By Sagar V. Mankar Team Liquid has emerged victorious at The International 2024 (TI 2024) Dota 2 tournament, defeating Gaimin Gladiators 3-0 in the grand final on September 15 at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark.
This win marks a significant turning point for Liquid, who had previously lost to Gladiators in five grand finals.
Liquid’s performance was historic, as they won every game in the Playoffs, with their only losses occurring during the Group Stage against defending champions Team Spirit and Seeding Decider phases.
This victory secured Liquid the grand prize of $1.15 million out of the tournament’s $2.56 million prize pool, along with their second Aegis of Champions, adding to their first from TI 2017.
Neta “33” Shapira, Liquid’s offlaner, achieved a unique milestone by becoming the first player to win TI with two different teams, having previously won with Tundra Esports in TI 2022.
Michał “Nisha” Jankowski finally claimed the trophy after four attempts, while teammates Michael “miCKe” Vu, Samuel “Boxi” Svahn, and Aydin “Insania” Sarkohi after three tries.
Gaimin Gladiators, despite their strong performance, had to settle for second place and over $350,000 in prize money. This marks their second consecutive year falling short of the championship, following their loss to Team Spirit in TI 2023.
Both teams earned direct invites to TI 2024 based on their strong performances throughout the year.
In the Group Stage, Liquid finished second in Group D with a 4-2 record, while Gladiators secured second in Group B with a 3-3 record. They then earned upper-bracket berths in the Playoffs by winning their Seeding Decider matches.
Liquid’s path to the finals included sweeping Xtreme Gaming and Cloud9, while Gladiators defeated Nouns and Tundra Esports.
In a surprising turn, Liquid swept Gladiators in the upper bracket finals, securing the first grand finals spot. Gladiators then overcame Tundra Esports in a thrilling lower bracket final to earn their rematch with Liquid.
In the grand final, Liquid took control from the start, despite Gaimin Gladiators’ momentum after beating Tundra Esports in the lower bracket final. Liquid secured two straightforward wins in the first two games, using a combination of Nature’s Prophet, Shadow Demon, and Tusk. In the third game, even with a slightly different lineup, they delivered another convincing win, leaving Gaimin Gladiators with little room to mount a comeback.
TI 2024 featured 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams competing from September 4 to 15. The event was divided into three phases: the Group Stage, Seeding Deciders, and Playoffs, with the Finals Weekend branded as The International itself.
The International 13 also featured exciting announcements, including the debut of Deadlock gameplay on a Valve broadcast, and a brand-new hero, Kez, was revealed. Fans can expect Kez to launch in the coming weeks.