Gaimin Gladiators: The Dominant Dota 2 Team of 2023

Gaimin Gladiators, the reigning champions of Dota 2, had an incredible run in 2023. They emerged victorious in three major tournaments, establishing themselves as the hottest team in the game. However, their dreams of claiming the coveted Aegis of Champions were shattered by the formidable Team Spirit.

During a livestream, Quinn, a popular Dota 2 personality, praised Team Spirit for their exceptional performance against Gaimin. He acknowledged that if Spirit had been even slightly weaker or if another team had eliminated them, Gaimin would have undoubtedly won TI.

Quinn recognized that Spirit was on a whole different level, and winning the three majors did not hinder their performance. In the Dota 2 community, there is a belief in the curse of winning majors, as teams often struggle at TI after their major victories.

While statistics support this curse theory, there is a logical explanation behind it. Major-winning teams tend to adapt to the initial meta of the year faster than others, mastering specific heroes and play styles. However, as the meta evolves and heroes are nerfed, these teams must relearn everything alongside their competitors.

Gaimin managed to maintain their dominance even after a significant gameplay patch, 7.34. However, this patch happened to favor Spirit, providing them with a comfort zone. Despite Spirit’s underwhelming performance at majors throughout the year, they experienced a late-season resurgence, clinching victories at Riyadh Masters 2023 and DreamLeague S21.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait for a rematch between these two powerhouses, as Spirit withdrew from Dota 2’s ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 due to player health concerns. The champions of TI 2023, along with Gaimin, LGD, and Azure Ray, were directly invited to the event. Spirit’s slot was then given to the Western European region as an additional qualifier seat.

Source: DOTESPORTS