The International 2025: Teams and Players chasing their next Aegis
The International 2025 is on the horizon, with teams and players preparing to battle for the Aegis in Hamburg. But for some hopefuls, it’s a chance to claim the Aegis for a second or even third time. We take a closer look at the teams and players aiming to win The International (TI) again.
The International 2025: Two-Time Hopefuls
Among the contenders at The International 2025, some teams and players are looking to get their hands on the Aegis for a second time. These two-time TI hopefuls are hoping to repeat that success yet again and cement their legacy in Dota 2.
Teams chasing their second Aegis
These former champions return to Hamburg determined to capture the Aegis for a second time and solidify their place among Dota 2’s elite.
- Natus Vincere: After a prolonged absence, the legendary organisation is once again gracing The International with its presence. They were the first team to lift the Aegis at The International 2011 at Gamescom, Cologne, and boasted some of the legendary names in the Dota 2 scene – Puppey, Dendi, Kuroky, Artstyle, etc., to name a few. Now with a different roster, they aim to win the Aegis for a second time, but it will be an uphill battle, especially against a stacked line-up of teams at The International 2025.
- Tundra Esports: Tundra Esports is another team of two-time hopefuls looking to lift the Aegis a second time. The International 2022 champions are vying for their second Aegis, helmed by the charismatic Neta “33” Shapira, who, on the personal front, is chasing his third Aegis. Known for their ability to stay ahead of the meta and bring bold, creative ideas into the draft phase, Tundra’s chances of winning The International 2025 look good.
Nigma Galaxy's Sumail will be chasing his second Aegis at The International 2025Players chasing their Second Aegis
More than a dozen Dota 2 players are chasing their second Aegis at The International 2025 in Hamburg, Germany.
- Michał "Nisha" Jankowski (Team Liquid)
- Michael "miCKe" Vu (Team Liquid)
- Aydin "Insania" Sarkohi (Team Liquid)
- Samuel "Boxi" Svahn (Team Liquid)
- Jingjun "Sneyking" Wu (Team Falcons)
- Oliver "skiter" Lepko (Team Falcons)
- Martin "Saksa" Sazdov (Tundra Esports)
- Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan (Nigma Galaxy)
- Maroun "GH" Merhej (Nigma Galaxy)
- Zhang "y`" Yiping (Team Tidebound)
- Zhang "Faith_bian" Ruida (Team Tidebound)
- Denis "Larl" Sigitov (Team Spirit)
- Alexander "TORONTOTOKYO" Khertek (Aurora Gaming)
Several players, such as Team Liquid’s core lineup barring Saberlight, have competed together for years. Sneyking and Skiter, as well as y` and Faith_bian, have also won a TI together. However, two icons of the game, SumaiL and GH, return to The International after a long absence, this time under Nigma Galaxy’s banner.
Team Liquid will be chasing their third Aegis at The International 2025The International 2025: Three-Time Hopefuls
Winning The International (TI) once is a dream, and twice is a legacy, but chasing a third Aegis is a journey reserved for the very best. Here are the three-time hopefuls looking to create history at The International 2025 in Hamburg, Germany.
Teams chasing a historic Third Aegis
Two Dota 2 teams are on the brink of creating history, and the probability of them winning a third TI title is high.
- Team Liquid: One of the oldest organisations in esports, Team Liquid have carved itself a name in Dota 2. They have won The International twice, in 2017 and 2024, and are going to Hamburg, Germany, to defend their crown and win the Aegis for a third time.
- Team Spirit: Team Spirit are going into The International 2025 to redefine its legacy. The core trio of Yatoro, Collapse and Miposhka have been playing alongside each other for quite a while, and with their current form, the likelihood of seeing them win the Aegis a third time is high.
The odds may be stacked against them, but Team Liquid and Team Spirit are in a prime position to push past every barrier and stake their claim as the best Dota 2 team in the history of esports.
Yatoro, Collapse and MiposhkaPlayers chasing a historic Third Aegis
As mentioned earlier, winning TI once is a dream, and winning it twice builds a legacy, but lifting the Aegis for the third time is a chance to redefine greatness and become immortal in Dota 2. Only five players are chasing the Aegis a third time, and all eyes will be fixated on them at The International 2025.
- Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk
- Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov
- Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov
- Neta “33” Shapira
- Myroslav "Mira" Kolpakov
Team Spirit trio of Yatoro, Collapse and Miposhka are chasing their third TI title and are looking in prime form to lift the Aegis. In the meantime, 33 is steering Tundra Esports in pursuit of his third TI title, and the organisation’s second, while Mira, formerly of Team Spirit, is also aiming for his third Aegis with Aurora.
The International 2025 begins on September 04, 2025, and there’s a strong possibility we’ll witness our first three-time TI champion at the Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany.
Keep following BLAST for more exclusive features and interviews ahead of The International 2025.
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