Nigma Galaxy emerged as one of the biggest surprises at The International (TI) 2026. Arriving with low expectations following a turbulent 2025–2026 competitive season, this fans favorite maxwintoto team managed to break into the Playoffs with an impressive performance.

Nigma Galaxy secured a direct spot in the TI 2026 Playoffs after posting a 4-1 record in the Group Stage. This result transformed their journey from a simple attempt to perform their best into that of a dark horse contender to be reckoned with in the race for the Aegis of Champions.

Nigma Galaxy’s support duo, Maroun “GH” Merhej and Omar “OmaR” Moughrabi, revealed that they did not set overly ambitious targets heading into TI 2026. According to GH, the team’s primary focus was simply to take matches one by one and perform at their best. Omar shared this sentiment, noting that he was not concerned with whether Nigma Galaxy would post a good or bad record during the group stage.

Nigma Galaxy Arrives Without Pressure

This pressure-free mindset actually became one of Nigma Galaxy’s strengths; it allowed them to play freely and gradually build momentum, ultimately emerging as one of the surprise performers of the Group Stage.

The optimism surrounding Nigma Galaxy certainly did not emerge out of nowhere. Before their surprising performance at TI 2026, the team had endured a rather difficult period. After finishing in the top six at TI 2025, GH took a temporary break from competition, and Nigma Galaxy tried out Tobias “Tobi” Buchner as a replacement. The team also parted ways with Daniel Chan “Ghost” Kok Hong and subsequently brought in Aybek “TA2000” Tokayev.

Roster changes continued through the end of 2025 and into 2026. Denys “Rincyq” Bohushev stepped in as the carry, while in March, Nigma Galaxy made another major move by releasing Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan.

Nigma Galaxy then signed Cedric “Davai Lama” Deckmyn and shifted Tony “No!ob” Assaf to the mid-lane position. However, the results fell short of expectations.

In a bold final move, Nigma Galaxy brought SumaiL back, released Rincyq and No!ob, and recruited Artem “Lorenof” Melnick as their mid-laner. That decision proved to have a massive impact.

Nigma Galaxy’s journey through the Group Stage did not get off to a smooth start; in fact, they opened the competition with a 0-2 loss to Iron Wing. However, that result proved to be a turning point. Nigma Galaxy went on to secure eight consecutive wins over the next four rounds, defeating formidable opponents such as OG, LGD Gaming, Vici Gaming, and Team Spirit.

The victory over Team Spirit marked one of Nigma Galaxy’s finest performances. Both matches were grueling, high-pressure affairs; the first game lasted 59 minutes, while the second extended to 61 minutes.

In these two matches, Nigma Galaxy demonstrated their ability to prevail in the late game, overcoming a team renowned for its strength in long, drawn-out matches.

One of the most significant changes for Nigma Galaxy at TI 2026 is their improved ability to handle high-pressure matches. Previously, the team often squandered leads after gaining the upper hand; errors at critical moments frequently cost them victories.

That dynamic is now shifting. GH noted that the team is working on better emotional management during difficult situations, focusing on bouncing back quickly from setbacks and refocusing on the next objective.

Omar also emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and avoiding emotionally driven decisions. He believes that a championship-caliber team must be capable of logical and technical thinking, especially when a match enters a high-pressure phase.

The atmosphere surrounding The International 2026 (TI15) is heating up as the playoffs approach. Following the conclusion of the group stage and decisive matches, the first glimpse of the arena set to host the TI 2026 main stage in Shanghai has finally been revealed to the public.

A video showing preparations for the venue has surfaced apizeus77 online via Reddit. The footage, uploaded by user TORUKMACTO92, cites Rednote as the original source. The video showcases the main stage, massive screens, and the competition area, all ready to welcome the teams and spectators.

With the playoffs scheduled to begin on August 20, 2026, the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center is now poised to witness the battle for the Aegis of Champions trophy.

