One defeat to TEAM VISION was not enough to stop Team Spirit. The squad fought its way back through the lower bracket, won The International 2026 Grand Final 3-2 and set a new Dota 2 record.
No organization had ever lifted the Aegis three times before. OG, Team Liquid and Team Spirit had all belonged to the exclusive group of two-time champions, but the victory in Shanghai moved Spirit into first place on the all-time TI leaderboard.
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Team Spirit Defeats TEAM VISION in the TI 2026 Grand Final
The deciding series delivered the drama expected from a historic final. Spirit won the opening game, but TEAM VISION responded on the second map. Team Spirit moved ahead again in game three before its opponent tied the score and forced the series to a fifth map.
The deciding game lasted more than an hour. TEAM VISION secured an early advantage but could not turn it into a quick victory. Spirit survived the pressure, reversed the course of the map and closed out the series with a 3-2 win.
The Grand Final also served as a rematch. TEAM VISION had already defeated Spirit twice during the tournament, including their meeting in the upper bracket of the playoffs. After dropping into the lower bracket, the Dragons had to overcome Team Liquid, BoomBoys and Team Yandex to earn another opportunity to compete for the Aegis.
Team Spirit’s championship roster at The International 2026:
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Illya Yatoro Mulyarchuk;
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Denis Larl Sigitov;
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Magomed Collapse Khalilov;
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Alexey not me Kosmynin;
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Aleksandr rue Filin.
Why Team Spirit’s Third Aegis Matters
The organization previously won The International in 2021 and 2023. Its roster changed significantly between the second and third titles, with not me and rue replacing Mira and Miposhka. The achievement therefore highlights more than the longevity of Spirit’s established stars. It also shows that the organization can rebuild its lineup without losing its championship-level identity.
Yatoro and Collapse became three-time TI champions as players. Larl claimed his second Aegis, while not me and rue won Dota 2’s biggest tournament for the first time. Team Spirit earned approximately $1.4 million for first place, although the final amount could change as the overall prize pool continues to grow.
The path to the trophy makes this victory even more significant. Spirit did not win the tournament through a flawless upper-bracket run. The team recovered from multiple defeats and completed a difficult comeback in the Grand Final. That makes the third title feel less like a continuation of past success and more like the beginning of a new chapter.
Team Spirit is now the only organization to win The International three times. The next question is already clear: can this rebuilt roster remain at the top and turn its record into an achievement that no other Dota 2 team will match for years?
