In a surprising turn of events, Southeast Asia’s Dota 2 veteran, Daryl “iceiceice” Koh, has announced his departure from the Singapore-based esports organization, Bleed Esports, declaring himself a free agent and signaling imminent changes within the organization.
Despite initial hype as one of the fastest-growing esports organizations in the Southeast Asian region, Bleed encountered a string of setbacks during the Dota 2 Pro Circuit 2023 Season 1 and 2 in Division 1. Finishing 5th-6th in the circuit, the team’s performance raised uncertainties about its trajectory in the competitive sphere.
The team’s fortunes saw an upswing when Ice joined Bleed Esports earlier this year as the sturdy offlaner, joining forces with Filipino veteran Djardel “DJ” Mampusti and European tactician Rasmus “Misery” Filipsen as head coach. The squad’s notable victory at the DPC SEA 2023 Tour 3: Division I underscored his immediate impact. However, this momentum waned during their final Major of 2023 in Bali, and their ambitions to progress through the TI12 SEA Regional Qualifiers were dashed in the quarter-finals by Geek Fam.
With an absence of immediate tournaments on the horizon, Bleed, much like other teams in the SEA region, is expected to undergo significant roster changes in the near future. Adding fuel to the offseason transfer speculation, Ice recently disclosed during a live streaming session that he has severed ties with Bleed.
“Bleed? I’m not playing for Bleed anymore. They should be making a new team. I would say it’s kind of weird. So you’ll see some changes here and there, I guess,” he commented.
Currently, there is no concrete information on whether Ice intends to continue competing in the professional circuit or opt for a hiatus this season. Considering the forthcoming overhaul after the culmination of the DPC, there is a possibility that the 33-year-old may step away from the competitive scene temporarily, observing the future landscape of Dota 2 in the interim.
