About
LGD Gaming is one of the most decorated names in Chinese Dota 2 history — a team that spent over a decade competing at the absolute top of the world, came painfully close to winning The International multiple times, collapsed in dramatic fashion in 2024, and just came back with one of the most unexpected roster decisions the scene has ever seen: five South Americans.
Early Formation & First Steps
LGD was founded in 2012 and spent the next decade building one of the most consistent records in Chinese Dota. The xiao8 era defined the early years — a captain-driven team that was always competitive but never quite good enough to win TI. The PSG partnership brought a new level of resources and structure from 2018 onward, and the roster that emerged from that era — Ame, Faith_bian, XinQ, y`, and NothingToSay — became arguably the best Chinese team of its generation. Then came the collapse. In early 2024 the org was reportedly spending $20 million a year on operations, facing serious financial difficulties, and owner xiao8 publicly threatened legal action against a journalist for reporting on unpaid debts. By March 2024, LGD withdrew from the Elite League and disbanded the roster entirely. They missed The International for the first time since 2011. The last Chinese LGD roster officially dissolved in September 2024.
Rise and Competitive Breakthrough
The legacy before the collapse speaks for itself:
The International 2018: 2nd place, losing the grand final to OG in one of the most heartbreaking series in TI history — five games, a reverse sweep that nobody saw coming.
The International 2021: 2nd place again, this time losing to Team Spirit. Same result, different pain.
WePlay AniMajor 2021: Won the title with the PSG.LGD roster at its absolute peak — arguably the best they ever looked before TI.
BLAST Slam VII (May–June 2026): LGD's return to competitive Dota 2, this time under a completely different flag. The ex-Heroic roster — Yuma, TaiLung, Wisper, Thiolicor, and KJ with coach kaffs — now represents one of China's most legendary organizations. The group stage is online, playoffs in Copenhagen.
Fun Facts
Ame, LGD's legendary carry, reportedly earned close to $700,000 in his final year at the org — described as the highest salary in the history of Dota 2 at the time. The org that paid that was the same one that couldn't make payroll a year later.
Heroic disbanded in May 2026 shortly before the LGD signing was announced. The players went from having no org to wearing the tag of one of China's most storied teams within days.
Achievements
– 2nd Place at The International 2018
– 2nd Place at The International 2021
– 1st Place at WePlay AniMajor 2021 (as PSG.LGD)
– 30 first-place finishes across full org history
– Currently competing at BLAST Slam VII (May–June 2026) as ex-Heroic
Upcoming Matches
