SumaiL
Saeed "SumaiL" Hassan, at 16, became the youngest champion of The International when Evil Geniuses won TI5. He joined EG in early 2015, quickly making an impact by winning DAC 2015 and showcasing his exceptional skills on heroes like Storm Spirit. Despite his youth and inexperience, SumaiL's aggressive playstyle led EG to victory at TI5, where he dominated on core mid-heroes like Ember Spirit and Storm Spirit.
Wings
Wings Gaming won The International 2016 with a roster of newcomers who had only one notable result before TI. Despite this, they dominated the event with 58 unique hero picks, setting a record. The team’s unpredictability and versatility were key to their success, marking the first and only time a team with no previous TI experience won the Aegis.
GH
Maroun "GH" Merhej secured the Aegis with Team Liquid at TI7. Despite early struggles, Liquid improved significantly after GH joined, leading them to a dominant performance at the tournament. GH’s exceptional play on heroes like Earthshaker contributed to their victory, and he became well-known for his impactful support play.
Topson
Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen joined OG shortly before TI8, his first major LAN event. Despite minimal experience, Topson’s unique approach to mid-lane and unconventional hero picks led OG to victory. His performance on heroes like Monkey King helped OG win the Aegis in a dramatic tournament run.
Team Spirit
Team Spirit's roster, including Ilya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk, Alexander "TORONTOTOKYO" Hertig, Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov, and Miroslav "Mira" Kolpakov, achieved a surprise victory at TI10. The team, with no prior TI experience, gradually gained confidence throughout the tournament, leading to their triumph.
Skiter and Nine
Tundra Esports won TI22 with Skiter and Nine, who were not complete rookies but had significant tier-2 experience. Skiter excelled with heroes like Naga Siren and Slark, while Nine’s unconventional picks like Tusk and Spirit Breaker proved highly effective. Their strong performances led to a decisive victory, marking a notable success for the team.