Team Liquid bids farewell to Ace after TI 15

Two-time TI champions Team Liquid have parted ways with offlaner Marcus “Ace” Christensen, 11 months after he joined the organization alongside his former Gaimin Gladiators teammate, Erik “tOfu” Engel.

The decision marks Team Liquid’s first official move as it begins rebuilding its roster after finishing fifth-sixth at the recently concluded The International 2026. The team eliminated Team Falcons in Round 1 of the lower bracket at TI 15 before falling to Team Spirit, who went on to win the Aegis of Champions.

Ace is reportedly planning to take an extended break from professional Dota 2. He has yet to announce whether the break could lead to a permanent retirement from the competitive scene.

Ace’s achievement during his stint with Team Liquid

With less than a year of taking Team Liquid’s position 3 role, Ace helped the team go back to its contender status, gaining trophies in two tier 1 tourneys: BLAST SLAM VI and 1win Essence II.

Team Liquid, even with Ace, however, performed inconsistently throughout the 2026 season, posting mixed results across various tournaments. 

The team often struggled to reach the grand finals or even the lower-bracket finals in most of its events. And with the conclusion of TI 15, now is the best time for the organization to regroup and build a new lineup heading to the remaining competitions of 2026.

What’s next for the two-time TI winners?

According to Team Liquid’s coach, William “Blitz” Lee, his team will provide a massive update about their new roster between September 14 and 20. At the time of writing, it means the team is about to throw a large announcement at any time from now.

As for rumors surrounding Team Liquid’s next offlaner, two players are currently heavily linked to the team. The first is Adrián “Wisper” Dobles from LGD Gaming, while the second is Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, who is now a free agent following Team Falcons’ disbandment.

Based on past performances, ATF would be a significant upgrade to the lineup. However, his hyper-aggressive playstyle could clash with miCke and Nisha’s cohesive, high-tempo approach. 

Other teams are also likely putting offers on the table, not only for Ammar but also for other members of the Team Falcons lineup. The team previously claimed the Aegis at The International 2025, making its players highly valuable targets during the roster shuffle.