After a gruelling week of high-level Dota 2, OG has just been crowned champions of The International 8, the biggest tournament of its kind in the world.

Out of the USD 25.4mn prize pool, the team will take home well over USD 11.2mn in winnings. Second place winners LGD for comparison will have to settle with USD 4mn. All 18 teams that took part in tournament however will still be given a slice of the prize pool, so there are not aren’t any losers here per se.

What makes the achievement impressive for OG is that they are the first team to win the tournament through an Open Qualifier bracket, while simultaneously overcoming a community superstition in which teams from China win in even years while everyone else wins in odd years. OG this time around comprise of veterans and newcomers but special attention was given to player Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, who won first at his first significant LAN event.

Watch the grand final here:

The Grand Finals this year is being deemed as one of the most intense in throughout the tournament’s long history, and deservingly so as it was nail-biting throughout the five games that were played. While for next year’s The International 2019, it is coming to Shanghai, China – the first time the tournament to hold away from North America. Will you be there to watch it live? 😀