Maelstorm assessed the chances of Team Liquid, 1w Team, Aurora Gaming, and BetBoom Team at The International 2026

...> The champions from two years ago, now mixed with the Gladiators. You know, everything about this team is pretty good—they’ll definitely be fighting for the top spots, at least that’s what they’re aiming for—but there’s one small BUT. The offlaner. If tOfu can settle in and get into the game, then Ace seems to be dragging the team down—I don’t see any impact or power in him. He’s not bad, but that’s about it, and that’s not enough to win. No matter how hard m1CKe and Nisha try this time, they alone aren’t enough. <...>

...> One of the strongest teams in the tournament, if not the strongest. They dominated the pro scene for half the season; however, since moving to a new organization, they’ve been on a downward trend because the players were forced to deal with paperwork and contracts instead of playing. They weren’t able to fully return to Riyadh, but their progress was evident—on the mid lane, they may have no equal. The carry and the trio are among the best, and the support has improved significantly, but I’m concerned about their mid laner; in my opinion, that’s their weakest link. I think they’ll finish in the top 4, but they came here aiming only for first place. <...>

...> It’s unclear why Team Vision Aurora, having received an invite, doesn’t look like the clear favorite of the tournament, although judging by the last few months, the team has clearly gotten stronger, and now absolutely everyone has to take them seriously. Idealyich is no longer “Idealyich” in the best sense of the word; the midlaner is the true star of this roster, and the offlaner is reliable. For me, the biggest question mark is the supports and what they can bring to the table. Mira’s limited champion pool and kaori’s less-than-perfect play have often held this five-man squad back. While I ranked the previous team in the top 4, I’d place this one in the top 6. <...>

...> I made a bold claim about the perennial top-2, though that’s nothing more than a headline. The team has long since broken all its curses and is stronger than ever. Their carry’s progress is simply incredible—everywhere you look, there are nothing but strengths and a ton of interesting, effective strategies. Can they win? Yes. Can they beat anyone? Not even a question. Are they the top contender for the No. 1 spot? One of them, at least. Nevertheless, this is one of the teams I see making it to the finals. <...>