Team Spirit lifts 2026 Aegis; becomes first three-time TI champion

• IN PHOTO: Team Spirit raises the Aegis of Champions after defeating TEAM VISION, 3-2, in the grand final of The International 2026 in Shanghai, China on Sunday, Aug. 23. The victory made Team Spirit the first organization to win The International three times. (Photo from The International)

Team Spirit has made Dota 2 history after beating TEAM VISION, 3-2, in the grand final of The International 2026 in Shanghai, China on Sunday, August 23.

The win gives Team Spirit its third Aegis of Champions after previous titles in 2021 and 2023. It also makes Spirit the first organization to win The International three times.

The milestone also belongs to Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk and Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov, who became the first players to win The International three times.

The grand final marked the third meeting between Team Spirit and TEAM VISION during TI 2026.

After losing their first two meetings, Team Spirit turned the tables on TEAM VISION with a victory in the grand final of The International 2026.

TEAM VISION first defeated Spirit, 2-0, during the tournament’s opening stage on August 15 before beating them again, 2-1, in the upper bracket semifinals on August 21. Spirit finally got its revenge when it mattered most, taking the grand final.

Courtesy of Team Spirit

Before the final, however, Collapse said the third Aegis was not yet on his mind.

Following Spirit’s win over Team Liquid in the lower bracket, Collapse was asked about being closer to a third championship and possibly becoming one of Dota 2’s greatest players.

“I don’t know, I didn’t think about that. I just want to meet PARIVISION again,” Collapse said. “Because with every series we’re getting closer and closer to winning.”

He also joked about the long tournament run, saying, “I mean, five hours of sleep. The only motivation is that I just want to sleep now. I needed to end the game faster.”

That focus eventually led Team Spirit back to TEAM VISION in the championship series, where Spirit completed its run with the five-game victory.

For Yatoro and Collapse, the Shanghai victory now puts them in a record of their own as the first three-time TI winners.