Team Spirit is an international esports organization based in Belgrade. Founded in 2015, the organization currently has teams competing in Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2 and Hearthstone.[1] Their Dota 2 squad won two iterations of The International (2021 and 2023), the former event in which the organisation received the largest single prize money payout in esports history at $18 million. In 2022, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the organization relocated to Belgrade, Serbia.[2]
In December 2020, the team signed the roster of Yellow Submarine, composed of players Ilya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk, Alexander "TORONTOTOKYO" Khertek, Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov and Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov, with Miroslaw "Mira" Kolpakov later joining the roster ahead of the Eastern European qualifiers for The International 2021.[4] There, the roster defeated Team Empire 3–2 in a close series to qualify for the main event.[5]
At the main event, the roster secured a place in the upper bracket after going 10–6 in the group stage, where they were set to face Invictus Gaming.[6] There, the team lost the series 2–1 to drop down to the lower bracket, where the team made a miraculous run to the finals after notably defeating the two-time defending champions OG, Virtus.pro, the team that had sent them down to the lower bracket Invictus Gaming, and Team Secret to face off against PSG.LGD in the grand finals.[7] In the final, Team Spirit won the first two games, but lost the next two games in quick fashion.[8] Needing another win to avoid losing the series and being reverse-swept, Team Spirit subsequently won game five, making them International champions and winning them a total of US$18,208,300, the largest purse ever awarded in esports.[9][10] With this win, they were the first Eastern European team to win an International since Natus Vincere in the inaugural International in 2011.[11] To commemorate their win, the team also made an appearance on Valve's True Sight documentary series.[12]
Restructuring and second International victory (2022–present)
The team continued their strong form into the 2022 season after facing off against in a series of rematches against PSG.LGD. The first of two rematches led to the team winning the PGL Arlington Major with a 3–1 score, while the team took a second-place finish at the inaugural Riyadh Masters after losing the final 2–0.[13][14][15] The team ultimately secured an direct invite to The International 2022 by finishing in the top 12 of that season's Dota Pro Circuit, where despite being touted as favorites to win the event, the team placed 13th–16th at the event after losing to Boom Esports in a shocking upset.[16][17]
Heading into the 2023 season, the organisation announced the departure of TORONTOTOKYO, with Denis "Larl" Sigitov replacing him on the roster.[18][19] The roster found success midway into the season, after defeating Team Liquid 3–1 in the Grand Finals of the 2023 Riyadh Masters, receiving US$5,000,000 for winning the tournament.[20][21] The team later won their second consecutive tournament, defeating Shopify Rebellion in the DreamLeague Season 21 grand finals.[22][23] That same year, Team Spirit defeated Gaimin Gladiators in the Grand Finals of The International 2023, making them the first team since OG to become repeat champions of an International.[24][25]
On 6 October 2016, Team Spirit opened its Hearthstone division by signing SilverName, ShtanUdachi, Iner, and NickChipper.[26] In 2020, Silvername achieved 3rd place at the Hearthstone World Championship.[citation needed]
