The stage is set for what promises to be one of the most thrilling grand finals in the history of The International Dota 2 tournament. After years of somewhat predictable outcomes, TI 13 is poised to deliver an intense battle between two of the world’s best teams—Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators.
Taking place today at 1 pm CET / 7 am ET at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark, the best-of-five series will crown the Dota 2 world champions, with the winners taking home more than a million dollars and the coveted Aegis of Champions.
For the past two years, the grand finals have ended in 3-0 blowouts, leaving little suspense in the outcome. However, this year’s tournament has been much more competitive. Any of the final four teams could have easily made it to the last match, as they’ve been evenly matched throughout the season. While the series results may not fully reflect the closeness of the competition, the games themselves have been nail-biters, often decided by the slimmest margins.
Now, only Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators remain. Both teams have their own unique storylines that make this final a must-watch, and predicting a winner is nearly impossible.
Team Liquid has consistently been seen as a top contender, but this roster has never reached a TI final. Despite their reputation, they have often fallen just short in the grandest of events, seemingly cursed to finish second. Breaking that trend on Dota’s biggest stage would be an incredible achievement for this beloved roster. Liquid has looked unstoppable throughout this TI, advancing through the upper bracket by defeating teams like Xtreme Gaming, Cloud9, and their long-time rivals, Gaimin Gladiators. However, TI grand finals are a different beast altogether.
On the other side, Gaimin Gladiators enter the final with the weight of being arguably the best team in the world over the past two years. Last year, they narrowly missed out on their first TI win, but 2023 has been a dominant year for them, including a major victory at the Riyadh Masters. Winning TI 13 would solidify their claim as the best team of the year, having already taken down some of the top teams.
Gaimin has history on its side in one key aspect—they always manage to beat Team Liquid in grand finals. The two teams have faced off in multiple championship matches over the years, with Gaimin coming out on top every time. The TI final stage offers a perfect opportunity for Gaimin to reinforce their dominance, while for Liquid, it’s a chance to rewrite the narrative and redeem themselves on the world stage.
Whether Team Liquid can break their curse or Gaimin Gladiators will continue their winning streak, this grand final promises to be one of the best in the tournament’s history. With both teams showcasing incredible Dota on their journey to this point, the outcome is anyone’s guess—but one thing is certain: you won’t want to miss it.
