Team Spirit has claimed the highest honour in Dota 2 and have hoisted the Aegis of Champions above their heads after perhaps one of the most amazing underdog stories in esports. Heading into the final day they had to go through Team Secret just to have a chance at taking on PSG.LGD and after dropping the first game in the series it looked like we were all but assured to have a rematch of the upper bracket finals between Team Secret and PSG.LGD. Team Spirit remained undeterred despite being a single game from elimination for the second time in the lower bracket and despite this being the first TI for four of their players, executed on their strategies nearly flawlessly.
Up against PSG.LGD the sentiment was essentially just that the finals would make for a good show and PSG.LGD wouldn't end it too quickly. There was some hope for Team Spirit but once again they were thought of as the underdogs, and PSG.LGD as the strong favourites. Which is why when Team Spirit took game 1 in convincing fashion, and then game 2 as well with Collapse's Magnus looking nearly unbeatable there was a sense of disbelief. The team no one expected to be there suddenly was up 2-0 in the grand finals of The International and they made it look easy. PSG.LGD battled back and won game 3 and game 4 but in the all deciding game 5 it was Team Spirit that came out on top. After a bakers decade of Dota we had brand new champions. Team Spirit was the last team standing and claimed the Aegis as their own.
10 years of TI closed with the sad end of Chinese Dota. This time I believe it's donezo for real
The player base doesn't grow. Old pros are retiring or losing their edges. Fanbase is old and interest is waning. The 3 hours/week gaming restriction on kids under 18 looks serious, this time they have the technology to enforce it for real - Starry the 16 yo CSGO player just had to retire until he's 18
Unless China grooms SEA talents and import them, they are done
The Bo5 essentially was revolving around the draft meta TS dictated. Lgd decided to play into what TS wanted them to, that's why they loss. When the curveball was thrown with the Rubick/Undying opening in game 3, the difference in ability/experience of both teams showed.
In a sense, lgd was too arrogant. They felt like they were good enough to beat TS in their own game, and rightfully were humbled. I suppose in a Bo5, there's so much pressure in the final game that you revert to playing safe again. That's playing not to lose, rather than playing to win. If only they channelled the wings vibe and just flex their versatility by drafting differently all 5 games.
Kudos to TS though. I loved the naga pick. I loved their execution of smoke ganks. I loved their vision game. My favourite TI10 moment is still Torontotokyo Lina 1v5 solo killing VP's luna without buyback. The sheer audacity of the madman.
The last game turned into sheer madness at the end, watched it on 4 different channels now, such a hype finish.
Very impressed at how Collapse managed himself, he "won" them so many games, then got targetted and crushed 2 games in a row during the finals, massive momentum switch that normally ends up poorly, but... instead they picked magnus >again<, managed a full reset and owned game5.
He's freaking 19!
GG guys, also gg to LGD ofc, ya'll gave us very very nice dota today, ty!
To think I didn't even know these guys existed before this tournament because I didn't watch any Majors before this TI and when I checked them out on liquipedia, they weren't even a direct invite. They had to qualify, like a random pubstack. Then seeing their group stage I wrote them off completely, and they did not disappoint me there, dropping to the lower bracket immediately in their 1st match. Then I was a doubter throughout their WHOLE lower bracket run, until they beat Secret in the lower bracket finals and moved on to challenge LGD. That's when I started to believe and started to cheer for them D:
What a RIDE this has been, congrats to these guys.
On October 18 2021 12:32 DucK- wrote: The Bo5 essentially was revolving around the draft meta TS dictated. Lgd decided to play into what TS wanted them to, that's why they loss. When the curveball was thrown with the Rubick/Undying opening in game 3, the difference in ability/experience of both teams showed.
In a sense, lgd was too arrogant. They felt like they were good enough to beat TS in their own game, and rightfully were humbled. I suppose in a Bo5, there's so much pressure in the final game that you revert to playing safe again. That's playing not to lose, rather than playing to win. If only they channelled the wings vibe and just flex their versatility by drafting differently all 5 games.
ITA. The 2nd pick Lycan sealed their fate. They could have still pivoted after seeing Mag+Bane opener. Ditch the RockWolf plan and pair Tiny with something else. In the end, tunnel vision was more cancerous than the most imba hero of the tournament.
The office of Vladimir Putin put out a press release congratulating Spirit on their victory. One person translated it as:
"Dear friends!
Congratulations with a deserved win at The International 2021 - Dota 2 World Championship. For the first time in history a Russian team Team Spirit wins this prestigious competition. Well done!
On your way to finals you have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and team unity and in the last fight, which became a real test of skill and character, managed to concentrate and at the most crucial moment to seize the initiative from strong rivals. You have proven in practice that our esportsmen are always goal-oriented and capable of achieving anything.
![[image loading]](/staff/OmniEulogy/TI10/TSTI10WIN.png)
![[image loading]](/staff/OmniEulogy/TI10/TI10TS.png)
