Team Aster announced on Weibo that Chinese Dota 2 icon Bai “rOtK” Fan would lead their Dota 2 roster in the upcoming DPC season.
The 30-year-old veteran will take over the coaching position from Zhang “LaNm” Zhicheng, Aster’s previous coach and stand-in player.
The Chinese esports organization has also secured a new midlaner in Zhai “Xwy” Jingkai. The team’s midlane position opened up after Zeng “Ori” Jiaoyang retired, following Aster’s fourth-place finish at The International 2022.
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ROtK and Xwy join Team Aster for the DPC 2023 season
RotK established himself as one of the best coaches in Dota 2 when he led Vici Gaming to multiple tournaments wins in 2019. Under his guidance, VG won the StarLadder Kyiv Minor, the DreamLeague Stockholm Major, the EPICENTER Major, and the ONE Esports Dota 2 World Pro Invitational, all in the same year.
In March 2021, RotK signed on as the coach of Elephant’s Dota 2 team. Despite the team’s superstar roster comprising former PSG.LGD and Vici Gaming stars, the Chinese coach did not manage to achieve the same level of success he had with VG. After Elephant’s 13th-16th place finish at TI10, RotK took a break from the competitive Dota 2 scene.
Joining the team alongside RotK is veteran midlaner Xwy. The 26-year-old has played for various Chinese squads including Keen Gaming, EHOME, and Phoenix Gaming. Before joining Aster, Xwy was a member of Aster.Aries, the organization’s second Dota 2 squad.
Team Aster’s Dota 2 roster
- Du “Monet” Peng
- Zhai “Xwy” Jingkai
- Lin “Xxs” Jing
- Ye “BoBoKa” Zhibiao
- Yu “皮球” Yajun
- Bai “rOtK” Fan (coach)
The team’s newcomers have big shoes to fill, after the organization’s successful DPC 2022 season. Aster enjoyed remarkably consistent results in their region this year, securing top-three finishes in the last three DPC China Tours.
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