In a thrilling turn of events for the Dota 2 scene, Team Liquid has confirmed the signing of Jonáš "SabeRLighT" Volek as the replacement for Neta "33" Shapira. This monumental decision was announced on September 27, just ahead of the highly-anticipated TI13. SabeRLighT, known for his extroverted charisma and sharp playmaking ability, is poised to inject fresh energy into the famous TI-winning roster as they aim for yet another coveted Aegis.
Liquid’s coach, William “Blitz” Lee, provided insights into the roster shake-up, revealing that 33 had expressed a desire to leave Team Liquid to rebuild his squad at Tundra Esports. With SabeRLighT available as a free agent, the choice to bring him onboard was, as Blitz put it, "quite simple." Previously, SabeRLighT showcased his talent during the 2024 season with Shopify Rebellion. However, a mutual agreement led to his departure from that team due to a clash in game perspectives with another player, which ultimately hampered performance.
Having taken a breather from competitive Dota since his exit from Shopify Rebellion in May 2024, SabeRLighT has utilized this time to relax and prepare for the upcoming season. He has been actively streaming on Twitch, climbing the European rankings, where he currently holds the impressive position of number 32. Just before the most significant tournament of the year, SabeRLighT found himself joining Gorgc’s stack, Team Bald, to compete in the TI13 Qualifying for Western Europe alongside Martin “Saksa” Sazdov. Despite a short stint, SabeRLighT showcased that he was in tip-top shape, shaking off any rust from his break.
This isn’t SabeRLighT’s first experience with Team Liquid; he previously served as a last-minute substitute at ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, where he played a pivotal role in the team securing a strong third-place finish. Liquid captain Aydin “Insania” Sarkohi expressed his excitement about SabeRLighT joining the team, even cheekily calling out Shopify Rebellion’s coach, Kanishka “BuLba” Sosale, asking, “BuLba, how do you lose with this man on your team?" It’s clear that, despite the unexpected circumstances surrounding his previous debut with Liquid, the chemistry was electric, and everyone welcomed SabeRLighT back with open arms.
Blitz took to Twitter to confirm that Michael "miCKe" Vu will step into the roles of captain and drafter, which were previously held by 33. His tweet conveyed the team’s unwavering motivation headed into TI, stating, “With the addition of @jonas_volekour list is complete. For those wondering @mickeDOTA he will be the draft and the captain. We will cook, don’t worry, just give us some time in the kitchen. Another TI win is my ultimate goal and no loss of motivation after the first win for any of us.”
Fans of Team Liquid won’t have to wait long to see SabeRLighT in action, as he will make his highly-anticipated roster debut during the second season of PGL Wallachia, a thrilling $1 million tournament slated for October 4-13. Get ready for what promises to be an exhilarating chapter in Liquid’s journey!
