Gaimin Gladiators emerge top at Bali Major for third consecutive win

Gaimin Gladiators clashed with Team Liquid to gain the Bali Major Trophy and USD 200,000; both Western European teams to head on to this year’s The International in October

Original story by Dexter Tan Huan Hao for OneEsports

Again, again, and again: Gaimin Gladiators are the new Bali Major champions — and the most dominant Dota 2 team in the world.

For the third time in a row, it was Gaimin Gladiators and Team Liquid in the grand finals. The clash of Western Europe’s two best teams played familiarly — the Gladiators came out on top, 3-1, with shocking ease. 

GG will go home with US$200,000 and an ultimately inconsequential 600 Dota Pro Circuit points. Liquid will claim US$100,000 and 550 DPC points — also meaningless for the first team to qualify for The International 12.

It’s difficult to call a Major trophy and a US$100,000 difference in prize money inconsequential — but both WEU titans have dominated this year’s Dota Pro Circuit, and secured their TI12 invites even before the Major.

Instead, this was a matter of pride and legacy heading into TI12. A Gaimin Gladiators win puts them in the history books as one of two teams to win three Majors in a row — the other being OG — and a Team Liquid win would finally banish the specter of three separate grand finals losses to their regional rivals. 

Gaimin Gladiators also recently made a new world record at the Bali Major for playing the longest-ever Dota 2 LAN-based Game, against Quest Esports. 

The first game was on a knife’s edge throughout. It was a close early game, with Gaimin Gladiators coming out slightly ahead, and they also took the better of several early fights.

To read the full, blow-by-blow review of the match, read the original article by Dexter Tan Hao for OneSports. 

Regardless of the result, these two teams are the early favorites for TI12 in October. Will Gaimin Gladiators cap off their era of dominance, or will Team Liquid be more than happy to finally spoil the party?