Patryk Stachowiak
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Team Spirit are now Dota 2’s first-ever three-time world champions after defeating regional rivals TEAM VISION (aka PARIVISION) 3-2 in the best-of-five grand finals of The International (TI) 2026 at Shanghai’s Oriental Sports Center on Sunday, 23 August.
2026China
Team Spirit
TEAM VISION
Team YandexCarry Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk and offlaner Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov become the first Dota 2 players to lift the Aegis three times, having previously won together at TI 2021 and TI 2023. Coach Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov joins them as a three-time champion, completing his transition from two-time TI-winning player to a championship-winning coach. Mid laner Denis “Larl” Sigitov earns his second TI title, becoming the 13th player in history to achieve that mark. Support duo Alexey “not me” Kosmynin and Aleksandr “rue” Filin claim their first Aegis, with not me doing so in his TI debut.
Spirit took home US$1.4 million from TI 2026’s US$3.33 million prize pool. TEAM VISION settle for second place despite entering the tournament as heavy favourites. They improved on their third-place result from the prior year but could not secure the Aegis. VISION coach Clement “Puppey” Ivanov, who won the inaugural TI in 2011, finished runner-up for the fourth time across the 2012, 2013, 2022, and now 2026 editions.
The International 2026
Total Prize Pool: $3,364,538 USD
| Place | Participant | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Spirit | $1,429,894 |
| 2 | TEAM VISION | $437,441 |
| 3 | Team Yandex | $302,759 |
| 4 | BoomBoys | $201,885 |
| 5–6 | Nigma Galaxy | $168,215 |
| 5–6 | Team Liquid | $168,215 |
| 7–8 | Team Falcons | $134,544 |
| 7–8 | Iron Wing | $134,544 |
| 9–13 | Vici Gaming | $60,497 |
| 9–13 | Team Resilience | $60,4970 |
| 9–13 | GamerLegion | $60,497 |
| 9–13 | Aurora Gaming | $60,497 |
| 9–13 | LGD Gaming | $60,497 |
| 14–16 | OG | $33,670 |
| 14–16 | Xtreme Gaming | $33,670 |
| 16 | HULIGANI | $16,835 |
Grand Finals Breakdown
Spirit controlled game one from start to finish. They built what looked like a series-commanding 2-0 lead in game two before VISION reversed course to level the series at 1-1. Game three was contested but Spirit held on to move to championship point. VISION responded with a dominant game four to force a decider.
Game five ran 64 minutes. VISION seized an early lead, but Spirit absorbed the pressure, turned the momentum, and closed out the match to secure their historic third Aegis of Champions.
About The International 2026
TI 2026 was Dota 2’s annual world championship, held in August in Shanghai, China, at the Oriental Sports Center. The field of 16 teams was assembled through direct invitations and regional qualifiers.
Directly invited teams included Aurora Gaming, BoomBoys (aka BetBoom Team), Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Iron Wing (aka 1w Team), Xtreme Gaming, and Team Yandex. Regional qualifier representatives were European qualifier winners Team Spirit, TEAM VISION (aka PARIVISION), HULIGANI, and Nigma Galaxy; North American qualifier winner GamerLegion; Southeast Asian qualifier winner OG; South American qualifier winner LGD Gaming; and Chinese qualifier winners Vici Gaming and Team Resilience.
Shanghai last hosted TI at TI 2019, where OG became the first two-time TI champions by defeating Team Liquid in four games to claim US$15.6 million from a US$34.3 million prize pool. Valve confirmed Shanghai as the TI 2026 host during TI 2025, won by Team Falcons over Xtreme Gaming in five games.
The tournament ran in two phases. The Road to The International was a Swiss-style Group Stage from 13 to 16 August, cutting the field from 16 to 8 teams. The main event then ran from 20 to 23 August. The prize pool started at a US$1.6 million base and was supplemented through TI 2026 Compendium sales, reaching a total of US$3.33 million.
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