Dota 2 fans came together to grieve the loss of beloved Chinese caster Mi "Yammers" Hongwei, who tragically took his own life after struggling with mental health issues.
Yammers revealed the news himself via a scheduled Weibo post on May 29, which has since circulated on social media. In the post, he shared his life story-revealing he was bullied and sexually assaulted as a child and treated like an outcast by his peers. He also had a strained relationship with his parents, who he discovered wasn't his biological parents, but rather, his father was a relative of his biological parents.
These factors, and more, contributed to the onset of depression, which continued to plague him at various stages throughout his life. There were moments, particularly when he was studying and living in Shijiazhuang, where Yammers mentioned the impact of the illness was lessened, but things significantly worsened in March 2019 after his father passed away due to an illness.
Yammers will be forever remembered as one of the most passionate casters in the scene. He worked across numerous premier events and was one of China's most prolific voices in Dota, including three iterations of The International, the Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018, ONE Esports Singapore Major 2021, WePlay AniMajor, The International 2021, Riyadh Masters 2022, and the PGL Arlington Major 2022.
Dota 2 fans expressed their sorrow on social media, describing it as a "very tough read" and a stark reminder about how important it is for people experiencing similar things to seek help.
One player claiming to be his friend said he was unaware of the struggles Yammers experienced throughout his life. He always seemed to be upbeat, positive, and lively, and although he had a deep passion for Dota, he never realized it was a means for him to escape reality.
Yammers will be deeply missed by the Dota community far and wide.
If you are experiencing mental health issues or know someone who is, seek help from a professional by calling the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. on 988, National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK in the U.K. on 0800 689 5652, Lifeline in Australia on 13 11 14.