(Photo credit: Esports World Cup)

Undefeated TEAM VISION advanced to the playoffs along with Nigma Galaxy and Team Liquid as the group stage concluded Saturday at The International 2026 in Shanghai.

Sixteen teams began the 15th annual Dota 2 tournament on Thursday. The crowd-funded prize pool has a base of $1.6 million and a current value of $3.02 million.

The top three finishers in the Swiss-system moved on to the playoffs and the bottom three -- OG, Xtreme Gaming and HULIGANI -- were eliminated. The 10 teams in fourth place to 13th place head to the elimination round, where five winners will advance to the playoffs.

The double-elimination Main Event playoff bracket will run from Aug. 20-23 with all matches best-of-three until the best-of-five grand final.

TEAM VISION finished 4-0 with a sweep of previously unbeaten Team Spirit in Round 4, winning in 37 minutes on red and 54 minutes on green.

Nigma Galaxy finished 4-1 after sweeping Vici Gaming (55 minutes on red and 40 on green) in Round 4 and Team Spirit (59 minutes on green and 61 on red) in Round 5.

Team Liquid also finished 4-1 after a pair of 2-1 wins. In Round 4 they defeated Iron Wing, who opened with a 47-minute win on green before Team Liquid posted 40- and 47-minute wins on green. Team Liquid followed the same pattern in Round 5. After Aurora Gaming's 28-minute win on green, Team Liquid answered with a 35-minute win on green and a 42-minute victory on red.

Sunday's elimination round:

--Team Falcons vs. Vici Gaming

--Aurora Gaming vs. BoomBoys

--Team Spirit vs. Team Resilience

--Iron Wing vs. GamerLegion

--LGD vs. Team Yandex

Final group stage standings (match record, game record):

1. TEAM VISION, 4-0, 8-2

T2. Nigma Galaxy, 4-1, 8-2

T2. Team Liquid, 4-1, 9-5

T4. Team Falcons, 3-2, 8-7

T4. LGD, 3-2, 7-6

T4. Iron Wing, 3-2, 8-6

T4. Team Spirit, 3-2, 6-5

T4. Aurora Gaming, 3-2, 7-5

T9. BoomBoys, 2-3, 5-7

T9. Team Resilience, 2-3, 7-6

T9. Vici Gaming, 2-3, 4-8

T9. GamerLegion, 2-3, 6-6

T9. Team Yandex, 2-3, 7-7

T14. OG, 1-4, 2-9

T14. Xtreme Gaming, 1-4, 3-8

16. HULIGANI, 0-4, 2-8

The current $3.02 million prize pool:

1 TBD, $1.29 million

2. TBD, $393,135

3. TBD, $272,095

4. TBD, $181,437

5-6. TBD, $151,177

7-8. TBD, $120,917

9-13. TBD, $54,370

14-15. OG, Xtreme Gaming, $30,260

16. HULIGANI, $15,130

--Field Level Media