Picture Credit score: Valve
After a grueling sequence of qualifiers, we’ve lastly locked within the 16 groups competing at The Worldwide 15, which goes to be Dota 2’s largest match of the 12 months.
If you happen to’re a type of seasonal viewers who solely comes out of your cage for TI, listed below are a few of the most essential storylines to observe.
Puppey returns to TI, however as a coach
There are a lot of gamers who’re thought-about legends of the sport, however Clement “Puppey” Ivanov is hands-down some of the influential figures in Dota 2 historical past. He was the one participant to look in 11 TIs in a row, doing so from 2011 to 2022.
Since his unequalled streak ended, Puppey has missed the 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions of the sport’s largest occasion, however the large man is lastly again this 12 months. Nonetheless, he received’t be enjoying because the legendary help and captain we’ve identified him for, as he’ll be occupying the teaching position below PARIVISION.
Picture Credit score: PGL
The 2025 – 2026 season is the primary time he’s taking the teaching helm, and although PARIVISION had a fairly disastrous begin to the 12 months, the crew has since stabilized and is even trying like one of the best crew on this planet over the previous couple of months. It actually feels just like the roster is lastly gelling below Puppey’s supervision.
The benchmark for PARIVISION this 12 months is fairly clear – the roster completed third final 12 months with their former coach Filipe “Astini” Ribeiro, so something higher than bronze is the purpose. And from what I’ve seen to this point, I believe they’re a severe favourite to win all of it.
Is a three-time winner actually within the playing cards?
Puppey could also be certainly one of Dota’s greats, however he doesn’t have what a few of the individuals this 12 months have – two Aegises and a hope for a 3rd.
There are six three-time hopefuls coming into TI15, and these very proficient e-gamers are:
Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk (Workforce Spirit)
Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov (Workforce Spirit)
Myroslav “Mira” Kolpakov (Aurora Gaming)
Neta “33” Shapira (1win Workforce)
Oliver “skiter” Lepko (Workforce Falcons)
Jingjun “Sneyking” Wu (Workforce Falcons)
I’ll be trustworthy, judging by Workforce Spirit’s turbulent season to this point, I’m not liking Yatoro and Collapse’s probabilities of taking it this 12 months. Nonetheless, Mira, 33, and the dynamic duo of Workforce Falcons are positively within the dialog.
I wouldn’t say Aurora, 1win Workforce, or Workforce Falcons are heavy favorites heading into the occasion. However with TI, the favorites by no means win, so these guys are positively inside attain of claiming a 3rd TI win.
2026 would possibly actually be the 12 months, and if any of them handle to do it, they’re mechanically getting into the GOAT debate.
Is that this SumaiL’s ultimate TI?
Whereas we’ve got promising rookies and other people gunning for a 3rd Aegis this 12 months, there’s one participant we would not see for much longer.
Dota 2 legend Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan, who barely certified for The Worldwide 15 with Nigma Galaxy, despatched out a cryptic message on X after surviving the European closed qualifiers to achieve this occasion.
His put up reads: “Made it to TI, most likely the final one. Grateful for the help. See you all in China.”
So, you don’t need to be Sherlock to inform that he’s presumably asserting his retirement, both after this TI or earlier than the subsequent.
The neighborhood’s King made waves at TI5 by changing into the youngest participant to ever win The Worldwide, bagging the Aegis at simply 16 years previous with Evil Geniuses. Time actually flies, as a result of it’s been a decade since – and the child who as soon as shocked the whole world is now a potential farewell.
Picture Credit score: Valve
Sadly, I don’t fancy Nigma’s probabilities in any respect this TI, and there’s a robust chance they received’t even make it out of teams. But when this actually is SumaiL’s final dance, I’d love for him to not less than exit with a bang.
China wants a resurgence, and now could be the time
It’s actually no secret that Chinese language Dota has been in a serious hunch. This area actually used to win TI each different 12 months, and now they’ve been in a drought since 2016.
To not point out, there’s additionally a severe lack of a brand new era – we’re nonetheless seeing the identical veterans competing again and again. Two of the gamers who received China’s final TI are nonetheless competing this 12 months: Zhang “y`” Yiping and Zhang “Faith_bian” Ruida, who received TI6 below Wings Gaming, are set to play in Shanghai below Vici Gaming.
If China desires to revive its Dota scene, its time is now. The occasion is held on dwelling soil, they usually’re fielding three groups on the match – 4 when you depend the legendary LGD Gaming group, although they’re fielding a full South American roster.
TI15 in Shanghai is the right probability to draw or encourage a brand new wave of expertise who will finally change these vets who’ve been preventing for over a decade. The query is, do these Chinese language representatives have what it takes to make a deep run? In my eyes, solely Xtreme Gaming – who acquired a direct invitation – has a good shot.
Picture Credit score: Valve
The scuffed ticket gross sales higher be price it
Gamers and groups apart, there was some controversy over ticket gross sales for the occasion. Information broke out that TI15 tickets offered out in simply three minutes, which could sound like an enormous W at first, however there have been threads upon threads on Reddit claiming that almost all of them have been probably scalped or purchased out by clankers.
Many followers did not get their tickets and talked about how the method felt somewhat scuffed, with some even failing regardless of utilizing a number of gadgets. Then, they noticed tickets being resold for a number of occasions the value just some hours later.
Though this example sucks for the diehard followers who actually wished to observe the occasion in individual, all these scalping shenanigans higher be price it – if I don’t see a full stadium roaring at each match, I’m going to crash out.
The Shanghai Oriental Sports activities Heart has a venue capability of 18,000, so it higher not disappoint.
