Two-time The International (TI) champions OG have announced that offlaner, Sébastien “Ceb” Debs, will be leaving the team’s active roster to return to a coaching role within the organization.
While OG is still on the hunt for a third-straight Aegis of Champions, Ceb said that it is time for him “to take a step back.”
“Johan “N0tail” Sundstein and Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen are looking at their third title, and so am I. I will be alongside them once they lift the trophy again. As usual, I’ll do whatever it takes to see the group succeed, and that sometimes means sacrificing some of your own personal targets,” said Ceb in a statement.
Ceb first joined OG back in 2016 as their coach and helped them win four pre-Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) Majors. After OG’s roster was gutted by the departure of co-founder Tal “Fly” Aizik and Gustav “s4” Magnusson to Evil Geniuses in 2018, Ceb transitioned into a playing role as the team put together a last-minute roster just so they could attend TI8.
In OG’s legendary run to their first TI championship, Ceb cemented his place in history with his amazing Axe play in the team’s crucial game 4 victory over PSG.LGD in the Grand Finals.
In light of OG’s position 4 support player, Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka announcing his retirement yesterday, Ceb deflected notions that this move marks his own retirement from competitive play.
However, he reiterated that his focus now will be on helping all of OG’s teams and players — including the recently formed OG Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team — with improving their performance.
“I’ll be able to put my experience to even better use alongside these talents. I do not want this to sound like a definitive retirement, even though it could very well end up being it. I love the surprises that comes with life, therefore I’ll always keep every door open,” said Ceb.
With Ceb’s return to a coaching role, alongside the retirement of JerAx and carry player Anathan “ana” Pham’s decision to take an extended break from competitive play, only N0tail and Topson remain in OG’s active roster.
The team is expected to announce who will be filling the three vacant spots on its roster at the premiere of the TI9 True Sight documentary on January 28 or on the team’s “OG Night” talk show on January 29.
Ceb thanked OG’s fans and assured them that, despite the huge changes that the team has gone through as of late, the “the future has never been brighter.”
“A lot of you call the back-to-back the generation of miracles, which I’ve learned is a reference to an anime. There were no miracles in our runs, just hard work and kindness towards each other. If there were any miracle, it would be how supportive you’ve all been this entire time,” said Ceb.
“DotA has given me so much, more than I could ever have hoped. Once a player, once an analyst, once a coach, and once a two times TI winer. Looking back at it I would never have been able to guess any of it.”
