CDEC: Out of LGD’s tutelage, in the cards for TI5 spot

The CDEC Dota 2 squad may be young, but they have served their apprenticeship under LGD Gaming’s tutelage. That alone makes them a force to be reckoned with. Leading up to TI5, CDEC have faced off against all the top tier Chinese and even managed to pose a threat every now and then. They will go up against CIS team Vega Squadron in the TI5 Wild Card series today, July 26th, starting with 18:00 CEST.

Starting as a youth squad under the iconic Chinese team LGD, CDEC enjoyed a helping hand to acclimate into the professional Dota 2 scene. When they left LGD to create their own club, they acquired the assistance of retired veteran Tong “Mikasa” Junjie (former Tyloo and ViCi Gaming player), as a temporary stand-in and coach. Mikasa went back to LGD Gaming in March 2015 and rejoined the staff as a coach, while CDEC moved forward and managed to have a steady run leading up to TI5.

The CDEC squad may be young, but they have left the nest and started to develop their own identity.

After sweeping through Energy Pacemakers in the Lower Bracket Finals of the TI5 Chinese Qualifiers, CDEC moved on to the Grand Finals to face EHOME. They ended up falling to EHOME in the finals, 1:3, and grabbed the TI5 Wild Card series slot.

While three of the players from the TI4 Chinese Qualifiers are still on the roster, the two newer members will make their International debut tonight, July 26th, in the TI5 Wild Card Series.

CDEC 2015 Roster

The LGD.CDEC era

In April 2014, the iconic Chinese organization LGD Gaming announced the formation of a secondary team called LGD.CDEC. The new squad was a youth team captained by Lu “Maybe” Yao, DotA veteran who currently plays for LGD.Gaming. LGD.CDEC received a spot in the TI4 Chinese Qualifiers, but were eliminated in the group phase during the fourth place tiebreaker, when they fell to DT^Club and Hyper Glory Team.

Following the qualifiers, the squad competed in two major tournaments, placing 5th-8th in the World E-sport Championships 2014 and i-league. The following month, the team would separate from their organization to head out on their own.

LGD.CDEC roster

Going solo under the CDEC banner

In October 2014, the former LGD Gaming youth squad – LGD.CDEC, left the organization in order to create a new independent club, called CDEC Gaming. The entire roster remained intact for the transition. CDEC then proceeded to place third at MSI Beat It 2014 and second in the National Electronic Sports Open 2014 and G-League 2014.

CDEC were doing well on their own but then took a disappointing 13th-16th place at the Dota 2 Asia Championships (DAC). Following the slump, Wang “333” Yutian left the team. Mikasa – CDEC’s coach, stepped in as a temporary replacement while the team searched for a permanent member. With Mikasa on the lineup, CDEC took fourth place in the Dota 2 League Season 5, after falling, 1:2, to North-American team Evil Geniuses.

Still without a replacement for 333, Maybe moved back to LGD Gaming in March, leaving CDEC down to three players. In the same month, CDEC added shiki and Xz.

Team CDEC in Las Vegas

Steady run leading up to TI5

After CDEC’s final roster changes, they didn’t participate in any major tournaments until May 2015, when they competed in the MarsTV Chinese Qualifiers. They took third place and ended up with the chance to participate in the event’s LAN playoffs. After their impressive run in the TI5 Chinese qualifiers, they then finished 5th-8th at the MarsTV Dota 2 League 2015, where they were eliminated by ViCi Gaming.

CDEC then seized second place at ECL 2015, only having fallen to Chinese giants Invictus Gaming, and other two similar results in the WCA 2015 Pro Qualifiers and G-League 2015.

CDEC roster:

Sun “Agressif” Zheng, Huang “Shiki” Jiwei, Chen “Xz” Zezhi, Liu “Garder” Xinzhou, Fu “Q” Bin

Sun “Agressif” Zheng

Sun “Agressif” Zheng started his Dota 2 career in April 2014, playing for the LGD youth squad, alongside teammates Q and Garder. He transitioned with the squad when they left the organization to become CDEC, in October 2014.

Huang “Shiki” Jiwei

Huang is one of the longer playing members of the newly formed team. He started his professional career in the summer of 2013 and played for a team called New Element for almost one year. He then went to Immortal Magneto Gaming for several months, back when the team was first founded, in September of 2014. In March 2015, Huang “Shiki” Jiwei joined CDEC.

Chen “Xz” Zezhi

Chen “Xz” Zezhi started his Dota 2 career as a part of team New Element, in February of 2014. He played alongside current teammate Shiki and left the team when Shiki moved to IMG. At that time, Chen “Xz” Zezhi joined LAI Gaming. He remained on the team until March, when he joined CDEC.

Liu “Garder” Xinzhou

Liu “Garder” Xinzhou is a relatively new face to the Dota 2 scene. He was discovered by LGD Gaming and became a part of their youth squad, in April 2014, along with Q and Agressif. Garter remained on the squad after they left the LGD organization to become CDEC.

Fu “Q” Bin

Fu “Q” Bin also kicked off his professional Dota 2 career playing for the LGD youth squad in 2014. He transitioned with his teammates when the squad decided to go solo, under the CDEC tag. Fu “Q” Bin is CDEC’s captain.