The 15th DOTA 2 International Championship (TI2026) came to a dramatic close on August 23 at the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center, with Team Spirit securing a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Team Vision in the grand finals to lift the Aegis of Champions.

Photos: Perfect World

Having lost to Team Vision twice earlier in the tournament—first in the Swiss stage and again in the upper bracket—Team Spirit mounted a decisive comeback in the final game of the best-of-five series. The victory marks Team Spirit's third International title, making them the first organization in DOTA 2 history to achieve a triple championship.

The 10-day tournament from August 13 to 23 brought together 16 top-tier professional teams from around the globe. According to organizers, ticket holders represented 73 countries and regions as early as June 25. With fans of diverse languages and cultural backgrounds, the event served as a shared platform for international youth culture.

While Chinese contenders Xtreme Gaming, Vici Gaming, and Team Resilience failed to reach the top eight, local enthusiasm remained high throughout the citywide event.

Beyond the main stage, TI2026 blended competitive gaming with Chinese culture. Festivities included the first-official DOTA 2 symphony concert at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall and a custom, hand-embroidered Aegis of Champions crafted by Su embroidery master Tang Xiaohong.

Through "Hero Roam Shanghai" citywide installations, secondary viewing hubs, and commercial partnerships across key landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower, the tournament seamlessly integrated esports into the host city's public life, reinforcing Shanghai's standing as a premier global esports hub.