Team Liquid turn to MidOne as Nisha absence raises questions

Team Liquid will field veteran mid-laner Yeik Nai “MidOne” Zheng in place of Michał “Nisha” Jankowski at BLAST Slam 8, with the organisation yet to explain the change publicly.

The swap surfaced not through a Team Liquid statement but on BLAST‘s full participant list for the tournament, published on September 25. Nisha’s absence from a roster he has anchored at the highest level was the standout detail, and no member of the organisation had commented at the time of writing.

Roster Confirmed, Questions Remain

BLAST’s listing places MidOne alongside Michael “m1CKe” Vu, Adrian Cespedes “Wisper” Dobles, Samuel “Boxi” Svahn and Erik “tOfu” Engel, with William “Blitz” Lee continuing as coach. Wisper’s arrival was already known, having been confirmed as part of Team Liquid’s post-International roster overhaul that saw the offlaner brought in for Ace.

MidOne’s inclusion is the more surprising development. Nothing in the available record indicates whether he is filling in for a single event or has been brought on as a longer-term solution at mid.

Key Details

• Team Liquid are set to debut the new-look lineup on September 29 at BLAST Slam 8.
• MidOne, 30, is Malaysian and previously competed for Fnatic and Team Secret, winning two Major titles and appearing at multiple editions of The International.
• His most recent stint was with MOUZ, where he won PGL Wallachia Season 6 before falling short of qualifying for The International 2026.

Why MidOne, Why Now

MidOne enters with over $2 million in reported career earnings, placing him among the wealthier names in competitive Dota 2, even as MOUZ’s Wallachia triumph came at what amounts to a Tier 2 level relative to Liquid’s ambitions. The move gives him another opportunity at a top-flight organisation as he replaces a player widely regarded as one of the best in the world at his role, a comparison that raises the bar for his BLAST Slam 8 showing.

The change also lands amid a wider reset of the competitive picture following The International, one that has already reshaped several rosters heading into the event, including OG’s own lineup adjustments around Topson. BLAST’s Slam series has been through its own structural evolution this year, part of the broader conversation around how Tier 1 Dota 2 tournaments are adapting their formats.

What’s Next?

Team Liquid are scheduled to debut this roster on September 29 when BLAST Slam 8 gets underway. Whether Nisha is taking a short break, stepping away for longer, or facing a more permanent exit remains unconfirmed, and only an official statement from Team Liquid is likely to settle the question.