Top 12 sports movies: films worth your attention

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 winners of the first The International: the story of a legend in the making

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.

Natus Vincere: from triumph to legend

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 money: how the winners became millionaires

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.

How IT changed the eSports industry

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 evolution of champions: years of triumphs and defeats

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.

Winners of The International from Invictus Gaming to OG

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.

How the strategy and meta changed

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.

Legendary players: the faces of an era

Each The International brought up winners – true champions who became legends:

1. Dendi (Na’Vi): known for his mastery of Pudge, he created many memorable moments at The International 2011, especially with his hook shots.
2. XBOCT (Na’Vi): one of the best kerry players of his time, famous for his Anti-Mage play and clinches in the final against EHOME.
3. s4 (Alliance): became the symbol of Rat Dota at The International 2013, thanks to his unexpected moves and strategic fluffs.
4. ana (OG): made a huge contribution to OG’s victories at TI8 and TI9, made famous by his play on Spectre and Ember Spirit.
5. Topson (OG): surprised everyone at TI8 and TI9 with his non-trivial hero choices such as Monkey King and Pugna, leading to OG dominance.

How OG rewrote the history of Dota 2

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.

OG: A story of breakthrough and comeback

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.

Re-Triumph: 2019

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’s impact on cybersport culture

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.

PSG.LGD and their eternal quest for Aegis

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.

Almost champions: the curse of second place

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.

Why PSG.LGD deserve respect

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.

2021: it can’t get any closer

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.

Conclusion

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.

Valorant transports players into a dynamic space where every second influences the outcome of a round. Beginners are not confronted with a single mechanic, but with dozens at once: shooting, economy, team coordination, micro-positions, and skill management. To make getting started easier, it is important to choose the right character. The best Valorant agents for beginners are not the most spectacular ones, but those that help you understand the mechanics of the map, the movements of the team, and the nature of interaction.

Why choosing the right agent is crucial for beginners

Every decision an agent makes influences the perception of the game. A bad start can lead to bad habits: aggression without information, advances without cover, pointless trades. The best Valorant agents for beginners allow you to focus on the basics – position, targeting, synchronisation with teammates – while contributing to the overall strategy.

Features of a suitable hero:

1. Simple, intuitive abilities without the need for micromanagement.
2. The ability to influence the game in every round (not just with the Ulta).
3. Supporting the team through control, reconnaissance or healing.
4. No dependence on precise timing coordination.

Role categories: How to choose the best Valorant agent for beginners?

Before making a choice, it is important to understand how the roles in the game are structured. The best Valorant agents for beginners usually represent classes with simple functions and sustainable benefits, regardless of the player’s level.

Types of roles:

1. Duelist – initiates, makes initial contact, requires precise shooting and an understanding of risks.
2. Controller – restricts vision, cuts off space, ensures a safe exit.
3. Initiator – reveals positions, provides information to teammates, plays via reconnaissance.
4. Guardian – protects, holds the zone, works with traps and slowing.

The starting five: universal solutions

The best Valorant agents for beginners, making it easier to get started, promoting understanding of the game and minimising mistakes:

1. Sage (Guardian). Access to healing, reviving, erecting a wall and a slowdown zone. Suitable for developing team play, room control and point control. Does not require perfect reaction, compensates for allies’ mistakes.
2. Brimstone (Controller). The smoke screen falls exactly on the mini-map. Minimal mechanical actions – maximum control over the map. The ult blocks the bomb and blocks passages. Allows beginners to focus on positioning.
3. Killjoy (Guardian). Trap, turret, slowing pulse. The game revolves around defence. The turret provides information. Strong positional play. Ideal for learning the principles of defence and space control.
4. Skye (Initiator). Masters reconnaissance, healing and lightning. Has a flexible set, but requires moderate coordination. Teaches beginners to observe allies and open rounds based on information.
5. Phoenix (Duelist). Simple abilities: lightning, wall, self-healing. Ideal for players who want to develop their aggressiveness without getting lost in complicated combinations. Mistakes are forgiven, the style is active.

