Team Liquid signs Wisper ahead of BLAST Slam VIII

Team Liquid has signed Adrián “Wisper” Céspedes Dobles as its new Dota 2 offlaner ahead of BLAST Slam VIII. The Bolivian player replaces Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard, who left Liquid on September 13 after one season with the organization.

Wisper completes a lineup featuring Michael “miCKe” Vu, Michał “Nisha” Jankowski, Samuel “Boxi” Svahn, and Erik “tOfu” Engel. The new roster is scheduled to make its Tier 1 debut when BLAST Slam VIII begins on September 29.

Team Liquid announced Wisper’s arrival on September 20, one week after confirming Ace’s departure. Wisper takes the position-three role and becomes the first South American player to join Liquid’s Dota 2 roster.

The move also brings him back to a European organization. Wisper previously spent more than a year with OG before returning to South American competition and later representing HEROIC and LGD Gaming.

His most recent run came with LGD at The International 2026. The team finished 9th-13th after losing 2-1 to Team Yandex in the Elimination Stage, and Wisper became a free agent after LGD released its roster when the players’ contracts expired.

Ace joined Liquid in October 2025 and spent almost a year as the team’s offlaner. During that period, Liquid won BLAST Slam VI and 1win Series Essence II.

The team also reached several deep playoff runs during the season before finishing 5th-6th at The International 2026. Eventual champion Team Spirit ended Liquid’s run in the lower-bracket quarterfinals.

Liquid thanked Ace for his time with the organization when announcing his departure but did not immediately reveal his replacement. Wisper’s signing now fills the only open position in the starting five.

Wisper’s new lineup will make its first Tier 1 appearance at BLAST Slam VIII, which runs from September 29 to October 11. The tournament begins with an online group stage before the final six teams travel to Malta for the LAN playoffs.

BLAST Slam VIII features 16 teams and a combined $750,000 prize pool. Team Spirit, PARIVISION, Team Yandex, Aurora Gaming, and several other leading teams are also part of the field.

Liquid enters the event as a previous BLAST Slam champion after winning the sixth edition in February. The tournament will be the first major test of how Wisper works with the rest of the lineup.

The signing leaves most of Liquid’s previous lineup intact. miCKe, Nisha, Boxi, and tOfu remain alongside coach William “Blitz” Lee, with Wisper taking over the role previously held by Ace.

BLAST Slam VIII starts on September 29, with its Malta finals scheduled for October 8 to 11. It will be Wisper’s first tournament with Liquid and his first chance to compete with the roster after returning to European Dota 2.