Team Falcons exits Dota 2 after nearly three years, cites long-term sustainability strategy

Team Falcons has officially stepped away from competitive Dota 2, with the Saudi Arabia-based organization announcing its departure on September 6, 2026. The team cited long-term strategy and operational sustainability as the primary reasons for the decision, framing the move as a strategic pivot rather than a retreat from the competitive scene.

The Falcons Dota 2 roster, consisting of Oliver "skiter" Lepko, Stanislav "Malr1ne" Potorak, Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf, Andreas "Cr1t-" Nielsen, and Jingjun "Sneyking" Wu, with head coach Kurtis "Aui_2000" Ling, maintained stability for nearly three years without a single roster change—an extraordinary achievement in a scene known for constant player movement. The squad played over 790 total matches together with a win rate above 65 percent, setting a record for most games played by a five-man squad.

During its tenure, Team Falcons accumulated roughly $7.3 million USD in prize winnings, highlighted by a victory at The International 2025, where they defeated Xtreme Gaming in a five-game final. The roster also claimed titles at BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024, DreamLeague, and ESL One Birmingham. The International 2026 marked the team's final tournament together, finishing 7th-8th after an elimination-round entry and subsequent lower-bracket elimination by Team Liquid.

Prior to the organization's announcement, Cr1t- had indicated The International 2026 would be his last tournament, and has since suggested his professional playing career may be over. With four of the roster's players now free agents, the Dota 2 community is speculating about where Malr1ne, skiter, ATF, and Sneyking will compete next.