sad to announce @saksadota will be taking an extended break due to health reasons and will not be on our active roster. We wish him all the healing and success possible.

Thank you, Martin, for playing a pivotal role in our TI victory. You’ll forever be a part of our… pic.twitter.com/l3uFrGHTJU

— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) September 6, 2023

Shortly after it was announced that he would be sitting out the remainder of the Saudi tournament, he opened up about his struggles. “[I] have been struggling a bit lately with anxiety, sleep, and mental health,” he said on X/Twitter, apologizing to his teammates and his organization.

Tundra have not provided a timeline for Saksa’s return, but the player appears bound to miss TI 2023, which kicks off in just a month.

Saksa steps down from Tundra ahead of TI 2023

The Macedonian player linked up with Tundra in February 2022 following the removal of team captain Adrian ‘Fata’ Trinks. The decision was controversial, but Tundra went on to win TI 2022 in dominant fashion, beating Team Secret 3-0 in the grand final.

Meanwhile, Tundra have announced that they will once again call upon the services of two-time TI winner Topias ‘Topson’ Taavitsainen as its mid laner, with Leon ‘Nine’ Kirilin transitioning to position four.

⚠️ You’ve all been saying it, and now we’re saying it.

Welcome two-time TI champion, the myth, the legend,@TopsonDota for TI12 #TundraTopson pic.twitter.com/XSbljEJPYs

— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) September 7, 2023

Topson is no stranger to Tundra, having played for the team in February in the BetBoom Universe: Episode I – Comics Zone match against Gaimin Gladiators.

Later this month, Tundra will compete in DreamLeague Season 21, a $1 million tournament hosted by ESL. The team will be using this event as preparation for TI 2023 as it hopes to defend its title in Seattle against the best Dota 2 squads in the world.