The International 12 (TI12) has seen many victories, upsets, and unexpected comebacks. Here are the best highlights from the most exciting matches in both the Bracket Stage and Finals Weekend.
Image source: The International 12
There was plenty of interesting moments to choose from at this year’s TI. We went for pure skill showcases, meme worthyness and fun moments in our selection. Starting off with…
This one’s going to be meme-worthy for sure, it features Zhang “LaNm” Zhicheng, the Azure Ray coach, who was having a post-draft interview. LaNm confidently shares that he believes in his team and how Gaimin Gladiators’ Huskar pick isn’t a very good one. Meanwhile, Azure Ray players were feeding while contesting for the runes.
As first blood leads to a double kill and eventually nine in total, it was hysterically ironic for LaNm to be feeling confident while being oblivious about his team’s feeding from the big screen behind him. Jokes aside, while Azure Ray did lose to Gaimin, it’s wholesome to see the remnants of PSG.LGD’s International 2018-2019 players look genuinely enjoying the games.
Azure Ray’s road to TI12 is an underdog story of three retired players who just want to compete at TI12 for the good old times. Hence, when they managed to place top four with a mere 4-month-old roster, they were definitely satisfied with the results.
We are featuring Azure Ray once again was they all-chatted “?” at BetBoom after the latter called GG. Of course, there’s beef between the two teams, which actually dates way back to Bali Major 2023.
For the uninitiated, BetBoom players believed that AR called on the admins at Bali Major 2023 not to let Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko play. Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek, a fellow teammate of Pure from BetBoom, even called out the AR players for being scared of facing their team’s complete line-up.
Fast forward to TI12, the ongoing beef persisted and Pure all-chatted “?” after BetBoom initially defeated AR in the group stage. But this came full circle as AR eliminated BetBoom to earn a top-four finish at TI12.
Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk deserves the title of the best carry player at TI12 for good reasons. And this boils down to how Yatoro’s mentality and playstyle differ from the typical pro carry player.
In one instance, during Team Spirit vs LGD Gaming in the upper bracket finals, Spirit players were sieging in the latter’s base. To which, LGD Gaming responded by jumping on Yatoro in hopes of driving him back or potentially killing him for being so deep in enemy territory.
Yet, when placed at the doors of death, Yatoro dives deeper into the enemy team instead of retreating to the safety of his fellow teammates. Not only did this lead to Yatoro teamwiping the unsuspecting LGD players, but he also survived the shocking endeavour.
It wouldn’t be a TI12 Finals Highlight without at least a rampage. So, what better way to feature one from none other than Yatoro himself?
During the game 2 of the grand finals against Gaimin Gladiators, Yatoro, with the initiation of Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov’s Magnus, let him wipe out every Gaimin player. Even with Wraith King’s extended life after death, Gaimin could not threaten Yatoro to retreat, what more the entire Team Spirit line-up.
Erik “tOfu” Engel’s well-timed Dead Shot at the unsuspecting Yatoro, who was just enjoying some Tormie-Time. As Yatoro’s health reaches a life-threatening threshold, a wild Dead Shot hits him in the face, killing him.
Needless to say, it was an incredible skill shot play, which even captured the admiration of Spirit players themselves as they tipped him.
Read also: The International 2023 Opening Ceremony: Performers, Dates & History
We start off with the first of five TI12 highlights in no particular order, but surely one of our personal favorites, featuring David “Moo” Hull.
The offlane player for nouns has been very impactful throughout their run at TI12, and deserves MVP in our TI12 highlights. Kicking off their decisive series in the Group Stage – Phase Two, nouns competed against TI11 Champions, Tundra Esports, themselves.
Yet, in one of the many decisive battles, Moo delivered a one-in-a-million Death Ward ultimate, which dealt so much damage. It would have earned Moo a rampage if it wasn’t for his teammate stealing one of the kills. Nonetheless, this team wipe essentially won nouns the first game of the best-of-three series.
Another TI12 highlight is a Moo special: his Dazzle game. His incredible positioning enabled him to deal so much damage and impact. He managed to zone out the enemy Primal Beast while remaining unscathed when the opponents attempted to kill him.
His elusive playstyle matches his low-cooldown Shallow Grave, which consistently kept his teammate, particularly, Nicolas “Gunnar” Lopez, alive. In this particular fight, it was his saving grace on Gunnar’s Earth Spirit that enabled nouns to disable the enemy Muerta, which had a Divine Rapier.
Although nouns eventually fall to Azure Ray in the Upper Bracket, they’ve garnered a following for their underdog status and North American pride. As they face Gaimin Gladiators during TI12 Finals Weekend, it’s all eyes on nouns to deliver yet another upset.
Down in lower bracket, BetBoom managed to clutch their elimination series against Talon Esports. Talon was a force to be reckoned with, having overwhelmed Gaimin Gladiators earlier.
Talon’s good use of hard carry Dark Willow draft made them an unstoppable siege against BetBoom. Dark Willow could safely chip away at BetBoom’s base using her permanent Shadow Realm ability. Yet, despite the hellish situation, BetBoom managed to leverage Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon’s mistake of getting too close.
As BetBoom forced unnecessary buybacks from Talon, it only took one more teamfight to truly put Talon down, leading to a third game. In game 3, Talon just couldn’t recover.
Many teams exited TI12 during the Playoffs Weekend, but Tundra’s early loss to Entity was truly a TI12 highlight. Entity came into the championship as a regional-qualified Western European team.
Yet, they put down Tundra in the lower bracket round 1, ending the defending champions’ run for two-time status. While it was no glamorous Echo Slam or wombo combo teamwipe, Entity played consistently and made sure Tundra didn’t stand any chance of comeback.
With one too many countermeasures against Tundra’s potential initiations, it just goes to show how careful Entity was against a more prominent opponent.
If there’s any team that has the best odds of winning TI, it’s Team Spirit. Coming into the tournament as Riyadh Masters 2023 Champions, Spirit was calm and calculated, a far cry from what they were previously at TI11.
Having won TI10, many fans still based Spirit, claiming their TI10 victory as a fluke because LGD Gaming choked. At some point, even Spirit players themselves had impostor syndrome.
Coming into TI12, we’ve seen a different composure, reminiscent of a proper TI Champion. Spirit’s undefeated streak, even up against their regional rival, is what truly makes them strong. And what better way to feature their glory with a Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk play on Muerta. Barely surviving and turning the fight around with his ultimate, Pierce the Veil, Yatoro showed why he’s considered one of the best carries in the world.
As an honorable mention in TI12 highlights, we’ve got LGD Gaming. Guo “shiro” Xuanang’s Spectre shot a blind Spectral Dagger at 9Pandas’ Alexey “Solo” Berezin. It’s just a cool skill shot, but it’s a testament to how comfortable LGD Gaming is, at the International 12.
Read next: The International 2023 UB Quarterfinals: Who Saw That Coming?
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