First Look at the TI 2026 Arena in Shanghai

A circulating video offers an early glimpse of the venue that will host the main stage of The International 2026. The stage features large screens encircling the competition area, while the arena’s visual design aligns with this year’s TI branding.

Although the footage shows the venue still under preparation, the tournament atmosphere is already palpable. The competition area appears ready to host the showdown between the eight best teams that advanced from the earlier stages.

For Dota 2 fans, the return of a live audience in the arena is one of the most anticipated highlights. Following the group and elimination stages, TI 2026 is finally entering its decisive phase before a live crowd in Shanghai.

Valve has previously confirmed that the final stage of TI 2026 will take place at the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai. The venue will host the playoff matches from August 20 to 23.

Selecting Shanghai as the host brings a unique atmosphere to this year’s The International. The city once again takes center stage in the global Dota 2 community as the gathering point for the best teams vying for the world championship title.

Every match at the venue will be a crucial part of the journey toward the Aegis of Champions. A single mistake could end a team’s run, while a victory brings them closer to the most prestigious trophy in the competitive Dota 2 scene.

Before arriving at the Shanghai arena, all participants had to navigate the group stage and the deciding matches. From that process, only eight teams successfully secured a spot in the playoffs.

The group stage of The International 2026 took place from August 13 to 16. Competition was fierce, featuring lengthy matches and dramatic comebacks that defined this year’s tournament.

Following that stage, players had a break before returning to action on the main stage. This interval also gave teams the opportunity to evaluate strategies, study potential opponents, and prepare their best drafts.

Now, there is little room for error. The playoff format makes every match crucial, as a single loss can instantly alter a team’s journey toward the Aegis.

The eight surviving teams will continue their campaign in the Shanghai arena. This group comprises teams that demonstrated strength during the group stage alongside the winners of the Elimination Stage.

The presence of teams such as Nigma Galaxy, Team Liquid, Team Spirit, Team Falcons, BoomBoys, Iron Wing, Team Yandex, and TEAM VISION suggests that the playoffs will be fiercely contested.

TEAM VISION and Nigma Galaxy have drawn attention thanks to their consistent performances in the group stage. Meanwhile, Team Yandex had to work exceptionally hard, overcoming a spell of disappointing results to finally secure their playoff spot.

Team Spirit also stands out as a formidable contender. Their performance in major tournaments like TI always commands attention, particularly as matches enter the elimination phase.

With the stage now revealed, the countdown to the The International 2026 playoffs is intensifying. Starting August 20, teams will no longer be competing merely to improve their standings, but to keep their dreams of becoming world champions alive.

For Dota 2 fans, the Shanghai venue will set the scene for defining moments of TI 2026. From dramatic comebacks and surprise strategies to the potential crowning of a new champion, anything can happen as the top eight teams face off at the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center.

The playoffs will run until August 23, 2026. Now, only one question remains: who will emerge from the Shanghai arena as the next holder of the Aegis of Champions?

Day five of the VCT 2026: Pacific Stage 2 Play-In stage dealt a bitter blow to the Southeast Asian esports community. Two regional representative teams, Team Secret and Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ), were forced to make an early exit. Both suffered crucial defeats in the first round of the lower bracket, ending their hopes of securing a direct ticket to the premier tournament, VALORANT Champions 2026.

ONSIDE GAMING’s dominance halted Team Secret’s run. The opening lower bracket match pitted Team Secret against ONSIDE GAMING. Playing in a Best-of-Three (Bo3) format, Team Secret failed to contain their opponent’s aggression and were decisively defeated 0-2.

A fierce battle unfolded on the first map, Ascent, where Team Secret put up a strong planet77 fight before ultimately losing a close match 11-13. Moving to the second map, Split, ONSIDE GAMING seized full control of the momentum, closing out the game with a 10-13 scoreline. ONSIDE GAMING star player Si Hwan “Xiesta” Jeong was named Match MVP after delivering a brilliant performance, recording a fantastic Average Combat Score (ACS) of 294.

