Team Spirit may be two-time winners of The International, but this year has already seen them dropped into the lower bracket through the Seeding Decider.
After being the only team to go completely unbeaten during the Group Stage of The International 2024, 
Team Spirit suffered an unfortunate 0-2 defeat to 
nouns in the Seeding Decider, which ends them in the lower bracket for the upcoming playoffs. As the reigning champions – and looking to be the first-ever three-time winner, this puts them in a tough spot, where a single series loss will mean elimination.
We caught up with Spirit’s coach, long-time Dota veteran, Airat “Silent” Gaziev, as we discussed his team and TI2024 itself, as well as his past as a player.
Hi, Silent. Thank you for taking the time to chat to us.
Team Spirit remains one of the favourites to win The International 2024. How much pressure does this put on the team to perform?
You always feel pressure playing at TI and our season was not so great, so I do not feel as though we are favourites. At TI you just need to perform your best, no matter what. I understand why we are considered favourites after the previous wins, and maybe we are a bit better than some teams, but I do not feel like we are going to crush our opponents.
Would you say that Gaimin Gladiators remains your strongest opposition? Or is there someone else who could take that spot?
I cannot say who is our strongest opponent. There are so many strong teams at this TI and I do not feel we have just one strong opponent.
To follow up on that, you have faced off against Xtreme Gaming many times this year. How big is the threat from them or CN teams in general?
Chinese teams are always very strong and always a threat. Compared to some of the teams from the region, we are stronger, but we enjoy playing against them, as we play similar styles of Dota where we prefer farming rather than playing fast.
Team Spirit was another team to break the “TI Curse”. Does this thought ever cross your mind when looking to become the three-time champions?
If it happens, it would be great. But it does not matter whether it is three, four, or five times – it is always a different feeling winning TI. I hope we can do it, but we will see.
In Group D, who do you feel was your toughest opponent?
Probably Team Liquid but all the teams are good.
Everyone wants to win TI, but should you not win, what result would you be happy with?
It's hard to say, you always feel bad when you lose. Maybe top three, even though you did not win, you are still okay with it.
Tournament meta is very difficult to bring up right now, seeing as we have not begun the tournament just yet. But how have you felt about the latest patch? Do you feel that it is a good patch to go into TI with?
I think every patch is good. If you are a good team, it does not matter which patch or which heroes are good. As professional players, you are meant to figure out the items, strategies, and heroes that work and train with them. I understand that some may feel a patch is good or bad because games are too fast or too slow – but on that point, this patch is quite balanced since you can win early or late.
- Read more: The International 2024 group stage and seeding deciders team and hero statistics | GosuGamers
What do you feel is the strongest part of your coaching? Do you feel that you have any weaknesses?
Sure, I have a lot of weaknesses, but my strengths are hard to say. There are a lot of things that I do well, but I do not think I can say one thing.
If you make it through to the Grand Final, who would you want to go up against?
I would like to win if that happened, but then I would just say some bad team. If you make it to the Grand Finals, you must be a very strong team, so I will say maybe Team Liquid, Xtreme Gaming, or Team Falcons.
How has the prize pool changed your perception of TI?
I actually do not know what the prize pool is right now. It is about the prestige of TI and we want to win no matter what the prize pool is. But a bigger prize pool means bigger hype. We had two wins and in one the prize pool was very big and in the other not so much - it was definitely two different feelings. After the first I felt like the King of the mountain, while the other still felt great, but just not quite as good.
You have been in the Dota world for as long as I can remember. Do you have a specific memory (apart from the TI wins), maybe from your days playing, that stands out?
It was my first TI, which was TI2. I had never been outside my country, and it was just amazing. Everything blew my mind at that time including all the amazing computers.
More interviews from The International 2024
- ponlo - Team Zero: “I just want to play Dota that I am proud of”
- Monet - G2.iG: “There is definitely a bit of pressure to bring glory back to China”
- No[o]ne - Cloud9: “I am a super perfectionist”
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