The International 13 (TI13) was an intense battleground where the best Dota 2 teams fought for the ultimate glory. The top eight stage saw incredible matchups, game-changing plays, and surprising upsets. From Tundra’s lower bracket run to Team Liquid’s long-awaited victory, here’s everything you missed from TI13’s top 8.
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Tundra vs. Xtreme Gaming: Tactical Dominance
Tundra’s Sniper Strategy Pays Off
Tundra Esports entered their series against Xtreme Gaming (XG) with a clear plan—deny XM his signature Sniper pick. In Game 1, they first-picked Sniper, forcing XG’s midlaner onto Shadow Fiend, a suboptimal matchup.
“Sniper was one of the most picked heroes at TI13, and Tundra didn’t want it in the hands of XM, one of the best Sniper players in the world.” – Justeezy
Tundra executed their strategy flawlessly, dominating mid lane and securing an early advantage. Despite XG claiming the first Roshan, Tundra capitalized on positional mistakes to regain control.
Game-Changing Moments
- Lone Druid’s Item Optimization: Tundra’s Pure built an optimized Bear Necessities strategy, sacrificing three item slots in favor of boosted stats on key items.
- Roshan Fight Turnaround: XG’s Ame was caught too far from his team, resulting in a double death that sealed their fate.
- Comedic Yet Effective Plays: Pure feeding to the Tormentor ended up baiting XM into an overextension, worsening XG’s situation.
With Tundra breaking high ground at 27 minutes, XG struggled to respond, leading to a swift 2-0 victory for Tundra.
Tundra vs. Falcons: A Clash of Styles
Tundra’s UnconventionalViper Pick
Against Falcons, Tundra had to counter Malr1ne’s undefeated Monkey King mid. Topson surprised everyone by picking Viper, despite having played the hero only once in the past six years.
“Topson feeding First Blood was just the beginning—but after that, his Viper completely took over, forcing Malr1ne to abandon mid lane.” – Justeezy
The early lane dominance led to a massive Net worth gap, allowing Tundra’s cores to control the map.
Alchemist’s Silent Domination in Game 2
Falcons had a better early game in Game 2, pressuring Tundra’s safe lane. However, their over-commitment gave Pure’s Alchemist complete free farm.
“Pure had a 0/0/0 scoreline while farming Radiance. Once he got Blink, he instantly eliminated the enemy carry—twice in a row.” – Justeezy
From this moment, Tundra snowballed into a decisive victory, securing their Top 3 finish at TI13.
Lower Bracket Finals: Tundra vs. Gaimin Gladiators
A Grueling Three-Game Battle
After Gaimin Gladiators suffered a shocking upper bracket loss to Team Liquid, they faced Tundra for the final spot in the Grand Finals.
- Game 1 Victory: Tundra won convincingly, showcasing strong team coordination.
- Game 2’s Questionable Build Choices: Topson’s unconventional itemization led to damage issues, allowing Ace’s Underlord to dominate.
- Game 3’s Insane Comeback Attempt:
- Tundra fell behind by 16,000 gold at 25 minutes.
- Their offlaner had the same gold as Gaimin’s supports.
- Ramses’ Sand King turned fights, but one crucial loss at 45 minutes sealed their fate.
Despite Tundra’s resilience, Gaimin Gladiators closed out the series, knocking them out in third place.
Grand Finals: Team Liquid vs. Gaimin Gladiators
A Long-Awaited Redemption for Liquid
Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators have a storied rivalry. Liquid had never beaten Gladiators in a grand finals before TI13, making this their shot at redemption.
Game 1: Quinn’s Risky Riki Pick Backfires
Gaimin last-picked mid Riki to counter Nisha’s Puck, but the strategy didn’t work as planned.
“Nisha struggled early, but Liquid punished Quinn’s overextensions, securing a key 16-minute fight and taking over the game.” – Justeezy
Game 2: Boxi’s Game-Saving Teleport
One of the most incredible moments came when Boxi perfectly teleported Mickey out of a gank, resulting in a turnaround kill on Quinn.
At the same time, Liquid’s offlaner, 33, had a gold lead large enough to dictate map control. Despite desperate plays from Gaimin, they couldn’t stop Liquid’s push.
Game 3: The Final Blow
Liquid countered Gaimin’s Windranger carry with heavy magic damage. Despite an aggressive start from Gaimin, Liquid’s net worth advantage kept growing.
Despite a last-ditch Tormentor steal and multi-man Gale Force play, Gaimin couldn’t hold off Liquid’s siege. The final fight saw Liquid obliterate Gaimin’s defense, securing the championship.
Blitz’s Emotional Victory Speech
After years of struggles, Team Liquid coach Blitz delivered a heartfelt speech about his journey:
“We had five years without winning anything. We could have disbanded like 20 different times. But we didn’t. We stuck together. And now, we’re champions.” – Blitz
TI13 was one of the most thrilling tournaments in Dota 2 history. With incredible performances from Tundra, Falcons, Gaimin Gladiators, and Liquid, this event will be remembered for its high-level gameplay and emotional storylines.
What was your favorite moment from TI13? Let us know in the comments!
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FAQs
Who won The International 13?
Team Liquid won TI13, defeating Gaimin Gladiators 3-0 in the Grand Finals.
What was the biggest surprise of TI13?
Tundra’s lower bracket run and their insane comeback attempts against Gaimin Gladiators were some of the biggest highlights.
Why did Quinn pick Riki mid in the Grand Finals?
Quinn picked Riki mid to counter Puck, but it didn’t work out, as Liquid adapted to the matchup.
What was the most iconic moment of TI13?
Boxi’s perfect teleport to save Mickey, which completely turned the tide of Game 2 in the Grand Finals.
What’s next for Team Liquid?
After winning their first TI title, Liquid will look to defend their dominance in upcoming Dota 2 events.
