Korb3n on Team Spirit’s result at the 2026 Esports World Cup in Dota 2: “We got what we deserved based on how we played.”
Team Spirit manager Dmitry “Korb3n” Belov commented on his team’s and Team Yandex’s performances at the 2026 Dota 2 Esports World Cup during a livestream.
On his lack of response to discussions about Larl’s gameplay
[Question: “Dima, how do you react to the never-ending debates about ‘Larl being a top-6 net-winner,’ without getting negative?”]
Well, I don’t react at all—what’s there to react to? Everything has to be put into perspective... In short, only the result matters; everything else is of little importance. And it’s foolish to think that one person alone is to blame for the final result, for example. Well, it’s not that they’re to blame… It’s foolish to think that only one person [bears] responsibility for the final result. So, overall, I don’t react at all—and right now, unlike five years ago, there are almost no places left where you can actually read any decent criticism that gives you food for thought. <...>
On Team Yandex’s performance at EWC
[Comment: “And everyone said that ‘Yandex’ were the tour’s winners.”]
Everyone was wrong, apparently. That’s how it was at KV; Yandex looked unbeatable. Well, they [messed up] the drafts... Well, they actually played worse than PARIVISION. I’m not trying to take anything away from PARIVISION here. And their drafts were like that—at least in the first round. And in the third round, they gave away the bear.
On Spirit’s performance at the EWC
[Question: “Dima, how do you assess the results and the overall performance? You can see the hard work, but I’d like to hear the opinion of a team leader.”]
The result is what it is. What’s there to evaluate? The gameplay as a whole has definitely improved. I judge more by the amount of work put in, the results of practice matches, and so on. But the result is what it is—not the best. We played the way we did, and that’s what we got. What’s there to evaluate?
Team Spirit advanced to the Dota 2 playoffs of the 2026 Esports World Cup, but lost to Team Yandex and was eliminated from the competition, finishing in 5th–8th place—which comes with $70,000 and 200 EWC club points. Next, the “Dragons” will compete at The International 2026.
Photo: Team Spirit.
