The road to the Aegis of Champions at The International 2026 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, but one team has looked consistently untouchable: Team Vision. By securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Team Spirit in the upper bracket semifinals, the Eastern European squad has officially punched their ticket to the upper bracket finals.
This result was a statement from a roster that entered the tournament as the heavy favorites. After an undefeated group stage run, the team—led by the legendary coach Clement “Puppey” Ivanov—has proven that their tactical preparation is currently a cut above the rest of the competition.
For Team Spirit, the loss is a setback, but far from the end of their journey. The three-time champions were forced to drop down to the lower bracket, where the margin for error effectively vanishes. While Spirit has shown a knack for deep lower bracket runs in the past, facing elimination in the next round is a position they would have preferred to avoid.
The matchup itself was a tactical chess match. After taking the opening map, Team Vision faced a resilient push from Spirit, who managed to equalize the series in game two. However, in the deciding third map, Vision’s superior map control and disciplined execution in the mid-to-late game allowed them to close out the series.
This victory is particularly significant for the core of Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov and Volodymyr “No[o]ne” Minenko. With Puppey’s guidance, the team has managed to blend raw mechanical skill with the kind of high-level drafting that defines TI-winning squads.
As the tournament moves toward its climax, all eyes are on whether any team can find a chink in Vision’s armor. With a spot in the grand finals on the line, the pressure in the upcoming series will be at an all-time high.
For those keeping track of the bracket and the remaining contenders, you can find the latest updates on our matches page, or check our expert analysis on the MyEsports predictions hub.