Esports Squad Calling it Quits: Team Tidebound Leaves Dota 2 Scene

After examining the "current CN Dota talent environment and long-term development," Chinese esports squad, Team Tidebound has decided to shut down after only one year of competitive Dota 2 play. 

This comes after MOUZ, a German esports squad, decided to call it quits on competitve play for VALORANT. 

Team Tidebound Announcement

Team Tidebound announced it on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform similar to X. 

"After careful consideration and difficult choices by the club management, we officially announce with great regret that the Tidebound e-sports club will officially become inactive from now on," the squad said. 

They also added, among other comments, the following: "The conversion to inactive status is a prudent decision based on the current CN Dota personnel environment and long-term development. We know that only continuous optimization and adjustment can provide CN Dota with more solid strength in the fierce international competition."

Four players from Team Tidebound have found a new roster for 2026. They had five players in all. 

The lineup consisted of players like Zhang ‘y`’ Yiping and Zhang ‘Faith_bian’ Ruida. They won The International 2016 and Riyadh Masters 2022, respectively. 

Team Tidebound debuted in DreamLeague Season 25: China Open Qualifier 1. The squad won multiple qualifiers and earned spots at PGL Wallachia Season 3 and ESL One Raleigh 2025.

The squad also got the Clavision Masters 2025: Snow-Ruyi trophy and finished second at the Asian Champions League 2025. 

In The International 2025 in Hamburg, they were eliminated by Nigma Galaxy in the playoffs. 

Where Team Tidebound Players Are Headed

As mentioned, four players have found new teams. y`, Lin ‘planet’ Hao, and Guo ‘shiro’ Xuanang went to Vici Gaming. As for Cheng ‘NothingToSay’ Jin Xiang, he's headed to Xtreme Gaming. 

Both squads will compete at ESL Challenger China, which runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. 

It's unclear where Faith_bian will end up.