History meant nothing as former Talon Esports Dota 2 golden era, now rivals in Aurora jerseys, clashed in the ESL DreamLeague Season 23 SEA closed qualifier two days ago. In a ruthless display of power, Aurora emerged victorious, giving no chance for their old team to fight back and securing a coveted spot in Europe.
But what should have been a triumphant moment for Aurora was marred by a string of fiery exchanges between the rival teams. As the final game reached its climax, Aurora’s ace, Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon, started the controversy by dropping a bombshell in the all-chat with cryptic “no class.” This bold move set the stage for a verbal showdown on social media.
Aurora’s head coach, Lee “SunBhie” Jeong-jae, didn’t hesitate to add fuel to the fire with his own cutting remarks aimed squarely at his former team. The tension escalated further when Talon’s Chief Gaming Officer, Kim “Hooondo” Do-hoon, jumped into the fray, hurling accusations of cowardice at Aurora in the wake of their victory.
But the drama didn’t end there. In a shocking twist, Aurora fired back with accusations of their own, alleging that Hooondo was a coward for deleting his flaming post. He later posted a clarification, stating that he does not have an issue with his former players.
This revelation has stirred speculation, particularly focusing on the possibility that Hooondo was taking a dig at his team’s former tactician. SunBhie, who parted ways with the team in November 2023, returned to the SEA scene as Aurora’s head coach last month, adding an intriguing dimension to the ongoing narrative.
As of now, neither side has issued further statements regarding the altercation. However, given 23savage’s history of stirring up competition with his words, it’s likely not the last we’ll hear of drama from Aurora this season. Before this event, the talented youngster had already ignited controversy within the Filipino Dota community with comments about Blacklist Rivalry’s Kim “Gabbi” Santos.
