When every little misstep on the world stage can cost millions of dollars, only the best players can hold the Aegis trophy over their heads. The winners of The International are legends who have made cybersports history and changed the course of the world’s most popular game: Dota 2. Stories of triumph and downfall, moments of glory and disappointment: all this creates the unique atmosphere of The International, where every year the world’s best teams compete in the arena to be part of something bigger.
The first tournament was the most important event in eSports history, laying the foundations for future legends and attracting the attention of millions of viewers around the world.
The International was first held in 2011 in Cologne, Germany, as part of Gamescom. It was a moment that changed the history of the industry forever. Ukrainian team Natus Vincere, better known as Na’Vi, not only won, but dominated the tournament and won the Aegis of Champions. The team consisted of Dendi, XBOCT, Puppey, ArtStyle and LightofHeaven. Their game had something special: unique coordination, original strategies and incredible fan support.
In the final, Na’Vi faced the Chinese team EHOME, whom they beat by a score of 3:1. Every moment was full of tension, but Na’Vi showed exceptional play thanks to the combination of Dendi on Pudge and XBOCT on Anti-Mage. It was a time of aggressive style and sudden gait attacks that literally tore opponents apart.
The prize pool for the first edition of The International was a whopping $1.6 million. This amount blew the perception of eSports out of the water and put Dota 2 on par with major sporting events. The winners took home $1 million and symbolised a new era.
The winners of Natus Vincere in 2011 changed the entire history of The International. The tournament became more than just a competition: it became a symbol of achievement, a test of endurance, team spirit and unique talent.
The years have been a period of intense growth and transformation, with new teams appearing on the scene and strategies changing at lightning speed, reflecting the evolution of the game itself and the level of competition.
After Na’Vi’s triumph came a new era: Chinese team Invictus Gaming won the title in 2012. Their approach to the game was completely opposite: they favoured methodical and cautious play, calculating their actions as much as possible. Invictus Gaming became TI winners who showed the world that discipline and tactical thinking can also bring success.
Then in 2013, the Alliance team rose to fame with their famous Rat Dota, a strategy where every action is aimed at gradually destroying the opponent’s bases. Team OG, in turn, rewrote history by winning Tl twice in a row in 2018 and 2019. They became a symbol of perseverance and belief in their dreams, demonstrating a style that combined aggression and strategic flexibility.
The International was an indicator of how strategies and meta in Dota 2 evolve. In 2014, Newbee won the tournament using the Death Ball meta, a strategy of quick pushes that gave their opponent no time to recover.
Each The International brought up winners – true champions who became legends:
OG have always had a higher purpose – they came on the scene to prove to the world that perseverance, belief in their team and a relentless desire to win can overcome any obstacle.
Team OG entered The International as the only team that managed to win Aegis twice in a row. Their first win in 2018 was a real sensation. No one expected that a team assembled just a few months before the tournament could go from underdogs to champions. Key players were N0tail, ana, Topson, Ceb and JerAx – each of them made an invaluable contribution to the victory.
In 2019, OG proved that their success was no fluke. Their second triumph was the result of a deep understanding of meta and a fearless approach. Ana on Io and Topson on Monkey King were the real heroes of the final against Team Liquid, where OG won 3-1. OG’s strategies were revolutionary: they played like no one had ever played before, setting the pace and forcing their opponents to adjust.
OG not only changed the way the game was played, but also became the most popular winning team of The International. Their style isn’t just a set of strategies, it’s a philosophy of freedom and experimentation that many young teams have adopted.
The PSG.LGD team has come close to the top on numerous occasions, but each time they fell just a little short of a full victory. They were the epitome of perseverance, proving that the path to glory is not always simple and straightforward.
PSG.LGD were often one step away from victory, but they failed to win the Aegis. Their history is a string of The International records full of dramatic moments and battles. At TI 2018 and 2019, they reached the finals twice but lost to OG. Each setback made them stronger, tempered their team spirit. They returned to the stage again and again to prove they deserve the title.
PSG.LGD have made tremendous contributions to the development of cyber sports in China and on the world stage. Their professionalism, discipline and ability to adapt to any changes made them one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament. The captain, xNova, always led his mates forward, even in the most difficult situations. Their drive to win deserves respect and admiration.
At The International 2021, PSG.LGD were once again on the verge of triumph. Their confrontation with Team Spirit was one of the most intense finals in the tournament’s history. But despite their efforts, victory eluded them.
Every winner of The International has gone down in history forever in Dota 2. Every team, every name, is part of a legend that continues every year. The tournament gets bigger, the prize pools get bigger, the competition gets tougher, who will be the next winner of Aegis, who can repeat, or maybe even surpass, OG’s achievements? We will find out in the next chapters of this never-ending story.
Keep following the tournaments so you don’t miss the moment when new legends are created.
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