Team Spirit will not defend the Aegis at The International 2024

TI11 champions Team Spirit will not be attending next year's The International in Berlin, Germany.

The Russian organization announced their decision on their official Telegram channel.

Team Spirit became the first Eastern European team to lift the Aegis of Champions at The International 11, defeating PSG.LGD 3-2 in the grand finals. However, due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the team will not be able to participate in next year's International, which will be held in Berlin, Germany.

Team Spirit's announcement comes on the heels of Valve's decision to postpone The International 2022 from its original date in August to October. Valve also announced that the event would be held in Singapore instead of Stockholm, Sweden due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a complex and ongoing issue. It began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. This was followed by the outbreak of a civil war in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 people and displaced millions more.

The ongoing conflict has had a significant impact on the esports scene in Russia. Several major esports organizations, including Virtus.pro and Gambit Esports, have been forced to relocate their operations outside of Russia. Team Spirit is the latest organization to be affected by the conflict.

Team Spirit's decision not to defend the Aegis at The International 2024 is a significant loss for the tournament and for the Dota 2 community. Team Spirit is one of the most popular teams in the world and their absence from TI12 will be felt by many.

The International is Dota 2's most prestigious tournament and is one of the biggest events in esports. The event brings together the world's best Dota 2 teams to compete for a share of a multi-million dollar prize pool.

The International 2024 will be held in Berlin, Germany from October 18-26. The event will be the first time that The International has been held in Germany.

Despite the challenges, Team Spirit remains committed to competing at the highest level of Dota 2. The team will be looking to qualify for The International 2024 through the regional qualifiers.

The Dota 2 community will be hoping that Team Spirit can overcome the challenges they face and defend their Aegis at The International 2024.