“Everyone understood that something f**ked up was happening, and we needed to deal with it”. Team Spirit openly talks about almost disbanding due to conflicts, explains TI11 failure

Team Spirit recently published an extensive documentary detailing their challenging 2022 DPC season journey. The comprehensive video features candid interviews with players and management team members reflecting on pivotal moments throughout this period while providing detailed explanations for their disappointing performance at The International 2022. Available on their official YouTube channel, the footage reveals critical insights into team dynamics under pressure.

Following their spectacular TI10 championship victory, Team Spirit maintained impressive momentum by decisively winning Tour 1 alongside its corresponding Regional Finals. However, during spring season developments, significant geopolitical circumstances severely impacted the squad’s operational stability. With two Ukrainian nationals comprising the roster, the organization faced numerous external distractions that intensified following their relocation to Serbian headquarters.

Consequently, the team struggled to maintain competitive focus during the Dubai invitational competition. Multiple team members retrospectively consider participation in this event as a strategic misstep.

If I could modify one decision from our past competitive schedule, eliminating the Dubai tournament participation would be my primary adjustment. Our collective attention was diverted toward more pressing personal concerns during that period. The competition essentially became… We technically competed, but nobody maintained genuine competitive investment. Additionally, we competed with incomplete roster availability [Mira remained in Ukraine], and we demonstrated minimal engagement throughout the event. Those matches effectively served as extended practice sessions without competitive significance.

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When the EEU DPC Tour 2 experienced indefinite postponement with uncertain resumption timelines, creating the most severe psychological conditions for competitors during subsequent months. Recently relocated players attempted to counter mounting pressure through intensive scrimmage sessions, but their competitive output dramatically declined.

The squad’s performance quality deteriorated significantly throughout this phase, with internal tensions escalating rapidly. Their disappointing result at the Stockholm Major served as another indicator signaling fundamental team dysfunction.

Every team member recognized that severely problematic circumstances were developing, requiring immediate intervention. Without decisive action, we risked entering a destructive cycle, potentially wasting our professional careers indefinitely.

I must acknowledge that during that period, we genuinely approached complete roster dissolution.

Team Spirit organized comprehensive team discussions addressing all accumulated interpersonal issues. Although Korb3n expresses skepticism regarding positive outcomes, certain players believe the conversations proved beneficial, particularly for TORONTOTOKYO, who demonstrated marked improvement in communication reliability and teammate trust.

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The subsequent DPC Tour 3 concluded with Team Spirit achieving third position, still failing to secure direct qualification for TI11. Collective team morale reached its absolute nadir during this timeframe, particularly concerning TORONTOTOKYO who began refusing to play specific hero selections. The pivotal turnaround occurred during Riyadh Masters. Management figure Korb3n apparently revitalized team cohesion through additional frank discussions.

Korb3n originally planned travel to Serbia, but flight complications caused unexpected return.

I cannot precisely determine his methodology, but presumably he detected or sensed that team dynamics were severely compromised. He promptly conducted individual conversations with each player separately, including discussion with me. I communicated my current perspective and concerns during our private meeting.

Before departure, he delivered a concluding statement emphasizing that our collective situation had deteriorated into complete disorganization. We needed to increase mutual trust among teammates, eliminate hero refusal behaviors, improve organizational coordination, and reinforce team identity since we fundamentally operated as a cohesive unit.

To achieve positive outcomes, we required complete confidence in TORONTO’s capabilities, needed to energize his performance, provide emotional support, and offer constructive gameplay improvement suggestions. The strategy proved effective as we implemented these approaches successfully. The experience resembled collective self-awareness: “Our teammate experiences difficulties, let’s provide assistance rather than compete without his full participation”.

During Riyadh Masters competition, Spirit secured second position rather than championship victory but regained unified motivation and competitive drive. They leveraged this renewed energy to claim victory at the subsequent Arlington Major as tournament champions.

What happened at The International 2022?

Several competitors indirectly attribute their competitive decline to extended pre-TI11 break duration. Yatoro believes excessive Dota gameplay potentially contributed to professional burnout. Miposhka completely avoided game interaction during this period.

Our organization implemented approximately one-month competitive hiatus, representing substantial duration where players pursued diverse activities. Some members remained stationary playing Dota alongside other gaming titles, while others completely rested and disengaged from Dota entirely, exemplified by Miposhka. He indicated preferring additional week of rest, but following top 16 elimination [at TI11], he acknowledged the break exceeded optimal length. Certain players messaged me September 15 indicating necessity to conclude relaxation period and resume professional preparation.

Mira suggests the pre-tournament gameplay patch potentially influenced their competitive output, as it substantially altered mechanics for multiple positions. They needed to practice numerous new strategic elements during Malaysian bootcamp preparations, but interpersonal tensions began reemerging.

Throughout bootcamp duration, we engaged in arguments during majority of sessions. This phase primarily involved conflicts with Collapse, creating extremely challenging competitive environment. I experienced momentary disorientation during that period because I focused excessively on preventing his frustration expression rather than demonstrating my optimal performance capacity.

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Despite conducting numerous team discussions and achieving respectable scrimmage outcomes, these efforts proved insufficient to overcome internal conflicts. Coach Silent believes entering TI as tournament favorites potentially represented additional negative factor. He additionally identified noteworthy observation that excessive team meetings could negatively impact squad performance.

When you compete primarily to satisfy external expectations rather than demonstrating optimal capabilities, and experience defeat, the result becomes psychological collapse with confidence deterioration. I cannot recall previous tournament featuring comparable quantity of team discussions. The frequency reached levels where communication value diminished significantly, and participants ceased attentive engagement.

Korb3n and DKLana characterized their tournament performance as demonstrating insufficient supplementary effort. Their in-game communication lacked necessary energy, competitors failed to motivate teammates adequately, and demonstrated passive competitive attitudes.

I primarily desired tournament conclusion occurring as rapidly as possible, the competition and associated circumstances. Simply conclude and we depart. The competition lacked supplementary competitive intensity unlike every preceding tournament where we achieved victory. We observed absolutely zero additional effort from any participant throughout this bootcamp and tournament period.

Team Spirit delivered mediocre Group Stage performances and failed to advance beyond initial lower bracket series at TI11. Following their elimination, we reported that TORONTOTOKYO would exit the competitive roster. During recent streaming session, Korb3n indicated additional roster modifications could occur within team structure before DPC 2023 commencement.

Spirit Korb3n: “Our game at TI11 was eye-bleeding. TORONTOTOKYO was the only one to perform well”

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » “Everyone understood that something f**ked up was happening, and we needed to deal with it”. Team Spirit openly talks about almost disbanding due to conflicts, explains TI11 failure Team Spirit's journey from TI10 champions to near-disbandment and TI11 failure explained through team dynamics