In a thrilling showdown at The International 12, Team Spirit emerged victorious, clinching the Dota 2 championship with a 3-0 sweep over Gaimin Gladiators. This victory marks the second time Team Spirit has claimed the prestigious title, following their win at The International 10 in 2021.

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With this win, Team Spirit joins the elite ranks as the second team to secure two TI championships, with OG being the only other team to achieve this feat, winning both TI8 and TI9. However, it’s worth noting that Team Spirit’s journey to their second victory involved some roster changes between their two triumphs.

The final match pitted two top contenders against each other. Team Spirit came into the tournament on a high note, with a recent victory at the Ryiad Masters and a strong season behind them. On the other side, Gaimin Gladiators aimed for the grand slam, having already secured all three DPC Majors earlier in the year.

The Aegis of Champions!#SpiritDota #Dota2 #TI12 pic.twitter.com/qWyC7QOKbC

— Team Spirit (@Team__Spirit) October 30, 2023

Game one of the final featured some unexpected hero picks, with Gyrocopter and Beastmaster making appearances. Gyrocopter had struggled at the tournament, failing to secure a single win in five picks, while Beastmaster only had a 27% win rate. This bold hero selection showcased the confidence of both teams in their abilities, and Team Spirit’s Beastmaster led them to a relatively straightforward victory over Gaimin Gladiators, taking a 1-0 lead.

In the second game, both teams returned to their comfort picks. Team Spirit selected Magnus for Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov, a combination that had been crucial in their TI 10 victory. Once again, this duo proved unstoppable as Team Spirit secured another convincing win, taking a 2-0 lead and moving one step closer to the championship.

Game three witnessed the teams embracing the prevailing meta picks of TI 12. Team Spirit fielded Chaos Knight, Grimstroke, Tusk, and Spirit Breaker, while Gaimin opted for Muerta, the most popular hero of the tournament, along with Pangolier and Ancient Apparition (AA). Gaimin initially held a strong position in the mid-game and seemed poised to secure a win. However, Team Spirit turned the tide with crucial team fights, ultimately clinching their third map win and securing the TI championship.

Despite a reduced prize pool compared to previous years, Team Spirit walked away with at least US$1,413,785 in winnings. The decrease in prize money was more noticeable in the lower positions, with Gaimin Gladiators earning just US$376,954 for their efforts. LGD Gaming claimed third place with US$251,372, and Azure Ray took home $172,753 for fourth.

The International 12 marked a significant improvement over the previous year’s event, with impressive CGI enhancing the arena’s visuals and delivering a top-notch in-game experience. Furthermore, the event featured the exciting unveiling of a new Dota 2 hero, the Ringmaster.

However, concerns about the future of professional Dota 2 loom large. A Dota 2 analyst remarked on the shifting dynamics of the scene, expressing worries about declining enthusiasm and shrinking prize pools potentially leading to a substantial transformation or even the downfall of the professional arena.

Looking ahead, there is a glimmer of hope for the community and stakeholders as third-party circuits are set to make a comeback in 2024. Yet, the persistent financial decline continues to cast a shadow over the future of professional Dota, leaving the esports community with uncertain prospects.