Tundra Esports Signs Tobi to Replace Whitemon for The International 2025

In a surprising turn of event, Tundra Esports camp has confirmed that Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon will not be able to join his teammates for the upcoming Dota 2 The International 2025 tournament in Hamburg, Germany.

In his place, veteran support player Tobias “Tobi” Buchner has been brought in to fill the position 5 role until the end of the competition. Previously, Tobi delivered solid performances while standing in for Team Liquid during the Fissure Universe: Episode 5 and PGL Wallachia Season 5 tournaments.

Regarding this decision, Tundra’s management explained that they faced visa-related issues, forcing Whitemon to withdraw from the competition. The 25-year-old Indonesian player then confirmed the announcement via personal social media, stating that the required documentation could not be completed in time.

Although this player substitution has sparked some debate, the decision is legally allowed under Valve’s rules. The regulations emphasize that participants are allowed to make one emergency roster change, as long as it does not involve swapping players between teams competing in TI circuit.

Whitemon’s absence could pose a challenge

Although Tobi, who is now standing in, has strong competitive experience, Whitemon’s departure is expected to create some issues for Tundra’s strategy. After all, he is widely known for his unique and colorful playstyle that give his team an edge in the competitive events.

As a veteran who has competed across Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe, Whitemon has expanded his hero pool by experimenting with different compositions, allowing him to adapt more flexibly in specific situations. In comparison, Tobi has only played as pos 5 in recent seasons and tends to be more rigid in drafting strategies.

Moreover, over the past few seasons, Whitemon has demonstrated calmness and skill in turning the tide of matches. As one of the team’s most relied-upon shotcallers, Tundra’s strategic coordination may not be as seamless without a communicative player like him.

TI 2025 will begin online on September 4th, with the playoffs being held live at the Barclays Arena from September 11th to 14th. A total of 16 teams will compete under a new format, requiring them to battle through a challenging group stage early on to survive.

Driven by renewed motivation, Tundra is determined to give their all to win their second title in this prestigious tournament. They have won their first TI title in 2022 when the Aegis was contested in Singapore, stealing the thunder as the dark horse from the UK.