Topson returns to OG as they confirm a new roster
2018 and 2019 were special times if you were an OG fan. They felt similar to being a fan of Natus Vincere back in 2011. The OG roster that made history when they became the first ever two-time winners of The International are etched in history. While the times may have changed, OG has remained in the Dota 2 scene – moving over into Southeast Asia in 2026. While they did not find much success with their TI 2026 roster, they have now announced a few new additions as they look to change things up.
The biggest of these comes in the return of Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen to the team.
Topson is back
In early September 2026, following a rough TI 2026, OG announced some major departures from their roster. With three players leaving the squad, a rebuild seemed to be on the cards. Fast forward to September 23rd, as BLAST SLAM VIII approaches, and the new team is set in stone.
With more of an international looking roster, OG’s rebuild keeps both Rolen Andrei “skem” Gabriel Ong and John Anthony “Natsumi” Vargas, while bringing in a string of talented players and a new coach to lead the way.
The most telling of these is the return of Topson to the frontlines. After coming out of retirement to play alongside LGD Gaming at the recent TI, Topson’s itch for Dota 2 was clearly not scratched. He now rejoins the organisation where he lifted two Aegis of Champions.
Alongside this, the team brings in Valery “SSS” Lazarev on loan from PARIVISION, and Ivan “Onejey” Zhivitsky – best known for his time alongside Virtus.pro in recent years. As well as a new coach in the form of Igor Furtado "kaffs" Guimarães Estevão.
The full new OG roster is:
- John Anthony “Natsumi” Vargas
- Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen
- Valery “SSS” Lazarev
- Ivan “Onejey” Zhivitsky
- Rolen Andrei “skem” Gabriel Ong
- Igor Furtado “kaffs” Guimarães Estevão (coach)
With BLAST SLAM VIII only a few days away, OG will get their first test of the new season underway. For an organisation that has been dominant before with unusual rosters, this could be just what they need to return to their glory days.
