M80 enter Dota 2 by acquiring beastcoast

Image: M80

M80 will make their Dota 2 tournament debut in ESL One Bangkok 2024 this weekend.

American esports organisation M80 have entered the Dota 2 scene by acquiring beastcoast and its Peruvian roster. M80’s entry into Dota 2 comes at a thrilling moment, just in time for the year’s final major LAN event: ESL One Bangkok 2024, which will kick off on Sunday (December 9).

M80’s Dota 2 roster for ESL One Bangkok is as follows:

1. Yheremi Kerry “payk” Paucar Arroyo
2. Luis Villarreal “Lumpy” Yausin
3. Mario “ILICH-” Romero
4. Yelstin “elmisho” Verde
5. Joel “MoOz” Mori Ozambela

M80 is an American esports organisation that mainly focuses on talent development, esports events, marketing, and consulting. The organisation is already actively competing in esports including Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, and Rainbow Six Siege. With the acquisition of beastcoast, M80 have also acquired the former's Dota 2 and Pokémon VCG teams. 

Former beastcoast CEO Grant Zinn has also joined M80 as its new Chief Business Development Officer, where he will support his new organisation's expansion into South America.

“M80 and beastcoast have a lot of mutual respect for the communities we’ve built – and now we’re ready to take it to the next level” Marco Mereu, M80 Founder and CEO, said in a statement.

“This move will bring M80 into key new esports titles like Dota 2, allow us to reach and support new fans, and continue the breakneck momentum we’ve maintained since launching M80 just a year ago.”

End of an era

Beastcoast was one of the most prominent organisations in the South American Dota 2 scene. They first entered the Dota 2 scene in 2019 with a North American roster before shifting to a South American squad in October of that year.

One of the most iconic lineups in Dota 2 history, beastcoast's 2019-2022 roster featured Hector Antonio “K1” Rodriguez, Jean Pierre “Chris Luck” Gonzales, Adrian “Wisper” Cespedes Dobles, Elvis “Scofield” De la Cruz Peña, and Steven “StingeR” Vargas Mamani. They were the longest-lasting roster in Dota 2 history, staying together for over three years under the banners of Infamous, Team Anvorgesa, and beastcoast. 

In 2022, they achieved Top 6 finishes at both the ESL One Stockholm and PGL Arlington Majors. However, beastcoast's most iconic roster was known most for their incredible underdog run at The International (TI) 2022, where they finished in the Top 8 and helped to spark incredible growth for Dota 2's South American scene. With the M80 acquisition of beastcoast, the current Dota 2 roster would now play under a different name and brand, marking the end of an era.

M80 will be among the 12 teams playing in ESL One Bangkok 2024, the last top-tier Dota 2 tournament of the year. There, they will be looking to make their mark in the scene against heavyweights like TI 2024 champions Team Liquid, Dota 2 BLAST Slam I champions BetBoom Team, and Team Falcons. M80 are not the only organisation to debut a new roster in Bangkok either, as Natus Vincere also recently acquired the PuckChamp roster. Rising stars such as AVULUS and PARIVISION will also be adding fresh competition to the mix. 

ESL One Bangkok 2024 will be hosted from December 9 to 15 and is split into two distinct stages: the Group Stage, running from December 9 to 11, and the Playoffs, running from December 13 to 15. The Group Stage will only be broadcasted online, but the Playoffs will be hosted in front of a live audience in Bangkok's Royal Paragon Hall.

For everything you need to know about ESL One Bangkok 2024, check here.

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