Gaimin Gladiators’ Dominant Run in Dota 2 Ends on a Sour Note
In 2023, Gaimin Gladiators emerged as the hottest Dota 2 team with three major wins under their belt. However, their quest for the Aegis of Champions was cut short by a formidable opponent, Team Spirit, as acknowledged by Quinn during a recent livestream.
During the livestream where Quinn engaged with his audience, the conversation naturally turned to Gaimin’s TI 2023 performance, which ultimately ended in disappointment against Spirit.
“If Spirit had been slightly weaker or someone else had eliminated them, we would have definitely won TI,” Quinn expressed.
Recognizing Spirit’s exceptional skill, Quinn believed that Gaimin’s success in the three majors did not hinder them. It is widely believed in the Dota 2 community that winning the majors during a competitive season can be detrimental, as the champions often struggle at TI.
While the stats support the notion of a major-TI curse, there is a logical explanation. Teams that win the majors often adapt to the first meta of the year faster than others, becoming masters of certain heroes and play styles.
However, these heroes are often nerfed multiple times leading up to TI, forcing the early adopters to relearn strategies along with the rest. Despite the introduction of a significant gameplay patch, 7.34, Gaimin managed to maintain its dominance. Unfortunately, it also happened to be a comfort patch for Spirit.
Compared to Gaimin, Spirit performed below expectations in the majors throughout the year. However, a late-season revival saw them secure victories at Riyadh Masters 2023 and DreamLeague S21, building momentum heading into Dota 2’s TI 2023.
Unfortunately, due to player health concerns, Dota 2 fans will not witness a rematch between these two teams anytime soon. Spirit had to withdraw from Dota 2’s ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023. As a result, their spot was given to the Western European region as an additional qualifier seat, alongside Gaimin, LGD, and Azure Ray.
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