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Vladimir Putin Backs Esports In Message To 'DOTA 2' World Champs

Ewan Moore

Published 

Vladimir Putin Backs Esports In Message To 'DOTA 2' World Champs

Featured Image Credit: Valve Corporation

So I guess Russian president Vladimir Putin knows what DOTA 2 is, which is not something I ever expected. Honestly, I would've loved to have been in the room when his chief advisor sat him down and explained the entire concept of MOBAs. I bet that was a great conversation.

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Well, I'm assuming Putin knows about DOTA 2. He certainly projected an air of authority on the subject when he we recently appeared to congratulate the Moscow-based Team Spirit for their victory at The International 2021 over the weekend. A prize of $18 million and a well-done from the president? Big day for those guys.

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Team Spirit is the first Eastern European team to win The International in over a decade, taking down Chinese team PSG.LGD in a hotly contested and incredibly close round of games.

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"Congratulations on your well-deserved victory at The International-2021-the DOTA 2 World Championship," Putin wrote over on Kremlin.ru (via PC Gamer and Google Translate). "For the first time in history, the Russian team of the Team Spirit club won these prestigious competitions. Well done!

"On the way to the final, you demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and solidarity, and in the decisive duel, which became a real test of skill and character, you managed to concentrate and seize the initiative from strong opponents at the most crucial moment. They have proven in practice that our esportsmen are always goal-oriented and capable of conquering any peaks."

While I'm not entirely convinced Putin will have written this congratulatory message himself - he's a busy man, after all - the very fact he put his name to it is indictive of the world at large finally sitting up and taking notice of esports as a serious form sport. We love to see it after all these years, quite honestly.

Topics: PC

Ewan Moore
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