One of the most highly anticipated Dota 2 events of the year, Riyadh Masters 2023, is right around the corner. Riyadh Masters will feature an incredible on-site talent pool which will also see ex-professional Dota 2 player, Zhang "Faith_bian" Ruida, take the stage.
Faith_bian announced his retirement from the professional Dota 2 scene after his run in The International 2022 and has re-emerged in the scene as an analyst. He was last seen at the Berlin Major 2023 where he was at the English desk.
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Faith_bian Set To Return To Dota Scene As Analyst In Riyadh
Faith_bian was one of the best players in competitive Dota serving as an inspiration to Chinese fans and players alike. While it was sad to see the Chinese ex-professional ending his career without a TI trophy, fans are happy to have him back at the Analyst Desk.
In The International 2022, Faith_bian, along with PSG.LGD, he managed to secure 5th-6th position. However, he did bag the Riyadh Masters trophy in 2022 and accomplished a second-place finish at TI 2021.
As a matter of fact, Faith_bian is not the first player who made his return to the Dota scene after retiring from competitive play. Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, one of the biggest names in the history of Dota, was also seen at the Berlin Major, casting the game alongside ODPixel.
There are quite a few instances that show and highlight the fact that esports has much more to it, than just competition. Casters, Analysts, Streamers, and Esports production, all play an equal role in making a competitive ecosystem a success. It will be interesting to see how the Riyadh Masters 2023, which is scheduled for July 19, pan out for the 25-year-old Chinese legend.