Dota 2: Blacklist International sign Mushi as interim coach for ESL One Kuala Lumpur

Filipino organisation Blacklist International announced on Wednesday (22 November) that they have tapped Malaysian Dota 2 legend Chai "Mushi" Yee Fung as their Dota 2 team's interim coach for ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, the last big tournament of the year taking place in mid-December.

Mushi spent much of the last two years as the coach of Indonesia-based BOOM Esports, notably helping the team finish in the Top 12 of The International (TI) 2022. He parted ways with BOOM earlier this month as the organisation disbanded its Southeast Asian roster and moved its Dota 2 operations to South America.

With his move to Blacklist International, Mushi will find some familiar faces in carry player Marc Polo "Raven" Fausto, offlaner Kim "Gabbi" Santos, and position 4 support Timothy "TIMS" Randrup. Mushi played alongside Raven in Fnatic in 2016, coached Gabbi and TIMS in TNC Predator in 2021, and coached TIMS again in BOOM in 2022.

Mushi's acquisition as interim coach is the latest roster move for a Blacklist International squad looking to assert its dominance in Southeast Asia and help bring the region back to relevance.

Earlier this month, Blacklist International announced Abed "Abed" Yusop, Gabbi, and Carlo "Carlo" Manalo have joined the team for the upcoming Dota 2 season.

This new iteration of the squad is off to a good start after they earned a spot in ESL One Kuala Lumpur by winning the tournament's Southeast Asian qualifier, notably beating out the likes of Geek Fam, Talon Esports, and Bleed Esports.

Blacklist International will be facing many of the new star-studded squads formed during the offseason in Kuala Lumpur, including Team Liquid and Team Secret from Western Europe, Team Falcons from MENA, and Invictus Gaming from China.

Should Blacklist International have a good showing in Kuala Lumpur, Mushi is expected to officially join the team as its full-time head coach for the upcoming season.

ESL One Kuala Lumpur will begin with a three-day Group Stage, taking place from 11 to 13 December, and will split the 12 participating teams into two groups of six teams each to compete in a single round-robin format.

The top six teams from the Group Stage will then proceed to the Playoffs, which will be hosted in the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre from 15 to 17 December. The Playoffs will follow a double-elimination format.

Blacklist International Dota 2 roster:

1. Marc Polo "Raven" Fausto

2. Abed "Abed" Yusop

3. Kim "Gabbi" Santos

4. Timothy "Tims" Randrup

5. Carlo "Carlo" Manalo

6. Chai "Mushi" Yee Fung (interim coach)

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