Dota 2’s The International 2023 has concluded, and it concluded on a high note for Chinese fans. The two representatives from the region unexpectedly secured a top-four finish in the event. What added to the excitement was the surprising success of Azure Ray (AR), a team consisting of retired players, one of whom was encouraged to participate.
AR was established during the Dota 2 season by Lu “Somnus” Yao, who couldn’t resist the urge to return to the competitive scene. Eager for a taste of competition, Somnus swiftly assembled a team of legendary players, including Xu “fy” Linsen.
Despite their modest beginnings, AR rapidly rose to prominence in their region, surpassing the expectations of both fans and the players themselves. In an exit interview at TI 2023, fy was asked about his personal satisfaction with their season and whether he had foreseen this level of success when they formed the team at the end of the 2023 DPC season.
“I don’t know, I got dragged into playing TI,” fy jokingly responded, but as it turns out, that’s exactly what transpired.
Somnus, fy, and Yang “Chalice” Shenyi were contemplating a potential return to competitive Dota 2 and were searching for reasons to rejoin the scene. Since they had been absent from the scene for some time before May 2023, the trio decided not to request a salary when joining Azure Ray.
AR proved to be more than just a team; they were a group of friends who simply wanted to enjoy playing Dota 2 on the game’s most prestigious stage. Even in defeat, it was evident that the members of AR were having a great time both inside and outside the player booth.
In the past, Somnus, fy, and Chalice had reached the TI finals together in 2018, securing a third-place finish in 2019. Falling just short of victory eventually took a toll on both the players and the team’s morale, leading to their disbandment. However, their time apart allowed them to grow as players and overcome some of the most devastating losses in their careers.
Although Azure Ray didn’t hoist the Aegis at TI 2023, Dota 2 fans were delighted to see these Uncrowned Kings of the game having the time of their lives.