Sometimes success requires changes. After Team Empire has missed Kiev Major and failed to qualify for several LAN-finals, the management has decided to change the roster. Today we part ways with Rinat KingR Abdullin.

Rinat spent more than a year in our team. During that period Team Empire took part in Manila Major and Dota 2 Asia Championships 2017 and achieved decent results.

KingR will be replaced by Vladimir RodjER Nikogosyan, ex-Effect player, who is also known for his performance for Flipsid3 Tactics. We are happy to welcome our new support player and wish all the luck to Rinat in his future endeavors.

Esports director of Team Empire, Alexandr StrangeR Solomonov, spoke on the matter:

«I would like to thank Rinat for all the time he spent with us. He is a great person and very nice teammate and his stolen blackholes will be remembered. However we needed changes. We don't make somebody a scapegoat for our recent failures. Players understand their mistakes and are ready to work on them. During this week since we kicked everybody out of roster players have made important decisions and conclusions so that will help us in the future.

We chose RodjER as the fifth player. Considering that RodjER had contract with Effect and KingR had contract with Team Empire, both organisations agreed to exchange players. I thank Effect for professionalism and wish Rinat success and improvement

Team Empire will take part in Summit 7 qualifier and Russian Cup finals. I want to ask our fans for support. Please, remember: our most important games of the season are still ahead.».

Manager of Dota 2 squad, Dmitriy Korb3n Belov has released his comment:

«Rinat is the nicest guy on Earth but unfortunately sometimes it is not enough. Thank you for everything, King!».

These black holes by KingR at ESL Manila will be remembered!

Thus Team Empire.Dota 2 squad consists of: