The International 2024 has come to a cinematic conclusion as Team Liquid triumphed over their arch nemesis, Gaimin Gladiators, in the Dota 2 El Clásico grand finals. In a mesmerizing display of skills, brilliance and sheer dominance, Team Liquid took a clean sweep of their rivals, denying them the Aegis for the second year in a row.
Historically, Gaimin Gladiators have had the upper hand in their battles with Team Liquid, often securing dominant victories. However, this time, the script was flipped. The grand finals at The International 2024 served as a rematch of the upper bracket finals, where Liquid had already bested Gaimin Gladiators with relative ease.
To reach the grand finals, Gaimin Gladiators had to fight their way through the lower bracket finals against Tundra Esports. The series went the full distance, with the deciding game stretching beyond the hour mark. In the end, Gaimin prevailed, denying Topson his chance at a shot for the third Aegis of Champions.
For Team Liquid, the road to the grand finals was marked by dominant performances. Throughout the tournament, they only lost one series, and that was during the group stages against Team Spirit, the former two-time TI champions.
In the grand finals, Team Liquid dismantled Gaimin Gladiators' strategies with ease. The only moment the series felt close was during the first ten minutes of the opening match when Gaimin was trying to build momentum. From that point on, however, it was all Liquid, delivering relentless, one-sided beatdowns.
Liquid consistently outplayed their rivals at every stage. In the first and second games, Gaimin failed to properly address Liquid's saving supports, which backfired during critical skirmishes. Even though Gaimin adjusted their approach in the final game, the damage was already done.
Additionally, Gaimin faced another major problem – 33's offlane. While they attempted to contain him during the laning phase, 33 always managed to hit his item timings and take crucial objectives. In the final game, Liquid even gave Gaimin the option to pick their poison: either counter the supports or handle 33. Gaimin chose to prioritise the supports, allowing 33 to secure his signature Visage. The rest was history.
The International 2024 isn’t the first Dota 2 TI trophy that Team Liquid has won. In 2017, the organization claimed its first TI title with a completely different roster. The International 2024 marks Team Liquid's third appearance in a TI Grand Final.
After their victory at TI7, Team Liquid made another Grand Final appearance at The International 2019, but they finished as runners-up. Three players from the current Team Liquid roster—miCKe, Boxi, and Insania—have been with the team since 2019.
For Nisha and 33, The International 2024 was their second Grand Final appearance. The two players faced off against each other in the TI 2022 Grand Finals, where 33 emerged victorious with Tundra Esports. This win made 33 the first player in Dota 2 history to win a TI with two different teams.
Nisha, who has long been regarded as the best midlaner since his time with Team Secret, finally immortalized his name on the Aegis at The International 2024, cementing his legacy. Since joining Team Liquid last season, Nisha’s presence has contributed to the team’s remarkable improvement, though they previously settled for runner-up finishes.
Team Liquid's triumph is a testament to years of hard work, trust, loyalty, and dedication, proving that there are no shortcuts to success. By winning The International 2024, Team Liquid became the first team in Dota 2 history to secure two TI championships with two entirely different rosters.
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