Team Spirit is a Russian esports organization founded in 2015, known for its significant achievements in the Dota 2 competitive scene. The organization has been headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia, since 2022.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 |
| Region | Eastern Europe (Russia, Serbia) |
| Current Headquarters | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Game | Dota 2 |
| Major Achievements | – The International 10 (2021) Champions – The International 12 (2023) Champions – Riyadh Masters 2023 Champions – DreamLeague Season 21 Champions |
| Players (Current Roster) | – Carry: Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk – Mid: Marat “Mirele” Gazetdinov – Offlane: Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov – Support: Aleksandr “Rue” Filin – Support: Nikita “Panto” Balaganin |
| Former Notable Players | – Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek – Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov |
| Playstyle & Strengths | Strong team coordination, disciplined macro play, and 3+2 play-style (Carry and Offlane) |
The International 2021
On December 19, 2020, Team Spirit signed the roster of Yellow Submarine, a rising team featuring young players Yatoro, TORONTOTOKYO, and Collapse, alongside Miposhka and their then-captain so bad. To strengthen the team, they also brought in Silent, a legendary Dota 2 player, as their coach.
With this lineup, Team Spirit started competing in the CIS Upper Division of the new Dota Pro Circuit (DPC). However, in February 2021, they made some changes—so bad was replaced by Mira, who was brought in on loan from another team, Cascade. At the same time, Miposhka became the team’s new captain.
During their first DPC season, Team Spirit finished 4th place, which meant they kept their spot in the Upper Division but missed out on qualifying for the Singapore Major. Later, Mira officially joined the team as a full member.
DPC and The AniMajor
In the second DPC season, Team Spirit improved and finished 2nd place, just behind Virtus.pro. This performance earned them a spot in the Group Stage of the WePlay AniMajor.
At the AniMajor, the competition was tough. Team Spirit barely made it through the group stage, winning a do-or-die match against Team Liquid to secure the last playoff spot. In the playoffs, they defeated Alliance in the first round but lost to Vici Gaming in the second. They finished 7th-8th place, earning 200 DPC points.
Qualifying for The International 2021
By the end of the 2021 DPC season, Team Spirit had 585 DPC points, which wasn’t enough for a direct invite to The International 10 (TI10). However, they still had one last chance—the Eastern European Qualifier.
In the qualifier, Team Spirit dominated the upper bracket, only facing serious resistance in the Upper Bracket Final against HellRaisers. They made an incredible comeback in Game 3, securing a spot in the Grand Final.
In the Grand Final, Team Spirit faced Team Empire in a thrilling 3-2 series. After an intense battle, they came out on top, officially qualifying for TI10. Along with Virtus.pro, they were one of only two CIS teams to make it to The International that year.
The International Victories
2021 – The International 10 Victory: In December 2020, Team Spirit signed the roster of Yellow Submarine, comprising players Ilya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk, Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek, Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov, Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov, and later Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov. This lineup qualified for The International 2021 (TI10) and made a remarkable lower bracket run, defeating prominent teams such as OG, Virtus.Pro, and Invictus Gaming. They clinched the championship by narrowly defeating PSG.LGD in a 3-2 grand final, securing a prize of over $18 million.
2023 – The International 12 Victory: After a roster change in late 2022, with Denis “Larl” Sigitov replacing TORONTOTOKYO, Team Spirit regained top form. They won the Riyadh Masters 2023 and DreamLeague Season 21, leading up to The International 2023 (TI12). At TI12, they defeated Gaimin Gladiators in the grand finals, becoming the second team after OG to win two International titles.
Valve Dota Team
As bearers of the ultimate symbol of victory, these names shall forever be inscribed upon the Aegis of Champions:
2021 – Team Spirit
Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk
Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek
Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov
Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov
Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov
About The Author
