Team Spirit has once again sculpted a top player: not me in crazy shape!

At TI 2026, Team Spirit flew as an outsider. The season is difficult, the team failed at EWC 2026, and there were no prerequisites for positive changes. Listen to opinions before the tournament - they predicted complete failure or a disappointing top 8. But a completely different team landed in Shanghai.

Something has changed. More precisely, someone was changed.

If the adaptation of Larl had an integrated and team approach, then Not Me is like an individual project of Yaroslav. Even at the start of EWC Collapse, a teammate along the line, emphasized the influence of the coach:

Magomed 'Collapse' Khalilov

“Two weeks ago” - just before Yaroslav arrived. Team Spirit had a flash at DreamLeague Season 29, but not me still sagged compared to the rest. The problems were obvious. And the solution was Miposhka.

A recent interview with Yaroslav is like a coach’s report.

Yaroslav 'Miposhka' Naydenov

Miposhka took on everything at once. And for gaming qualities:

Yaroslav 'Miposhka' Naydenov

And for personal ones:

Yaroslav 'Miposhka' Naydenov

It’s ironic that Yaroslav watches out for “not me” even during interviews:

Fortunately, the environment is suitable: Alexey himself ended up in Team Spirit right at the end of the season, and we know what happens to this team before the main tournaments of the year. Yatoro proves it once again.

Well, if you have a two-time TI and EWC champion working with you, an experienced warder and captain, and overall one of the best supports in Dota history, you will inevitably grow into a top player. It's just a matter of time and diligence.

And “Lyokha,” as he is now affectionately called in broadcast chats, has grown up after all!

Second card with Xtreme Gaming. Ame on Phantom Lancer, Yatoro on Drow Ranger - only a miracle will help in a fight. And it’s not me who performs a miracle when he gets Cold Embrace into his hands. All eyes on Rubick:

It was after this fight that the breakdown happened: Team Spirit took the lead in gold, and Xtreme Gaming closed down and began to get nervous. Yatoro and Larl methodically demolished the Chinese:

Hero? Hero!

Let's move on. First card from Aurora Gaming. It was not me on Ringmaster that put the finishing touches on the fight, where Team Spirit had the last “chance” to score. Yatoro passed the first time, Shadow Fiend immediately extended it, Yatoro saved the second time.

And all this - in the center of the fight on a frail Ringmaster!

Well, the second map is against Team Liquid. Here Alexey actually said something crazy. I have never seen anything like this either in public, or in a pro match, or anywhere else. Enlightened the roshpit through Essence Distiller, squeezed Sleight of Fist and stole Aegis of the Immortal! All this in seconds and at perfect timing. Enjoying the most beautiful language in the world:

Elegant and incredibly bold. I repeat: at my first The International.

Even against PARIVISION, where the entire series was saturated with hopelessness, Alexey tried to farm the edits. I entered the blind zone of the rosh pit in advance, waited until Roshan died and ran out to pick up Aegis of the Immortal:

Two things got in the way: I didn’t press Glimmer Cape, and Roshan himself started running to another lair. But for the attempt (and the kill on Dark Willow) - another bow.

And I’ll separately note Team Spirit’s statistics from the review. Shared credit with rue:

• Good dewarding - in the top five in terms of destroyed wards. Moreover, in terms of the number of purchases, Sentry Ward is at the very end. Efficiency!
• The average loss of wards per game is only 6.3, the second best.

Well, again the Miposhka factor!

I'll finish with immortal pasta.

I'll say it again. Team Spirit in its current lineup is one of the main contenders for victory at TI15.