The International 2025, and the Aegis of Champions beckon in Hamburg, where defending champions Team Liquid look to make Dota 2 history — but even captain Aydin “Insania” Sarkohi admits Team Spirit are the favorites after a dominant Esports World Cup run.
Sixteen of the best Dota 2 teams in the world (excluding Gaimin Gladiators) head to Germany to fight for one of esports’ most iconic trophies.
However, Team Liquid faces an uphill battle to become only the second team to retain the title, with analysts, fans, and even its own players suggesting Spirit are the team to beat.
Team Liquid’s Swedish PO5 support in his workplace. Image Credit: BLAST.tv
In a recent interview with BLAST.tv, Insania shared some thoughts ahead of The International 2025, including who he thinks the top contender is:
“It’s always a tough question because anything is possible at The International. Team Spirit are probably the favorite to win TI14, considering the result at the Esports World Cup.”
Let’s dive deeper into Insania’s statement, which is less insane-ia and more measured if you think about it.
Team Spirit are the TI14 team to beat following EWC win
Team Spirit put up a magnificent performance at the Esports World Cup, barreling through the playoffs without dropping a single game. The roster brushed aside Gaimin Gladiators 2-0, PARIVISION 2-0, and home crowd favorites, Team Falcons, with a clean 3-0 sweep in the Grand Final.
It’s impossible to argue with such dominance, and therefore, Insania calling Team Spirit the favorites isn’t crazy at all.
It’s hard to argue that Liquid would deserve a favorites tag, given the team’s highly inconsistent season.
When asked about their rollercoaster season and if he can pinpoint the root cause, Insania explained:
“It mainly comes down to the amount of work we’ve been able to put in. The last two years were particularly draining seasons, with numerous tournaments. This year has been similar, so you kind of have to pick and choose when to put in maximum effort. I’m not too concerned about our inconsistent form because it’s more about how much time and energy we dedicate to each tournament.”
Considering every team trains all year for success at The International, it would take a brave fan to write Team Liquid off completely.
Team Liquid’s chances at The International 2025
We’ve explained how Team Liquid’s 2025 season was marred by inconsistent results, but did you know that in 2024, before lifting the Aegis of Champions, they didn’t win a single S-Tier trophy?
Team Liquid’s best results were 2nd-place finishes at Riyadh Masters 2024 and BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024. After the win on September 15, 2024, Team Liquid only managed one 2nd-place finish at the end of the year, losing to PARIVISION in the grand final of ESL One Bangkok 2024.
Why the history lesson? Well, because in 2025, Team Liquid has lifted two S-Tier trophies, winning both PGL Wallachia Season 3 and 4. The team’s seasonal record is already better than last year, and they’ve only had one roster change, albeit a significant one, since their win at The International 2024: Neta “33” Shapira out, being replaced by Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek.
Team Liquid lift the Aegis of Champions in 2024. Image Credit: BLAST.tv
History can, and often does, tend to repeat itself. On the biggest stage imaginable, with a roaring crowd and the Aegis of Champions hanging in the balance, form goes out the window.
Insania noted Team Liquid’s strengths and weaknesses:
“Our biggest strength is that when we are on, we’re like everything is clicking very well, and we play good Dota, then there’s no stopping us. As for our weakness, it’s the gap between our peak and our bottom, which is quite large.”
If the squad continues to improve and peaks at the right time during The International 2025, we might see them lift the trophy two years in a row.
In the interview, when asked about his confidence level going into the event as the reigning champions, Insania explained:
“I’m feeling pretty confident going into TI14, as we’re all putting in a lot of work to achieve the best possible result. I think whenever we put all our efforts into the game, good things come, and hopefully, this time it’ll be the same. We just have to show up and play the game.”
If Team Liquid can make it past the Swiss Stage (Road to The International), they can definitely navigate the double-elimination bracket.
Sure, Team Spirit is on top of the world right now, but every squad competing is just one bad day away from elimination.
At The International 2025, anything can happen. Favorites can fall flat, and underdog teams can rise to the occasion, or maybe, we can witness a back-to-back champion for the first time since 2019.