Cover-Credits:
Gaimin Gladiators have achieved an incredible feat in the Dota 2 competitive landscape by winning its 3rd Major victory of the DPC 2023 season, defeating Team Liquid 3-1 in the grand finals of the Bali Major 2023. The team entered the grand finals as the favorites once again, with a dominant run in the upper bracket, and eventually, in the grand finals. Team Liquid gave some hope to the fans of finally usurping the reigning champions by winning Game 2 of the series, however, Gaimin Gladiators came back to win the next 2 games, with a completely one-sided Game 3 victory in 21 minutes.
The Bali Major 2023 triumph not only marked Gaimin Gladiators' third major victory, matching OG’s record in 2016-2017 but also extended the team’s astounding streak of success in tier-1 tournaments. It should also be known that Gaimin Gladiators win 3 in a row with the same roster, while OG had changes in its roster during its 3-peat. Starting with their victory at the Lima Major 2023, the team went on an awe-inspiring run, claiming five consecutive tier-1 titles, including DreamLeague Season 19 and DreamLeague Season 20. This unprecedented accomplishment showcases Gaimin Gladiators' unrivaled prowess and solidifies their status as one of the greatest Dota 2 teams in history.
Gaimin Gladiators will take home $200,000 USD and 650 Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) Points as the winners of the Bali Major 2023. The team has 2140 DPC points, which is well over the minimum threshold required to qualify for The International 12.
Gamin Gladiators complete the 3-peat
Like all the previous DPC Tours, Gaimin Gladiators had an impressive showing in Tour 3 as well, finishing 2nd, next to Tundra Esports. Coming off a very recent win in Dreamleague Season 20 against BetBoom, many expected the team to be a very strong contender for the title at Bali Major 2023.
The champions had similar upper-bracket runs as they did in the previous Majors, beating beastcoast, Quest Esports, Tundra Esports, and Team Liquid to take home its 3rd Major title of the season. While Gaimin’s games at this major were a lot closer when compared to previous tournaments, the team still did not drop a single series through the entirety of the playoffs.
With all 5 of the players performing exceptionally well, Marcus "Ace" Hoelgaard and Quinn “Quinn” Callahan had several stand-out performances throughout the tournament. Both players had shown some of the highest levels of consistency in maintaining the highest levels of Dota 2 gameplay throughout the season.
The team's unparalleled run also sets the stage for another historic moment. If Gaimin Gladiators were to emerge victorious at the upcoming Riyadh Masters 2023, they would achieve the remarkable feat of winning every single tier-1 tournament in this season of competitive Dota 2 (leading up to The International 12) —a milestone yet to be accomplished in Dota 2. This potential triumph would cement Gaimin Gladiators' legacy as one of the greatest teams to ever grace the game of Dota 2.
Team Liquid may be a little disappointed at its run at the Bali Major 2023, failing to overcome its rivals once again in the grand finals. However, the team can prove itself as the best in the world with the two upcoming tournaments, the Riyadh Masters 2023 and The International 12, both of which will feature some of the largest prize pools in esports.
