OG has signed Yap “xNova” Jian Wei into their Dota 2 line-up after months of trial.
With xNova as the hard support player of OG, expectations are soaring for the organization to return to its former glory.
Team OG officially signs xNova for their Dota 2 roster (Image credit: Team OG)
xNova joins Team OG
For the uninitiated, this isn’t xNova’s first time with OG as he has been playing on trial since October last year after the post-TI roster shuffle. The Malaysian player has participated in BLAST Slam I, 1win Series Dota 2 Fall and the qualifiers of ESL One Bangkok 2024.
Now given the results were underwhelming to say the least, it might seem like a surprise to see xNova back with OG. But it seems like OG sees the potential in a player like xNova in their line-up, prompting them to make the signing and the announcement.
Who’s xNova?
xNova is certainly no pushover in the competitive Dota 2 scene. With several runner-up titles in the International Championships, xNova is a well-known and valuable player.
Specifically, xNova secured runner-up finishes at the International 2018 (TI8) and 2019 (TI9). However, he gained fame as the team that gave OG a run for their money at TI8.
xNova can speak English fluently, which makes him an ideal teammate in a European team, especially when it comes to communication. As such, given these traits, it makes sense why OG finds xNova a good fit in their 2025 Dota 2 line-up.
Team OG in 2025
Frankly, OG has been lackluster in the last couple of seasons. Even with legendary players, such as Sébastien “Ceb” Debs and occasionally, Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, leading the new generation of players. OG just hasn’t been in its prime since its TI-winning players left.
With xNova, who’s considerably more experienced than the other players in OG, he might just be the key that OG needs to start winning TIs again. Or at least, be relevant enough to compete against the current rivals, such as Team Falcons, Gaimin Gladiators, Team Liquid and even BetBoom Team.