The last International: which Dota 2 legends could retire

The International 2026 has come to an end, with Team Spirit becoming champions of the biggest tournament of the year for the third time. However, for some well-known players, the current season could also mark the end of their professional careers.

Several decorated esports players have spoken throughout the year about potentially stepping away from the professional scene or suggested that this The International could be their last.

Cr1t

Andreas Cr1t- Nielsen began his professional Dota 2 career in 2013 and has since represented several well-known organizations, including MOUZ, OG, Evil Geniuses, and Shopify Rebellion. In November 2023, the Danish player joined the newly formed Team Falcons roster, which he has represented for almost three years.

With Falcons, the support enjoyed one of the most successful periods of his career. The team won several major tournaments in 2024, while its biggest achievement came with victory at The International 2025, where Cr1t- claimed the Aegis for the first time in his career.

Even before TI15 began, the support said that the current Falcons roster would most likely change after the tournament. The player had also previously suggested that he could take a break from his career.

After being eliminated from the tournament, Cr1t- said in an on-stage interview that this The International would probably be his last and admitted that he would miss the tournament. Falcons failed to defend their title and finished 7th-8th after losing to Team Liquid.

SumaiL

Another player who could retire is Sumail SumaiL Hassan. The esports player rose to prominence after winning The International 2015 with Evil Geniuses. He was only 16 years old at the time and became the youngest champion in the tournament's history.

Ahead of TI15, the player gave an interview in which he said that the tournament in Shanghai could be the last of his career. After finishing 5th-6th at the tournament, SumaiL once again said that he would most likely retire, thanking the fans for their support. However, the player has yet to announce a final decision.

He has represented Nigma Galaxy since 2023 and also finished in the top six with the team at The International 2025. Over the course of his career, SumaiL has earned more than $4,200,000 in prize money.

Ame

Carry Wang Ame Chunyu has been one of the main veterans of the Chinese scene for several years. Throughout his career, he has come close to claiming the Aegis on multiple occasions and finished second at The International twice, but has never managed to become champion.

After finishing second at The International 2025 with Xtreme Gaming, the player continued his career, with the home TI in Shanghai becoming one of his main goals. However, the current season did not bring the desired results, and his run at the biggest tournament of the year ended much earlier than expected, with the Chinese team being one of the first to exit the championship.

Against the backdrop of the team's disappointing results and years of speculation about his potential retirement, this TI could indeed prove to be Ame's last. The player himself has yet to officially announce his retirement, but rumors about his departure from the professional scene continue to grow.

Collapse

The most unexpected candidate on this list remains Magomed Collapse Khalilov. The offlaner is only 24 years old, but in just a few years on the professional scene, he has already won The International three times with Team Spirit.

During TI15, rumors emerged within the community that Collapse could leave the professional scene after the tournament. However, this scenario cannot be considered confirmed, as the player has not officially announced his retirement.

Khalilov has previously taken extended breaks from competition, so another potential break after the season cannot be ruled out. At the same time, winning The International 2026 and claiming his third Aegis could also influence his decision about the future.

Collapse began his professional career in 2020 with Cascade, but by the end of the same year, he had joined Team Spirit, where he has now played for more than five years. During this time, he has earned more than $6,000,000 in prize money, making him one of the most successful esports players by this metric.

The potential departure of several well-known esports players is particularly notable amid the ongoing generational shift. The Chinese region has been experiencing a decline for several years and is struggling with a shortage of young talent, while South America has faced a series of investigations and bans related to competitive integrity violations.

As a result, the influx of new players reaching the highest level has slowed, and the potential retirement of several Dota 2 legends at once could have an even greater impact on the professional scene.

The International 2026 took place from 13.08.2026 to 23.08.2026 in Shanghai, China. The tournament's prize pool exceeded $3,000,000. You can find detailed coverage of the championship in our report.

Earlier, CyberScore shared a list of rumors and roster changes following TI15.