Team Spirit, the champions of The International 2023 (TI12), were honored today with the presentation of their TI12 Championship rings in a small ceremony. This exciting news was shared by Valve representatives as well as on the team’s social media platforms.
Earlier on Sep. 3, Team Spirit took to Instagram to showcase images of the newly acquired rings. Subsequently, official pictures from Valve were also released, highlighting the exquisite design of the rings. Adorned with deep blue accents, adorned with diamonds, and featuring a unique stained glass logo in the center, the Team Spirit 2023 championship ring is truly a remarkable piece.
Image Credit: Valve
Championship rings have become a cherished tradition at The International, dating back to the inaugural event. Following a trend from North American sports, each year since 2011, Valve has presented championship rings to the winning team.
In 2023, Team Spirit emerged victorious after a challenging season. During the finals, they triumphed over the formidable Gaimin Gladiators, a team that had dominated all major events that year.
Image Credit: Valve
Following their triumph, Team Spirit became only the second team in Dota 2 history to hoist the prestigious Aegis trophy. Players like Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk, Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov, Myroslav “Mira” Kolpakov, and Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov joined the elite group of individuals who have lifted the Aegis twice, while Denis “Larl” Sigitov secured his first TI victory last year.
Having previously claimed victory in 2021, albeit in a crowd-less TI in Romania, Team Spirit’s win was met with skepticism. However, their second triumph solidified their status as deserving champions, having overcome all doubts.
Looking ahead to TI13, Team Spirit is once again considered one of the favorites. They face stiff competition from their TI12 rivals, the surging Gaimin Gladiators, and the dominant Team Falcons.
Armed with their championship rings, Team Spirit is poised to make history by becoming the first-ever three-time TI champions at The International 2024.
