In the TI13 Lower Bracket Finals at The International 2024, Gaimin Gladiators defeated Tundra Esports to advance to the Grand Finals for the second time in a row. This was a bitter series that eliminated Tundra’s Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen and Martin “Saksa” Sazdov, who were both eyeing another shot at TI.
Game 1: Tundra’s Last Minute Victory
Early control was seized by Gaimin Gladiators in Game One, but the match was far from over. Despite Gaimin never having a large gold lead, their map presence and coordination indicated they were in control. However, Tundra’s strongest pair—Topson on Sand King and Saksa on Tusk—created real problems for the opposing team. Their combination was impressive, with Tusk being useful and Sand King hard to kill, preventing Gaimin from winning.
Despite Gaimin’s early-game advantage, Tundra flipped the script in crucial late-game engagements to win Game One. The so-called “drinking buddies” of Topson and Saksa made the Sand King nearly invincible, leading to Tundra’s win.
Game 2: Gaimin Strikes Back
In Game Two, Gaimin adapted, preventing Tundra from picking Tusk, and Tundra banned Sand King for themselves. This led to Gaimin drafting Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov on Lone Druid, a hero who has been a beast in the current meta. Dyrachyo’s Lone Druid was a monster, leveraging the hero’s ability to transfer items to the Spirit Bear, giving him a nearly invincible edge.
Gaimin was aggressive from the start, putting Tundra on the back foot. With Lone Druid’s high scaling potential, they won Game Two and set up the first three-game series since the Playoffs began.
Game 3: Gaimin Gladiators Hold Their Nerves in the Last Moments
In Game Three, Tundra again used Tusk and Sand King, while Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko was given Slark, a hero with high late-game power. But Gaimin Gladiators drafted strongly as well, with Quinn Callahan on Queen of Pain, Dyrachyo on Alchemist, and a stellar performance from Melchior “Seleri” Hillenkamp on Enchantress.
The early game was completely owned by Gaimin as they followed correct tactics and controlled both fights and map control to gain a sizeable advantage. But Tundra wasn’t done yet. At the half-hour mark, they began securing key team fights, forcing Gaimin to play defensively to avoid losing their lead and engage only in battles they could win. Finally, a clean backdoor push with Underlord decided the series for Gaimin Gladiators, proving they could handle the pressure and clinch the victory.
Tundra’s Run Ends in Third Place
Tundra’s elimination in third place means they will receive $230,000—a great result for a team that faced many peculiarities along their path. Fielding a team with a substitute and two loan players, they performed beyond expectations. With SEA legend Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon, TI champion Saksa, the reborn Pure, experienced RAMZES666, and Topson, this team qualified for the final stages of the tournament.
Their teamwork and durability were evident, making their exit from TI13 a sad event for the fans. It remains uncertain if we’ll ever see this version of Tundra Esports again, but their run will be remembered as one of the most extraordinary lineups in recent Dota 2 history.
The Grand Final Showdown: Gaimin Gladiators vs. Team Liquid
With Gaimin Gladiators advancing to the Grand Finals, they now face a familiar foe: Team Liquid. These two teams have clashed in several Grand Finals, but Liquid has never managed to topple Gaimin in a decisive series. The stage is set for an epic conclusion to TI13, where Gaimin aims to claim the championship that slipped through their fingers last year, while Liquid seeks to break their Grand Finals curse.
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