The slow deconstruction of Team Liquid’s Dota 2 squad is finally complete.
The last remaining member of the Team Liquid side that qualified for this year’s International event, Tyler “TC” Cook, has officially parted ways with the esports organization.
Cook was the only member remaining after a mass exodus took place following The International 4. The first to leave was Jimmy “DeMoN” Ho, followed quickly by Peter “Waytosexy” Nguyen.
Roughly one month later, Max “qojqva” Broecker and Sam “Bulba” Sosale departed on their to joining Team Tinker.
As such, Cook’s departure is no surprise, especially considering that he had been spending time playing with one of North America’s top Dota 2 teams, Sneaky Nyx Assassins. Cook had been playing as a ringer, but officially joined the team after his release from Team Liquid was confirmed.
Cook was reflective in a statement on the team’s website.
“The last two years have had their ups and downs in terms of results, but some great memories were made and will always be remembered,” Cook said.
Cook had spent nearly two years with Team Liquid prior to the announcement of his departure. Before he began playing with Sneaky Nyx Assassins, some fans wondered if he might remain with the team even after the rest of the roster had completely turned over.
With Cook and Sosale as the team’s two constants, Team Liquid managed to place in the top 10 at The International both this year and last.
The team’s run at The International 4 began with a pair of series sweeps in the play-in stage, where they overcame both CIS Game and MVP Phoenix. A winning record in group play kept the team alive, but a loss to LGD Gaming in the next phase sent the squad home just one match shy of the final phase in Seattle and the significant boost in prize money that would have accompanied it.
Afterwards, the team’s management indicated that the disappointment of that loss made it difficult for the group to continue together.
Cook’s Sneaky Nyx Assassins are poised to compete with the best in North America, while Sosale and Broecker seem primed for success in Europe as members of Team Tinker.