Three Map Drama: RRQ Falls to FULL SENSE

The second match featured a high-stakes showdown between Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) and FULL SENSE. Heading into the match, RRQ was favored, having won 2-1 in both of their previous encounters in 2026 (on April 24 and August 1).

RRQ started the match convincingly, crushing FULL SENSE on the Summit map with a commanding 13-4 scoreline. However, FULL SENSE refused to back down. They bounced back on the second map, Sunset, snatching a dramatic 13-11 victory. The loss of momentum on the second map proved costly for RRQ on the decider, Lotus.

RRQ was ultimately outmaneuvered by FULL SENSE, falling 7-13 and resulting in a 1-2 series loss to the Thai team. A stellar performance by FULL SENSE player Papaphat “primmie” Sriprapha proved to be the deciding factor; he recorded an ACS of 268—a figure 2% higher than his average individual performance over the past six months.

This defeat underscores the downward performance trend RRQ has experienced over the past month, with their win rate slipping to 40%. Despite securing a sweet victory against Nongshim RedForce on August 9, consecutive losses—to Sharper Esports in the upper bracket and FULL SENSE in the lower bracket—serve as a strong signal that the coaching staff needs to conduct a comprehensive review. Meanwhile, for FULL SENSE and ONSIDE GAMING, these valuable wins propel them into the second round of the lower bracket, set to take place the day after tomorrow, August 22.

For context, VCT 2026: Pacific Stage 2 runs from July 16 to September 6, 2026. This prestigious tournament brings together the 16 best teams from the Asia-Pacific region to compete for a total prize pool of $250,000, Championship Points, and two exclusive slots at the grand stage of VALORANT Champions 2026. For RRQ and Team Secret, this season’s setback is not the end of the road, but rather a stepping stone toward building greater strength for the future.

In the world of esports, being over 25 is often considered “old” — unless you’re Bruce ‘GamerBee’ Hsiang. The 46-year-old professional gamer recently signed with Flash Wolves after decades of competing in the Street Fighter series.

Flash Wolves is a Taiwanese esports organization known for having toktoto teams in games like Arena of Valor, Hearthstone, and League of Legends: Wild Rift. With GamerBee’s addition, Flash Wolves is now officially expanding its wings into the ever-growing FGC (Fighting Game Community) scene in 2025.

On social media, GamerBee stated,

“Flash Wolves’ professionalism and resources in the esports world are unquestionable. I believe with their support, I can focus more on training and competing, and pursue greater heights!”

GamerBee: FGC Legend Still Fighting
Although the Taiwanese government was not very supportive of video games in the 1980s and 1990s, GamerBee still fell in love with fighting games like Street Fighter and Tekken. His passion took him to Evo 2010 in Las Vegas, where he flew in from Taiwan and finished 5th in his first major international tournament, beating many of the world’s top players.

His name immediately skyrocketed in Taiwan. He appeared on national news and was welcomed by fans when he returned home. Soon after, he became the first professional fighting game player from Taiwan after signing a contract with AVerMedia, and was known as the best Adon player in Street Fighter IV.

In an interview with Evo, GamerBee once revealed that the arcade scene in Taiwan was starting to fade. However, the good netcode in Street Fighter IV allowed him to practice and compete online against top players from various countries.

“Without the netcode, I wouldn’t have been able to practice or compete with so many great players online and become the GamerBee I am today,” he said.

When he returned to Evo in 2012, he managed to win the runner-up position (2nd place). GamerBee continued to perform consistently, even entering the Grand Final of Evo 2015 after defeating legendary names such as Daigo, Tokido, and Nemo. Outside of Evo, he also achieved brilliant results in tournaments such as EGX, Japan Cup, and many more.

More Than a Player: A Major Contributor to Taiwan’s FGC
In addition to competing, GamerBee has also been an active streamer since the early days of esports. In 2015, he served as Partnerships Development Lead for Twitch Taiwan, where he helped promote local streamers to a global audience.

He also used his role on Twitch to promote Street Fighter esports, which he felt had a much smaller community compared to big games like League of Legends and Dota 2.

