Xtreme Gaming to Play With a Stand-In at The International 2025

Xtreme Gaming, one of China’s top Dota 2 squads, will enter The International 2025 with an unexpected roster change. The club confirmed that Singaporean support player Wilson “poloson” Koh will not be able to compete at this year’s edition due to an injury, forcing the team to bring in Malaysian veteran Yap “xNova” Jian Wei as a stand-in.The announcement comes after weeks of uncertainty regarding poloson’s fitness. Recently, the Singaporean was diagnosed with tendonitis, an overuse injury common among esports professionals due to prolonged hours of intense gameplay.

Poloson had already missed the Clavision DOTA2 Masters 2025: Snow-Ruyi in China earlier this year. Despite a month of rest, doctors have now advised him to avoid competitive stress for at least another month in order to prevent permanent damage that could threaten his career. This makes his absence from The International unavoidable.

Enter xNova: A Proven Veteran

To fill the gap, Xtreme Gaming turned to Yap “xNova” Jian Wei, one of Southeast Asia’s most respected support players. The 27-year-old Malaysian has a wealth of top-level experience, including several appearances at The International. Most notably, xNova was part of the PSG.LGD roster that reached the TI8 Grand Final in Vancouver, losing narrowly 3–2 to OG in one of the most iconic series in Dota 2 history. His calm playstyle, strong vision control, and ability to adapt to different teams’ systems make him an ideal emergency substitute.Xtreme Gaming have built momentum over the past two seasons as one of the most promising Chinese squads. With Lou, Paparazi灬, JT-, Dy, and until now poloson, the team has been considered a dark horse capable of making a deep run at TI 2025.

The last-minute roster change is both a challenge and an opportunity: Challenge: Poloson’s synergy with the team, especially in laning phase and rotations, will be missed. Xtreme must quickly adjust to xNova’s style and communication. Opportunity: xNova brings unparalleled big-stage experience and mental stability. In a high-pressure tournament like TI, his leadership could be a stabilizing factor for the team.The 14th edition of The International will take place in Hamburg, Germany from September 4 to 14, 2025, with the final weekend hosted at the Barclays Arena.

Key details include: 16 teams from around the world will compete. A $1.6 million base prize pool, which will likely grow significantly through crowdfunding and compendium sales. The tournament remains the pinnacle of the Dota 2 competitive calendar, where reputations are made and legends are defined. For Chinese Dota fans, expectations are high, as the region looks to reclaim its dominance on the global stage.Bringing in xNova also revives memories of his dramatic TI runs:

TI8 (2018): Runner-up with PSG.LGD in a classic final against OG. TI9 (2019): Another strong showing, finishing 3rd with PSG.LGD in Shanghai. Later years: Continued to play at the highest level with multiple squads, bringing valuable experience across different metas. This depth of TI experience could prove crucial for Xtreme Gaming, especially in moments where composure and discipline separate winners from losers.

Fan and Community Reactions

The news of poloson’s absence was met with disappointment, but many fans quickly expressed confidence in xNova’s ability to step in. Known for his professionalism and adaptability, the Malaysian has long been considered one of the safest hands in the support role. The community also expressed sympathy for poloson, hoping he will recover fully and return to the scene in 2026. The prevalence of repetitive strain injuries in esports has once again sparked conversations about player health and the need for better prevention strategies.

Xtreme Gaming’s decision to call on xNova as a stand-in for The International 2025 may reshape their campaign. While losing poloson is a setback, the addition of a veteran with deep TI experience could provide unexpected benefits in leadership and composure. As the tournament in Hamburg approaches, all eyes will be on whether Xtreme Gaming can adapt quickly and make a statement on the world stage. For poloson, the priority is recovery — but his absence serves as a reminder of the physical demands of esports at the highest level. For xNova, it is another chance to write his name into TI history.