PSG.LGD
GameDota 2
FoundedApril 2018; 5 years ago (2018-04)
FoldedSeptember 2023; 5 months ago (2023-09)
Based inShanghai, China
PartnersMonster Energy[1]
Parent groupLGD Gaming
PSG Esports
Websiteen.psg.fr/esports

PSG.LGD was a professional Dota 2 team based in China. They were formed as a partnership between PSG Esports and LGD Gaming in April 2018 until the end of the partnership in September 2023. PSG.LGD has finished as the runner-up in The International 2018 and 2021.

History

2017–2019

The original Dota 2 division of the Chinese-based esports organization LGD Gaming was founded in 2009. The team had varying degrees of success, participating in and winning multiple tournaments and events over a nine-year span. In April 2018, French football club Paris Saint-Germain F.C. invested in the organization, sponsoring and rebranding the Dota 2 team as PSG.LGD.[2] The team found instant success by winning two Majors of the 2017-2018 Dota Pro Circuit, which helped them secure a direct invite to The International 2018.[3][4] There, they advanced to the grand finals but lost against OG again in five games.[5][6][7]

Following that, the roster remained together for the next season, where they received a direct invite to The International 2019 after securing a top 12 finish in that year's Dota Pro Circuit rankings. The team was placed in Group A, finishing with a 13–3 record which guaranteed a place in the upper bracket. There, the team defeated Virtus.pro and Vici Gaming before losing once again to OG in the upper bracket grand final.[8] The team was placed in the lower bracket final against Team Liquid, losing the series 2–1 to earn them 3rd place and therefore a total of $3,089,706.[9]

2020–2022

After that loss, the team went through various changes, with notable members Xu "fy" Linsen and Lu "Maybe" Yao leaving the organization in September 2020, while Yang "Chalice" Shenyi and Yap "xNova" Jian Wei were transferred to EHOME later that month.[10] To replace them, the team signed former member Wang "Ame" Chunyu, Cheng "NothingToSay" Jin Xiang, Zhao "XinQ" Zixing, along with Zhang "Faith_bian" Ruida and Zhang "y`" Yiping, who won The International 2016 with Wings Gaming.[11] The team found immediate success by winning the WePlay AniMajor against Evil Geniuses 3–0.[12]

The team continued with their strong form during The International 2021, going 15–1 in the group stage to advance to the upper bracket.[13] There, the team won every series to advance to the grand finals by defeating T1, Virtus.pro and Team Secret but ultimately falling to Team Spirit in the best-of-five series 3–2, after nearly staging a reverse-sweep.[14]

With the organization electing to not make any roster changes, the team continued their strong form into the 2022 season after facing off against in a series of rematches against Team Spirit. The first of two rematches led to a second-place finish at the PGL Arlington Major after losing the final 3–1, while the team won the inaugural Riyadh Masters with a 2–0 score.[15][16]

The team secured an invite to The International 2022, where despite being touted as favorites to win the event, the team placed 5th–6th at the event after losing to Team Aster.[17][18]

2023

In April 2023, the roster was unable to participate in DreamLeague Season 19 due to visa problems. However, the organization assured that the team will have time to solve all the problems and will arrive at the beginning of ESL One Berlin Major 2023.[19]

Before the start of The International 2023, the partnership between the two teams expired in September 2023. With this change, the roster will revert back to playing under the LGD Gaming banner.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ "PSG ESPORTS HAS SIGNED A ONE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MONSTER ENERGY". psg-esports.com/. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  2. ^ Rose, Victoria (19 April 2018). "Soccer organization Paris Saint-Germain directly partners with LGD Gaming". The Flying Courier. Polygon. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  3. ^ "PSG.LGD clean sweep VGJ.Storm to become MDL Changsha Major champions | News | Cybersport.com". cybersport.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  4. ^ "PSG.LGD Wins Its First Dota Major And Also An Infinity Gauntlet". Kotaku Australia. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  5. ^ "OG beats PSG.LGD in winners bracket thriller; Evil Geniuses advances". ESPN. Rotoworld. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  6. ^ "OG wins five-game thriller to take The International 8 title and $11 million". ESPN. Rotowire. 25 August 2018.
  7. ^ Strom, Steven (26 August 2018). "Dota 2 championship ends in a pulse-pounding, curse-breaking Cinderella story". PC Gamer. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  8. ^ Hao, Dexter Tan Guan (24 August 2019). "History repeats itself as OG beats PSG.LGD at The International 2019". DotEsports. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Dota 2 - The International". dota2.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  10. ^ Bonifacio, Patrick (4 September 2020). "LGD Gaming legends fy and Maybe exit team". HotSpawn. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  11. ^ "xiao8 to coach new PSG.LGD roster". reuters.com. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  12. ^ "PSG.LGD beat Evil Geniuses to win WePlay AniMajor". reuters.com. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  13. ^ Lozano, Kurt (10 October 2021). "Dota 2 TI10 Day 4 recap: Wild Group Stage comes to a close". Yahoo News. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  14. ^ Utama, Kenneth. "Team Spirit's International 10 win: Dota's ultimate underdog run". Upcomer. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  15. ^ Lozano, Kurt (15 August 2022). "Team Spirit defeat PSG.LGD 3-1 to win the Dota 2 PGL Arlington Major". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  16. ^ Jambi, Rahaf (25 July 2022). "PSG.LGD claim Dota 2 Riyadh Masters crown with Gamers8 final triumph to earn $1.5m prize". Arab News. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  17. ^ Tsiaoussidis, Alex (20 October 2022). "China still on top: Dota 2 fans weigh in on early TI11 favorites and EG isn't number one". Dot Esports. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  18. ^ Michael, Cale (23 October 2022). "PSG.LGD record worst placement in years at TI11 as Faith_bian retires from Dota 2". Dot Esports. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  19. ^ "PSG.LGD to miss out on one the biggest Dota 2 biggest tournaments because of a familiar issue". Dot Esports. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  20. ^ Gökhan Çakır (4 September 2023). "Iconic Chinese Dota 2 team will compete under new name for TI12". Dot Esports. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  21. ^ Kurt Lozano (4 September 2023). "Dota 2: PSG.LGD no more as LGD Gaming cease partnership with PSG Esports". Yahoo News. Retrieved 15 September 2023.

External links

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