Having won 18 international championships and helped build the Street Fighter community for decades, GamerBee is still actively competing. He placed in the Top 100 at Evo 2024 and consistently finishes in the Top 20 in online tournaments across Asia.

Inspirational at 46
At 46, GamerBee shows no signs of slowing down. His move to Flash Wolves is another big step in strengthening and expanding the FGC scene in Taiwan and internationally.

GamerBee is living proof that age is no barrier to success in esports. His dedication has not only built a personal legacy, but also paved the way for the next generation in the fighting game world.

Returning to Hero’s Gorge, Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 is the first global tournament to introduce the Global Ban & Pick format, an innovative concept first introduced by KPL in 2018 and has been used in more than 8,500 matches. Designed to highlight the diversity of heroes, Global Ban & Pick brings more variety and excitement for roro4d online players and fans. In Season 3, a total of 71 heroes were used throughout the tournament.

James Yang, Senior Director of Level Infinite Global Esports Center, also expressed his appreciation for the success of this tournament: “Congratulations to Nova Esports for their victory in the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3. This is a historic moment that shows the growth and excitement of Honor of Kings esports.”
He also added his enthusiasm for the future of the Honor of Kings Esports ecosystem: “We’re excited to reveal plans for 2025 and beyond, as we continue to build Honor of Kings into a truly global ecosystem. Whether you’re a casual player, student, or professional, we want to provide opportunities for everyone. Stay tuned for more exciting news in the future!”

Four Ragnarok IP Titles with Unique Charms Ready to Attract the Attention of Gamers in Southeast Asia!
Global gaming company Gravity continues to expand Ragnarok’s presence in the Southeast Asian market by introducing four new titles in 2025. This move is expected to further strengthen the popularity of Ragnarok, which has become an icon in the regional gaming industry.

Since entering Southeast Asia in 2003 with Ragnarok Online, Gravity has continued to innovate. Great success was achieved again with the launch of Ragnarok M: Eternal Love in 2018, which dominated the market and created the Ragnarok trend in the region.

Since 2021, various Ragnarok titles such as Ragnarok In early 2025, Gravity and its global branches will introduce four new titles with various attractions: Ragnarok M: Classic, Ragnarok Idle Adventure Plus, Ragnarok V: Returns, and Ragnarok: Back to Glory.

Valve has just released a small update for CS2, which may seem trivial, but could be good news for fans hoping for Cache to return to the map pool in the future.

Despite being out of the Active Duty map pool since 2019, Cache remains a community favorite, with many requesting it return soon.

CS2 Update Increases Map Upload Size Limit in Workshop
Why is this update good news for Cache?

The main change in this update is an increase in the maximum file size for maps in Steam Workshop, from 2GB to 3GB.

In various CS2 community Discords, news emerged that FMPONE, the creator of Cache, is in the final stages of creating a roro4d new version of this iconic map. When asked whether the change in file size in this latest update was related to cache, FMPONE only responded with a “thumbs-up” image, which could be interpreted as an indirect confirmation.

It’s not a clear answer, but at least it’s not a rejection. With Cache’s status being so iconic in the CS community, it’s likely that Valve will try to ensure this map can be uploaded to the Steam Workshop, especially if FMPONE previously experienced file size limits.

Will Cache Return to CS2?
If Cache is indeed added to CS2, it will most likely come through Steam Workshop first.

Recently, Valve has changed the CS2 map pool by including Train in place of Vertigo. There is no guarantee that the Cache will return to Active Duty, but if it does, the process could take a long time. Usually, a map will appear in the Workshop first, then be put into Competitive mode, before finally being considered for Active Duty.

Now, all we can do is hope that FMPONE is not just joking, but is actually planning to release a new version of Cache in the near future.

CS2 Patch Notes – February 13, 2025
[UI]
✅ Fixed the size and scale of UI elements used in the buy menu and in-game HUD.
✅ Fixed bug in armor display for CSTV viewers.
✅ Alternative inspection animation for AK-47 has been updated.

