Team Spirit made it to The International 2026 by defeating Nigma Galaxy with a score of 2:1 in the European qualifier match. In the first game, Spirit lost in a 63-minute marathon, but then seized the initiative and held onto it until the end of the series.
In the two decisive games, Denis "Larl" Sigita stood out particularly: on Ember Spirit, he achieved a Beyond Godlike kill streak, becoming the main driving force behind Spirit's attacks. Nikita "Yatoro" Ilyuk finished the job in the third game — his Sven proved unstoppable for Nigma Galaxy.
Notably, Spirit did not receive a direct invitation to TI 2026, despite having won the Dota 2 main trophy twice. The team went through the entire qualification on their own and is now heading to their sixth consecutive The International.
In May 2026, Miroslav "Miposhka" Kolpakov returned as coach, under whose guidance Spirit began to gain stability ahead of key summer events. TI 2026 will take place in Shanghai from August 13 to 23.
