Team OG: From Monkey Business to serious business

Team OG is definitely not your average Dota 2 team. Five talented players converted their past commendable successes and experience into championship status and reshaped their future with their own hands. They put together Team OG – first simply a mix of players, then a proper Dota 2 organization owned by the players themselves.

Only formed at the end of August, Team OG have already secured two consecutive LAN championship titles, including the championship title for the first Dota Major, in Frankfurt.

Whatever you want to call Team OG – “Overpowered Gorillas”, “Orangutan Ganja”, “Overrated Gangsters” or “Owned by Gamers”… the name could easily be translated to: “remarkable”.

Since the European team materialized at the start of the fall season during the Frankfurt Major registration period, the squad has continued to evolve and flourish.

Starting out with a strong presence, Team OG have now established themselves as a top world class contender in the Dota 2 competitive scene, a leader in branding and a prime example of maintaining dignity, humor and a positive demeanor.

A little bit of (monkey)Business

Team OG fans at the Frankfurt Major © Steffie Wunderl/ ESL

The dust had barely settled from The International 5 and the post TI shuffle had started to make its rounds. With the announcement from Valve about the roster lock and team registration window for the first Dota 2 Major, teams started to make the necessary adjustments to their squads quickly.

On August 28th, Johan “BigDaddy” Sundstein revealed his new team: (monkey)Business. The roster included David “MoonMeander” Tan and Tal “Fly” Aizik formerly of compLexity Gaming, Amer “Miracle-“ Barqawi and Andreas “Cr1t-“ Franck Nielsen.

BigDaddy had been playing with Cloud 9 until the team disbanded on August 14th, following a sub-par performance at The International 5, where with they were eliminated on the second day of the main event, placing 10th overall. Cloud 9 had had substandard results ever since their appearance at DAC, in February of 2015.

The jovial and much admired Dane rejoined forces with longtime former teammate and friend, Fly. The duo played Heroes of Newerth together and were then of Fnatic’s HoN team which made the switch to Dota 2.

Both Fly and MoonMeander departed from compLexity Gaming, the North American team that had sent a jolt through the scene and left everyone in awe when the TI5 Americas qualifiers were over. They had demonstrated a great potential and won over the hearts of fans and critics around the world with their solid performances and win mentality.

Kyle “Beef” Bautista, General Manager of compLexity Gaming, officially commented on Fly and Moonmeander’s departure:

David and Tal are two immensely talented individuals and were key to our showing at The International. While I’m sad to see them leaving coL.DOTA, I can’t wait to see where they will next find success.

Unfolding of something new

Team OG © Steffie Wunderl/ ESL

One of the steadiest teams to come down the pike in the new season, (monkey) Business had a strong presence in the Dota scene ever since their inception.

The squad convincingly bested CIS Rejects, 3:1, to qualify for the $250,000 MLG World Finals, scheduled for New Orleans, LA, in October of 2015. In less than one month together, the team showed incredible promise and skill as they first defeated Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi Takhasomi’s team, 5Jungz (now Team Liquid), 2:1, in the first round and then continued to show their dominance by sweeping through both Vega Squadron and Ninjas in Pyjamas and gaining access to the grand finals.

Merely weeks later, the European squad secured the top Frankfurt Major spot in the European qualifiers.

The group showcased some spectacular plays over the course of the qualifiers and ultimately swept through Ninjas in Pyjamas, securing their place in the main event of the Frankfurt Major.

Six days later, (monkey)Business took a commendable 3th-4th place at the MLG World Finals. They were knocked out by Team Secret, 2:1, a result that was nothing less of impressive.

Evolution of Team OG

Team OG fans rushing onto the Frankfurt Major stage © Steffie Wunderl/ ESL

On October 31st, (monkey Business) officially launched Team OG, a new brand created by the players, in collaboration with a small group of industry professionals and HitBox.tv.

The new organization, Team OG, would be guided by the need for transparency in the decision-making process, balanced with increased attention to the players’ rights.

Some fans were reluctant, however, Team OG started off on the right foot. After besting Team Empire, 3:1, Team OG became the second European team to qualify for The Summit 4 taking place in Los Angeles, California, between December 9-13, with a base prize pool of $100,000.

Their success and great results didn’t end there. They wanted more, they strive for perfection.

Team OG, champions of the first Dota 2 Major

After eight sensational days of competition and 94 games played, two teams were left fighting for the championship title and trophy of the first Dota 2 Major, in Frankfurt.

In a whirlwind of upsets and extraordinary games, Team OG rose through the Lower Brackets, bested The International 5 champions, Evil Geniuses, and upset favorites Team Secret to rocket to the top and claim the championship title and the staggering 1.1 million dollars prize at the Frankfurt Major.

After the Major, Team OG proved their worth once again, by clearing through Team Empire, 3:0, in the DreamLeague Season 4 grand finals. They had cinched their second consecutive LAN.

A truly poetic story is unfolding, with each page turned building the extraordinary transformation of five Dota 2 players with a passion for the game and a desire to be at the top on their own terms. Through it all, Team OG has maintained a sense of professionalism and class, balanced with humor and sincere fan appreciation. Team OG have become Europe’s sweethearts and show no signs of stopping.

Team OG roster:

Johan “BigDaddy” Sundstein
Tal “Fly” Aizik
David “MoonMeander” Tan
Andreas “Cr1t-“ Franck Nielsen
Amer “Miracle-“ Barqawi

>>> NEXT: Team OG player profiles