[ WORKSHOP ]
✅ Maximum upload size for Counter-Strike 2 Steam Workshop Maps increased to 3GB.

Keep up with the latest news about CS:GO and other esports scenes at Ligagame Esports! Visit Ligagame.tv’s Instagram and Youtube which are always updated and up to date.

If you are a Gold Laner who wants to rank up and achieve Mythical Glory, the Bruno Malefic Gun build can be your savior.

This powerful combination was made famous at the M6 ​​World Championship, where the best teams from around the world showcased their dominance on the grandest stage of MLBB competition.

Apart from being one of the most effective strategies in professional matches, the Bruno Malefic Gun has also become a fan favorite.

Bruno became the top Gold Laner of the M Series this time with a win ratio of 54.68%, making him the most successful hero in the tournament.

The synergy of skill mechanics and the Bruno Malefic Gun build is the main reason behind this success, allowing players to secure victory with ease.

In this ONE Esports article, we will explain why the Bruno Malefic Gun build has gained such popularity, along with the best itemization and strategies for mastering it in ranked matches.

Before discussing why Bruno and the Malefic Gun are a great match, let’s discuss the standout features of the items.

Malefic Gun provides +40 Physical Attack, +20% Movement Speed, and 30% Physical PEN, which makes it ideal for destroying enemy defenses.

Its unique passive, Malefic Energy, extends the range of Basic Attacks by 15% and grants 10% Movement Speed ​​for one second every time a Basic Attack is launched.

This combination is ideal for Bruno, because his strength lies in Basic Attacks. The additional attack range, movement speed, and attack speed provided by the Malefic Gun complements his playstyle perfectly.

As one of the heroes with the strongest Basic Attack, Bruno thrives with this build, which makes him a tough choice in any match.

The Bruno Malefic Gun build offers flexibility in execution, allowing players to adapt mid-match.

You can prioritize the Malefic Gun as the first roro4d item for an initial power surge, or choose items that provide continuous damage such as Haas Claws or Berserker’s Fury to increase survivability and burst damage potential.

The Physical PEN attribute of the Malefic Gun is usually enough to fight tough opponents, but if the enemy team has many heroes with high defense, adding Malefic Roar can further strengthen your ability to penetrate their armor.

This adaptability makes this Bruno Malefic Gun build a reliable choice in various scenarios.

The M6 ​​World Championship continues with Swiss Stage round 5 where a total of the last 6 teams will fight their way to the playoffs/knockout.

One of the new matches in the round was Selangor Red Giants (SRG) from Malaysia against CFU Gaming from Cambodia, Thursday (5/12).

This battle is very crucial, considering that there will be 1 playoff ticket up for grabs. This match is SRG’s last chance to qualify for the M6 ​​playoffs.

The Selangor Red Giants’ journey on the M6 ​​has not always been smooth. Opening the Swiss Stage they lost to S2G and also lost against Falcon Esports.

However, the victory against ULFHEDNAR and Keep Best Gaming opened up the opportunity for SRG to qualify for the M6 ​​playoffs in round 5.

In the first game, both CFU and SRG both teams fought their muscles in the early game. This match is quite crucial for them heading to the playoffs.

However, Detective’s brilliant play paved the way for CFU Gaming to win in the first game. SRG was overwhelmed by CFU’s game, however, they still held on for a while.

A big teamfight occurred in the 13th minute, SRG was ahead. CFU did not remain silent, Detective and Zee succeeded in turning things around.

The remaining detectives finally succeeded in ending game 1. The battle continued in the second game.

In the second game, the Selangor Red Giants went on a rampage. CFU was rendered immobile in the early game, Vale’s presence opened up a gap for SRG.

The draft used by CFU seemed helpless, SRG freely controlled the game until they finally equalized the score in the 13th minute.

The last game was a life and death match for both teams. SRG managed to start well, played more solidly, CFU started to reply.

In the 13th minute, SRG’s defense started to break down. The CFU has the power to terminate. Teamfight occurred in the 14th minute, CFU managed to overthrow 2 players from SRG making the situation 5v3 for both of them.

