The Best Moments in The International History

The International isn’t just a tournament – it’s the stage where legacies are made, memes are born, and entire careers are immortalized. Every year, millions of Dota 2 fans gather to watch the world’s finest fight for the Aegis of Champions and life-changing Dota prize pools.

And while every TI has had its fair share of hype plays, a handful of moments have gone down in esports history. Let’s look back at the five most iconic moments in The International’s legacy. 

The $6 Million Echo Slam (Ti5 – UNiVeRsE, Evil Geniuses)

Only a few plays in esports history can claim to have shifted millions of dollars in a single second, but that’s precisely what Saahil “UNiVeRsE” Arora did at The International 5, when Evil Geniuses faced CDEC Gaming in the grand finals. 

CDEC weren’t even supposed to be in the final two – they were the wildcard underdogs who shocked the world. Going up against EG, they were poised to continue their miracle run… until UNiVeRsE happened.

CDEC attempted to take Roshan, but UNiVeRsE on his Earthshaker blinked straight into the middle of the entire team, landing an Echo Slam so perfect that even the crowd felt the magnitude. In an instant, CDEC’s team melted, and their momentum shattered.

This play produced the iconic line of “It’s a disaster!” and UNiVeRsE’s moment was immediately dubbed the “$6 Million Echo Slam,” as Evil Geniuses won the map and series off that play. The North American squad went on to lift the Aegis in front of their home crowd, with UNiVeRsE’s play remaining one of the most replayed moments in Dota 2 history. 

CEEEEEEEB! (Ti8 – Ceb, OG)

OG’s road to The International 8 was a miracle in itself. Just months before the tournament, their roster had imploded, with long-time captain Fly and offlaner s4 defecting to Evil Geniuses on short notice. The team seemed dead in the water, with coach Ceb stepping in to play and Topson joining out of nowhere. OG had rebuilt from the ashes. 

Despite being the lowest-ranked team going into the event, against all odds, OG made it to the grand finals against PSG.LGD – China’s strongest team and the squad considered the heavy favorites. 

Down two maps, Game 4 was do-or-die for OG – they were one loss away from elimination when PSG.LGD looked ready to close things out. Then came the call. Ceb’s Axe blinked into the heart of LGD’s formation, catching multiple heroes in a perfect Berserker’s Call. 

The casters screamed “CEEEEEEEB!” as OG wiped LGD, turning the tide of the entire game. That single play kept OG alive, sending the series to Game 5. They would go on to win the Aegis in what is still remembered as one of the most inspirational runs in esports history, and the man to propel the team to the victory was none other than the team’s former coach, who had to move to a player role. Without Ceb’s legendary call, the OG miracle story may have ended right there. 

The Million-Dollar Dream Coil (Ti3 – s4, Alliance)

Before the modern era of Dota 2, there was Alliance’s Ti3 triumph – and the heart of it was the Million-Dollar Dream Coil. 

The grand final of The International 3 between Na’Vi and Alliance was often named one of the greatest Dota 2 matches of all time, despite dating back over a decade. Na’Vi were already legends, having won Ti1, while Alliance, the kings of Europe, were known for their “rat Dota” style – split push, avoid fights, and slowly choke their opponents.

In Game 5, everything came down to one desperate moment. Na’Vi were trying to teleport back to defend their base, but s4 on Puck landed a perfect Dream Coil that canceled their teleports and locked them in place. 

That Dream Coil gave Alliance the additional time they needed to end the game without taking a proper fight against Na’Vi’s defense. Alliance would destroy Na’Vi’s Ancient and claim the Aegis.

The crowd erupted, Na’Vi’s dream of a second Aegis was crushed, and Alliance were immortalized with their ratty style of play. The play earned its nickname not just because of the money on the line, but because it symbolized the razor-thin margins that define how The International works. 

Team Spirit’s Miracle Underdog Run (Ti10 – Team Spirit)

If OG’s TI8 win was a fairy tale, then Team Spirit’s run at The International 10 was a full-blown epic. This was the greatest esports run I’ve seen in my life. 

Spirit was a group of no-namers that veteran captain Miposhka took under his wing. They barely made it to TI through the Eastern European qualifiers. Nobody expected them to go far – not with juggernauts like PSG.LGD and Team Secret in the mix. But once the main event began, these promising players transformed into legends. 

After dropping to the lower bracket early, Spirit tore through one opponent after another. They eliminated defending champions OG, outlasted Virtus.pro in a regional derby, and took out Invictus Gaming and Team Secret in a gauntlet of brutal matches.

This ragtag group of young players was playing do-or-die matches non-stop, and suddenly found themselves in the grand finals – against the overwhelming favorites, PSG.LGD. Everyone thought their unbelievable run would end here, but the finals turned out to be a war.

PSG.LGD fought tooth and nail, but Spirit’s confidence never wavered. Yatoro, the team’s 18-year-old carry, played like a man possessed. By Game 5, Spirit completed the unthinkable, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in esports history to win Ti10.

Their prize? Over $18 million out of the $40 million pot – the biggest single payout in gaming history. Team Spirit’s story, from qualifier nobodies to Aegis champions, remains one of the greatest underdog tales ever told. 

The Fountain Hook (Ti3 – Dendi, Na’Vi)

Sometimes, the most iconic moments aren’t about perfect execution – but about sheer absurdity. Na’Vi’s infamous Fountain Hook reminded everyone that at The International, thinking outside the box is often what separates the great teams from the rest. 

Na’Vi were facing TongFu in the second round of the Upper Bracket. Things were looking grim – TongFu were in complete control, and Na’Vi were running out of options. That’s when Na’Vi pulled out one of the most bizarre (and broken) strats ever seen on the TI stage. 

By abusing an interaction between Chen and Pudge, Na’Vi could teleport Pudge back to the fountain while hooking enemy heroes. The result? TongFu’s cores were yanked straight into Na’Vi’s fountains, left to die with no counterplay.

The crowd, the casters, and TongFu themselves were left in disbelief. Na’Vi continued using the Fountain Hook again and again until they stole the win. The play was so infamous that Valve patched it shortly after, but Na’Vi used it to reach the grand finals. To this day, the Fountain Hook is shorthand for Dota 2’s chaotic and unpredictable nature.