After 3 long weekends, it’s finally time for the International Dota 2 Grand Finals. It’s a battle of the European titans and previous champions Team Spirit must face off with Gaimin Gladiators. Many games at this level are won and lost on the drafts alone. We’ll be tracking each and every draft of the Grand Final live and making our predictions.

This is set to be one of the most exciting Dota series of the year. Both teams are truly on the top of their game. It wouldn’t be surprising if it went to 5 games and it’s difficult to call who will come out on top.

Team Spirit at TI12

Team Spirit have been truly dominant this tournament and were the first team to make it to the Grand Finals of The International Dota 2. They haven’t lost a single series and have dropped only a couple of individual games. Many teams are truly frightened to go up against Yatoro, and for good reason.

While the focus is often on Spirit’s carry players, their support duo of Mira and Miposhka is one of the best in the game. It’ll take a long time for anyone to forget about Miposhka’s game winning Enchantress plays in this tournament.

They’ve gone from strength to strength and while Gaimin Gladiators will be their toughest fight yet, if anyone can take them down, it’s Team Spirit.

Gaimin Gladiators Are TI Titans

We’re sure we don’t need to say again that Gaimin Gladiators are one of the most impressive teams in Dota history. They won every Major. They won DreamLeague. And they destroyed Liquid AGAIN in the lower bracket. Fans would be right in saying no team deserves to take TI like GG. But many more are pretty tired of seeing them win every Grand Final. Can they do it one more time?

All eyes have been on midlaner Quinn for most of the year but it seems Dyrachyo is the one to watch. A hugely talented player with a massive hero pool should have even the best quaking in their boots.

If we had to call it, we’d say Team Spirit should be able to edge out a victory. They haven’t lost a Grand Finals, as long as they’ve made it that far. Regardless of the outcome, this Finals is sure to go down in Dota history.

The International Dota 2 Grand Finals Drafts

Game 1 – 14:00 PDT / 17:00 EDT / 21:00 GMT / 22:00 CET

Team Spirit	Gaimin Gladiators
Weaver (1st)	Muerta (2nd)
Treant Protector (4th)	Pangolier (3rd)
Puck (5th)	Lone Druid (6th)
Beastmaster (8th)	Silencer (7th)
Tusk (9th)	Gyrocopter (10th)
Bans - Chen, Chaos Knight, Kunkka, Bloodseeker, Nature's Prophet, Terrorblade and Alchemist	Bans - Bristleback, Spirit Breaker, Magnus, Primal Beast, Grimstroke, Dark Willow and Shadow Demon

Gyro and Puck are the slightly unusual picks in this game but there’s nothing hugely off meta. Yatoro’s Weaver is one of the scariest picks in this game but Ace is no stranger to Lone Druid. It’s difficult to call but we’ve got to give Spirit the edge.

Game 2

Team Spirit	Gaimin Gladiators
Magnus (2nd)	Primal Beast (1st)
Enchantress (3rd)	Nature's Prophet (4th)
Faceless Void (6th)	Muerta (5th)
Grimstroke (7th)	Wraith King (8th)
Pangolier (10th)	Morphling (9th)
Bans - Bristleback, Chen, Chaos Knight, Weaver, Treant Protector, Alchemist and Lone Druid.	Bans - Kunkka, Phoenix, Dark Willow, Monkey King, Shadow Demon, Necrophos, Invoker.

This game has Collapse on Magnus and Miposhka on Enchantress. Need we say more? Dyrachyo on Morphling and a rogue Quinn Primal Beast might throw a bit of a spanner in the works of this duo, but this is the perfect pick for Team Spirit while they’re riding high on the success of game 1.

Game 3

Team Spirit	Gaimin Gladiators
Chaos Knight (1st)	Ancient Apparition (2nd)
Grimstroke (4th)	Pangolier (3rd)
Tusk (5th)	Brewmaster (6th)
Dazzle (8th)	Muerta (7th)
Spirit Breaker (9th)	Spectre (10th)
Bans - Chen, Necrophos, Phoenix, Sven, Kunkka, Faceless Void and Troll Warlord	Bans - Weaver, Bristleback, Magnus, Primal Beast, Puck, Dawnbreaker and Beastmaster

It’s death or glory for Gaimin Gladiators. Based on the draft, it’s difficult to call. Collapse has managed to get his hands on Spirit Breaker but Gaimin are ready to go to the late game with a last pick Spectre. Can Spirit do it in 3? We think that they just might!