After an impressive week of competition, Team Spirit is back in top form as they gear up for The International in October. The Eastern European squad emerged victorious in a clean sweep against Shopify Rebellion in the grand finals of DreamLeague S21, securing a prize of $300,000. This win adds to their recent success, as they previously won $5 million at the Riyadh Masters in July.
Team Spirit’s dominance was evident throughout the tournament, losing only one game in the group stage and one game in the playoffs. Despite Gaimin Gladiators’ strong performance this year, Team Spirit is poised to defend their TI10 championship title and are considered favorites heading into Seattle.
Game one of the grand finals was an intense 67-minute battle. Shopify Rebellion had a strong start, dominating the laning stage with strategic picks like Enchantress and Templar Assassin. However, Team Spirit executed well in teamfights, utilizing their strong initiators such as Earth Spirit, Centaur Warrunner, and Phoenix. Despite Shopify Rebellion maintaining a gold lead for most of the game, Team Spirit’s Phantom Lancer, played by Yatoro, proved to be unstoppable, leading to their victory.
In game two, Team Spirit took control from the beginning. With Miposhka playing Enchantress, they gained an advantage in the midlane matchup between Larl’s Kunkka and Abed’s Earthshaker. Yatoro’s Terrorblade outperformed Arteezy’s Gyrocopter, allowing Team Spirit to easily push their advantage and secure the win.
Game three saw Shopify Rebellion attempting a final gambit with an Alchemist pick and Abed on Storm Spirit. However, Yatoro’s Faceless Void quickly gained an advantage, securing multiple kills and matching Arteezy’s Alchemist in farm. Despite Shopify Rebellion’s aggressive moves, Team Spirit consistently responded effectively. Yatoro’s decisive Chronospheres ensured Team Spirit’s victory, leaving Shopify Rebellion unable to recover.
For the full highlights of the series, you can watch the official YouTube video on ESL’s channel.
Table: DreamLeague S21 Grand Finals
| Game | Time | Score |
|——|——|——-|
| 1 | 67m | 1-0 |
| 2 | 35m | 1-0 |
| 3 | 29m | 1-0 |
Source: ONEESPORTS