Principles of interaction: how abilities work for the team

The best Valorant agents for beginners are not distinguished by individual actions, but by their contribution to the overall game advantage. Each round does not require a hero, but a link in the system. The abilities in Valorant reinforce team play, control the map, and create a favourable moment for conquest, defence, or taking the initiative. It is a mistake to consider abilities as a substitute for weapons. The correct approach is to use them as a coordination mechanism.

The influence of abilities on the course of a round:

Control zone. Abilities create virtual boundaries. A wall or smoke changes the map, restricts passageways and forces the enemy to change their route.
Time. Even a second gained by slowing down or distracting the enemy can determine the outcome. Abilities control time: they force the enemy to wait and delay their planned actions.
Information. Reconnaissance is the basis of strategy. Blinding, noise, pinging, voice contact with the agent — everything works as a data collection system.
Distracting attention. The presence of a trap, turret, drone or clone forces the enemy to distract themselves, reducing their accuracy or slowing their movement.

Scenario applications:

1. Holding a point – Killjoy sets up a turret and a trap, the enemy is slowed down, loses momentum, allies take up their positions.
2. Attacking the point – Brimstone covers two lines of fire with smoke, Skye uses a flashbang – and the team advances without taking damage.
3. Counter-initiative – Sage blocks the path with a wall, the slowdown breaks the rhythm, the enemy retreats and leaves space.
4. Reteak – Phoenix uses a flashbang, drawing attention to himself while the second player emerges from the background.
5. Fake and distraction – Smoke and a turret at one point feign an attack while the team works on the other side.

Mistakes when learning: typical pitfalls for beginners

Even the best Valorant agents for beginners are useless if the player ignores the context of the battle. Each hero has a set of actions that require a precise understanding of the situation. The main mistake is trying to play a single-player shooter and forgetting the common task.

Aggressive style in unsuitable roles

A beginner chooses a duelist, cannot retreat in time, does not wait for support, and rushes forward as if participating in a kill race. This approach leads to a bad habit – ignoring the macro game. Even an agent with an aggressive profile requires conscious movements, synchronisation with flashes, and knowledge of economics.

Mechanical exploitation of abilities

Sage builds a wall just because the round has started. Killjoy places the turret in the first spot that comes to mind. Phoenix throws a flash without checking the angle. All of these are chaotic actions without understanding the goal. The ability to use abilities for a specific task is a skill that can only be developed with a conscious approach.

Inattention to the mini-map and sounds

The map constantly transmits information: pings, sound waves, movements of allies. The best Valorant agents for beginners only reach their potential when the player reads the room. Who is pushing, who is waiting, who is staying in the background – all of this is visible. Ignoring information turns even a strong agent into a nobody.

Abandoning the support role

Many beginners find support boring. They prefer to shoot rather than heal or set traps. This leads to an imbalance: the team has four duelists without smoke, without healing, without control. The result is failed attacks, loss of initiative and an inability to hold points.

How to minimise mistakes: the step-by-step learning method

The best Valorant agents for beginners require step-by-step learning. Mistakes are inevitable, but with the right learning structure, they become lessons.

Steps:

1. Focus on one role – the beginner selects an agent and plays at least 20 games in a row, tracking each use of the ability.
2. Analyse the applications – after each game, an analysis is carried out: which abilities worked, which didn’t, and why?
3. Transition to map reading – the agent remains the same, but the focus shifts to the map: where to place it, at what time, how not to hinder allies.
4. Communication with the team – the player learns to coordinate their abilities: ‘I’ll smoke in 3 seconds’, ‘I’ll cover the right’, ‘I’ll heal after the attack’.
5. Combinations with others – the next level is synchronisation: flash + pass, heal + swap, tower + angle.

How to choose the best Valorant agent as a beginner

The best Valorant agents for beginners do not work on effects, but on progress. They teach you to observe, understand, and feel the map and the pace. The heroes do not require highlights, but form the foundation on which the entire competitive structure of the shooter is built. The right choice accelerates growth, prevents burnout, and transforms an ordinary gaming platform into a learning platform.