After a short stint as Tundra’s general manager, zai has declared his return to ‘free agency’.
Western European Dota 2 powerhouse Tundra Esports announced on Friday (January 17) that Ludwig “Zai” Wåhlberg has stepped down from his role as general manager after a year in the position. The Swedish player revealed his decision to leave the organisation, stating publicly that he is now “returning to free agency”.
Zai’s departure marks the end of his year-long tenure as Tundra’s general manager. Known as one of the most prominent offlaners in Dota 2 history, Zai has built an exceptional career spanning over a decade. He was part of legendary rosters, making his name with Evil Geniuses, achieving numerous victories with Team Secret, and continuing his success with Team Liquid.
In February 2023, Zai surprised fans when he stepped away from competitive play before taking on a management role with Tundra. In an interview, he shared that he didn’t have interest in actively competing anymore and wanted to explore new opportunities and responsibilities, which led to his appointment as the General Manager of the team’s Dota 2 roster.
Throughout his time in management, Zai remained relatively low-profile, working behind the scenes to support the team. Now, after a year in the role, Zai has decided to move on.
“As we move into 2025, Zai has made the decision to step down as Tundra’s GM. We fully respect Zai’s decision and want to thank him for all the hard work he put into our 2024 season. We wish Ludwig a restful break and all the best with whatever he focuses on next,” Tundra shared.
In a post on his personal X (formerly Twitter) page, Zai quoted Tundra’s announcement of his departure and declared that he “will return to free agency”. While the offlaner likely said this in jest by implying that it’s just a nicer way to say that he’s now unemployed, we can’t rule out his possible return to competitive play now that he’s in ‘free agency’.
Zai has yet to disclose his future plans. Whether he will continue to pursue opportunities in management or return to professional play remains unknown. Fans of the Swedish star, however, are eager to see him back in the spotlight.
