The International 2026, Dota 2’s premier global tournament, returned to Shanghai from August 20 to 23 for its 15th edition. The event, hosted at the Oriental Sports Center, marks the 15th anniversary of the series and features the world’s top teams competing for the Aegis of Champions and a US$1.39 million grand prize. Team VISION became the first squad to secure a spot in the grand finals after an undefeated Group Stage and a decisive upper bracket finals victory. Their estimated earnings of US$425,932 already guarantee them a strong position in the standings.

VISION’s Dominance in the Group Stage

VISION, featuring players Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov, Volodymyr “No[o]ne” Minenko, Evgeniy “Noticed” Ignatenko, Naltakyan “9Class” Edgar, and Andrey “Dukalis” Kuropatkin, went undefeated in the Group Stage; their campaign began with a three-game sweep of China’s Team Resilience, followed by another three-game victory over defending champions Team Falcons. In the final Group Stage round, they defeated BoomBoys to secure a direct berth into the Playoffs. The team’s coach, Clement “Puppey” Ivanov, made his first TI grand finals appearance as a coach after four previous runs as a player, including a 2011 TI victory with Natus Vincere.

SumaiL Announces Retirement After Nigma Galaxy’s Elimination

Veteran player SumaiL, a key figure in the Dota 2 community, announced his retirement following Nigma Galaxy’s elimination from the tournament; Nigma Galaxy had reached the lower bracket quarterfinals, where they were defeated by Eastern Europe’s BoomBoys in three games. This marked their second consecutive 5th–6th place finish in TI tournaments; In an exit interview, SumaiL confirmed that TI 2026 would likely be his final professional event. “I would like to give it some thought, for sure; But I don’t see it, to be honest, unfortunately,” he said — SumaiL expressed gratitude to fans for their support over the years, calling them the driving force behind Dota’s success.

The International 2026 Marks a Return to Shanghai for the 15th Anniversary

The International 2026 returned to Shanghai for the first time since 2019, where OG made history with their second consecutive TI title. The 2026 edition marks the 15th anniversary of the tournament and features a format that includes direct invites, Open Qualifiers, Regional Qualifiers, and a Swiss-Style Group Stage. The main event took place at the Oriental Sports Center, a venue of historical significance in Dota’s competitive history. Valve’s Gabe Newell, who appeared notably slimmer in a recent opening ceremony video, delivered an opening message to fans, reflecting on the evolution of Dota and the enduring passion of its players.