Having a superior coktoto number of players doesn’t make SRG afraid. They were still able to survive, in fact, Innocent the Gold Laner made a fantastic maneuver.

Moskov Innocent went berserk, hot spears stabbed all the CFU players and they were thrown into disarray.

Innocent got Maniac, Stormie completed the win and finally 3 SRG players advanced to the CFU gaming base securing a 2-1 win.

Fnatic ONIC PH successfully advanced to the semifinals of the upper bracket knockout stage M6 after defeating Selangor Red Giants (SRG) with a landslide score of 2-0, Saturday (7/12). Even so, Kelra still views her opponent as a big rival.

In that match, ONIC PH had difficulty ensuring victory in the first game, even though overall they were in control of the game. Meanwhile in the second game, Kelra et al didn’t seem to find any obstacles to ensure perfect results.

This result can also be interpreted as saying that ONIC PH’s current performance is quite far above SRG. In fact, one of the Malaysian representatives is one of the favorite teams to win M6 thanks to their brilliant achievements throughout 2024 by winning 2 MPL MY and MSC in the middle of last year.

In fact, with this achievement, SRG has the opportunity to become the first team coktoto to be able to win all the titles from the official Moonton tournament on M6 which no other team has ever been able to get, plus the opportunity to get a Grand Slam title, aka being able to win 4 major tournaments throughout the year.

Even though Fnatic ONIC PH is said to be able to win easily, Kelra still respects SRG. He still views Sekys et al as a strong team that is difficult to beat.

Because ONIC PH views SRG very highly, this also makes the game very intense and creates hype, aka excessive feelings when playing. Even though his opponent experienced quite a lot of difficulties, he was only able to ensure that he qualified for the knockout stage M6 through round 5 of the Swiss Stage.

“This match against SRG is full of hype because they are one of the most respected teams in MLBB. “Luckily, when we play in hype like this, we can play better,” said Kelra.

“We play better when we are under very intense situations, and this is the mentality we need to play on the world championship stage,” he said.

It will be interesting to see what SRG’s journey will be like in the M6 ​​knockout stage after being demoted to the lower bracket. Can they get up and show themselves as one of the favorite teams to win the 6th M-Series?

The Energy Ball from Cyclops’ ultimate moves slowly. Even though his Ultimate is designed so that the duration of the immobilize effect is longer when the target is further away, if the distance is too far, he will not be able to combine it with other skills. This is the reason we increased the flight speed of the Energy Ball and adjusted other skill values.

Apart from that, previously Cyclops’ skill 1 and ultimate also had a longer range, while skill 2’s range was shorter. We will also increase the range of skill 2 and slightly reduce the damage to balance it.

Skill 2
Duration of immobilize effect: 1-2 seconds (increases according to distance traveled) >> 0.75-1.5 seconds

We reduced the time it takes for Joy to deal maximum damage to increase her burst and further highlight her Assassin side.

We view Fanny as a hero with a high level of difficulty, but with great potential. We have fixed the roro4d problem with the ultimate activating skill 1 without control, and reduced the damage when the ultimate is used directly. However, because Fanny’s current win rate is not very high, we also improved her continuous combat ability.

Attribute
Energy Recovery: 3 >> 5
Passive skills
Energy recovered per Prey Mark: 7 >> 8
Ultimate
Fixed an issue where using Ultimate while flying would also activate Skill 1 in certain situations.
Additional physical attack bonus: 240% >> 200%
Increased damage per stack: 20% >> 30%

Xavier lacks self-protection when opponents are in close range. We shortened the delay before Xavier’s skill 2 activates, allowing him to perform a skill 1 & 2 combo to immobilize opponents, even at close range.

Reduces damage dealt and basic attributes. In addition, according to airborne adjustments, the original short airborne effect has been removed.

Khaleed with a full defense build currently has high damage and durability. We aim to nerf it a bit and keep its early game damage high.