Topias Taavitsainen

Topias Miikka Taavitsainen, known professionally as Topson, was born on April 14, 1998, in Haukipudas, Finland. He began playing Dota at the age of eight, encouraged by his siblings. His professional career in Dota 2 started in 2017 with stints at SFTe-sports and 5 Anchors, and he also represented Finland at WESG 2017. His early career saw him building a reputation through high leaderboard rankings and unique gameplay. This period laid the foundation for his rapid ascent in the competitive Dota 2 scene. Before dedicating himself to esports, Taavitsainen pursued studies to become a chef, a path he eventually left to focus entirely on his gaming career.

Taavitsainen’s breakthrough came in June 2018 when he joined OG as their new midlaner, shortly before The International 2018 regional qualifiers. Despite low expectations due to recent roster changes and his relatively unproven status on the international stage, OG qualified for the tournament. The team, with Taavitsainen as a core member, went on to win The International 2018, defeating PSG.LGD in the grand final in what was considered an underdog victory. This achievement marked his entry into elite-tier esports. The following year, on August 25, 2019, he became the first two-time TI-Winner by winning The International 2019 with OG, solidifying his legacy in Dota 2 history. He achieved this milestone alongside teammates N0tail, Ceb, ana, and JerAx, making OG the first team to win consecutive International titles.

After achieving unparalleled success with OG, Taavitsainen took a break from the competitive scene following The International 2021. However, his passion for the game led him to return, first as a stand-in for T1 during The International 2022 qualifiers, and later forming ‘Old G’ with former teammates Ceb and N0tail. In 2023, he joined Tundra Esports, replacing a player who went inactive due to health reasons, and competed in The International 2023. His career with Tundra Esports culminated in a 3rd place finish at The International 2024. On September 24, 2024, Tundra Esports announced his retirement from competitive play, with Taavitsainen planning to undertake mandatory military service in Finland in January 2025.