A true clash of the titans, and for the first time since the inception of The International, we have repeat champions. Not just the team, but the same players. ~USD$15.5 million and the Aegis goes to OG, after a series that went 3-1. The Aegis is theirs once again, defended for another year.

Nine of these players over both teams held hopes to be the first two-time champion, and the crown goes to OG. The Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China, would likely have hoped for a home town team, but after seeing those games, we doubt anyone would complain. This marks the first time since two Western teams matched up against each other since TI3.

Team Liquid had to fight their way back to the finals to begin with, winning every single game from the lower bracket on the main stage. OG finished top of their group, and had a relatively easier time through the upper bracket. Liquid.Gh scored the first blood of the series. Considering the caliber of players, one wondered if it could have set the tone of the BO5. It did not.

OG break Team Liquid’s unstoppable lower bracket run. ana’s carry Io returns for the game, and itemization choices only solidified OG’s hold on the game. Team Liquid simply crumbled towards the end of game 4, and the rest is history.

Team Liquid goes home with ~USD$4.4 million as runner-up. Nevertheless, Team Liquid still made it to the grand finals after an impressive run, and we congratulate them for getting to this point too. We hope to see both teams battle it out in future tournaments as well, for more heart-racing games.

We’ll be looking forward to seeing OG defend the Aegis of Champions once more, when The International goes to Stockholm, Sweden. See you next year!