The International 2026 Grand Champions

Congratulations to Team Spirit, Grand Champions at The International 2026. After enduring a challenging year, Team Spirit regained their ultimate form just in time to take a five-game Grand Finals slugfest and claim the Aegis of Champions in Shanghai.

Spirit's Group Stage started strong, with 2-0 victories over both Xtreme Gaming and Aurora Gaming. They followed with 2-1 win over Team Liquid that put Spirit just one series win away from qualifying for the main stage. They wouldn't get it. Instead, they served as a stepping stone. First to Team Vision, who dropped Spirit in just two games to secure their own invite to the arena. Next, Nigma Galaxy followed suit, handing Spirit another 0-2 loss to snatch a spot on the main stage and force Spirit into elimination play.

Their elimination-round opponent? A scrappy Team Resilience who, despite their lower spot in the standings, had clawed out at least one victory in every series they'd played. This round would be no different. Team Spirit took game one with ease, but Resilience rebounded to force a win-or-go-home game three. There, Team Resilience managed to keep pace for a while, until Spirit pulled away in the back half of the match to secure their spot at The International Main Event.

The first obstacle at the arena would be the dangerous Iron Wing -- who'd already taken Group Stage series wins off three teams who'd reached the main stage. It wouldn't matter. Team Spirit clipped Iron Wing to send them spiraling into the Lower Bracket and eventual elimination.