Dota 2: Team Falcons claim The International 2025 title

Team Falcons etched their names into Dota 2 history on Sunday, outlasting Xtreme Gaming 3-2 in a tense grand final to secure The International 2025 title and the coveted Aegis of Champions.

The Western European squad overcame an uneven year to peak when it mattered most and capture the US$1,145,493 first-place prize, extending the region’s dominance on the biggest stage in Dota 2 esports.

The series swung wildly across five games.

XG opened with a controlled win behind Wang “Ame” Chunyu’s Ursa, but Falcons roared back in game two thanks to Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak’s relentless Primal Beast.

XG seized a 2-1 edge after punishing Oliver “skiter” Lepko’s late misstep in game three, only for Ammar “ATF” Assaf’s surprise Ursa pick to lead a 33-minute stomp and force a decider.

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  Fast Payouts

Game five hinged on draft nerves, as XG gambled by letting Naga Siren through, and Falcons’ Medusa punished every slip to close out a grueling 58-minute finale.

For Andreas “Cr1t-“ Nielsen, the triumph ends nearly a decade of close misses at The International.

Coach Kurtis “Aui_2000” Ling set another benchmark, becoming the first person to win the Aegis three times across player and coaching roles.

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  The bookies' bookie

Teammates skiter and Jingjun “Sneyking” Wu now own two TI titles apiece, while ATF and Malr1ne secured their first.

On the opposite side, Ame endured fresh heartbreak — his third 3-2 defeat in a TI grand final since 2018, prolonging the “uncrowned king” narrative despite a stellar campaign for China’s Xtreme Gaming.

Moments before the trophy lift, Valve confirmed The International 2026 will return to Shanghai, China, next August — the event’s first trip back since OG’s triumph in 2019.

The announcement crowns a resurgence for Chinese Dota, with XG’s deep run and Team Tidebound’s top-eight finish hinting at a renewed challenge from the region.