Newbee is a Chinese esports organization founded in 2014 by The International 2012 champion Zhang xiao8 Ning, with the support of entrepreneur Wang Niuwa Yue.

In its very first season, the club won The International 2014, becoming one of the most successful organizations in the history of Chinese Dota 2.

2014

In February 2014, the first roster of Newbee was formed, consisting of Zhang xiao8 Ning, Zhang Mu Pan, Chen Hao Zhichao, Zhou KingJ Yang, and Gong ZSMJ Jian.

Soon after, Wang Banana Zhao replaced ZSMJ, and Wang SanSheng Zhaohui took KingJ’s place, forming the team’s championship roster.

In its debut season, the team won the MarsTV Dota 2 League 2014, finished in the top three at the WPC League 2014, and achieved its greatest accomplishment by winning The International 2014.

Despite a rough start to the tournament and having to play tiebreakers to advance to the playoffs, the team made it to the grand final, where they defeated Vici Gaming 3–1.

Later, Newbee also became the champion of World Cyber Arena 2014, ending the season as the world’s strongest team.

2015–2016

After winning The International 2014, captain xiao8 announced he was taking a break from his professional career, and his spot was filled by Won Rabbit Sheng, who transferred from LGD Gaming.

However, the team’s results began to decline the following season. The team performed poorly at The International 2015, finishing in last place, after which the organization embarked on a major roster overhaul.

In the years that followed, Newbee featured many well-known Chinese players, such as Zeng Faith Hunda, Hu Kaka Liangzhi, Sun Sccc Chun, He Inflame Yongzheng, and others.

With a revamped roster that also included Wong ChuaN Wong Hak and Damien kpii Sau-ching Chok, the team placed second at EPICENTER 2016, third at The Manila Major 2016, and won the Nanyang Dota 2 Championships Season 2.

2017–2018

With the start of the new season, Sun Sccc Chun, Zeng Faith Hunda, and Hu Moogy Han joined Newbee, allowing the team to once again become one of the year’s top contenders.

Right from the start of the year, the team took second place at ESL One Genting 2017 and consistently finished in the top three at nearly every Tier 1 championship.

Their biggest achievement was a second-place finish at The International 2017, where they advanced confidently through the upper bracket of the playoffs but were unable to defeat Team Liquid in the grand final.

In 2018, the team continued to compete in major international tournaments, finishing in the top 4 at The Bucharest Major and MDL Changsha Major, and winning ESL One Genting 2018.

However, they were unable to replicate the success of the previous season, and after a disappointing performance at The International 2018, the team’s results began to gradually decline.

2019–2020

After several successful seasons, the era of Newbee began to come to an end. A lack of results and frequent roster changes led the organization to sign the Forward Gaming roster in mid-2019, which had previously qualified for The International 2019.

The roster included Yawar YawaR Hassan, Quinn Quinn Callahan, Jingjun Sneyking Wu, Arif MSS Anwar, and Johan pieliedie Oström.

Thanks to this, Newbee secured a spot in the year’s main tournament, but the new roster failed to achieve strong results.

In May 2020, the organization found itself at the center of a major match-fixing scandal. Following an investigation conducted by CDA and ImbaTV, Newbee was disqualified from Chinese tournaments.

And in January 2021, Valve and Perfect World permanently banned the club and its players from participating in all official Dota 2 competitions. This marked the end of the story for one of China’s most successful clubs.