Team Spirit dominates Team Liquid in Riyadh Masters 2023 Final: Results, bracket & more

Luís Mira

Team Spirit have taken home the grand prize at Riyadh Masters 2023 and bested Team Liquid with ease. Here is all you need to know about the Dota 2 competition, which was being held as part of the Gamers8 festival.

After a tense week in Riyadh, the field of 20 teams has been whittled down to five as we enter the fourth day of the playoff stage. Until Sunday, all eyes will be on Saudi Arabia’s capital, which is hosting Riyadh Masters 2023, the last big Dota 2 tournament before The International 2023.

Held as part of Gamers8, a gaming and esports festival, Riyadh Masters 2023 has attracted the best Dota 2 teams in the world, enticed by the tournament’s $15 million prize purse — a third of Gamers8’s total prize purse.

Team Spirit won it all after figuring out Team Liquid’s strategy and dominating them

Despite Team Liquid taking the first match in the best of 5 final, Team Spirit shut them out completely from there. TL may have managed to find some early leads in their matches, but Spirit always dominated when it came to teamfights, rotations, and overall map presence.

With Valve moving away from the traditional battle pass system for TI 2023, there’s a realistic chance that the Riyadh Masters ends up being this year’s Dota 2 tournament with the biggest prize pool.


Riyadh Masters 2023: Stream

The Dota 2 Riyadh Masters 2023 tournament was streamed on the Gamers8’s Twitch channel, which we’ve embedded below. To catch up on past matches, you can look through the VoDs on the channel.

Riyadh Masters 2023: Format, schedule and results

The Saudi tournament took place from July 19-30 and featured 20 teams from all over the world. Eight teams started from the group stage, while the remaining 12 had to go through a Play-In Stage.

Play-In (July 19-20):

  • Two groups of six teams, who face each other once (Bo2).
  • Top two teams from each group advance to the group stage.
  • Teams ranked 3rd to 6th will play a BO3 decider, with four group stage spots on the line.

Group Stage (July 21-24):

  • Two groups of eight teams, who face each other once (Bo2).
  • Top four teams from each group advance to playoffs’ upper bracket.
  • Teams ranked 5th and 6th progress to the lower bracket.

Playoffs (July 25-30):

  • Double-elimination bracket with 12 teams.
  • All matches are played in a Bo3 format, except the final (Bo5).

Riyadh Masters 2023: Playoffs (July 25-30)

Placement Team Prize Money (USD)
1 Team Spirit $5,000,000
2 Team Liquid $2,500,000
3 Talon $1,700,000
4 Gaimin Gladiators $1,200,000
5-6 9Pandas $800,000
BetBoom
7-8 Aster $500,000
Quest
9-12 Team Secret $300,000
Evil Geniuses
Tundra
PSG.LGD
13-14 OG $200,000
TSM
15-16 Xtreme Gaming $100,000
Shopify Rebellion
17-20 Virtus.pro $50,000
Execration
Entity
beastcoast

Day 6: July 30

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Lower Final Liquid 2-0 Talon 4 AM 7 AM 12 PM
Grand Final Spirit 3-1 Liquid 8 AM 11 AM 4 PM

Past results:

Day 1: July 25

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Upper Round 1 Quest 1-2 Talon 1 AM 4 AM 9 AM
Upper Round 1 Liquid 2-1 Gaimin Gladiators 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Upper Round 1 Spirit 2-0 Aster 8 AM 11 AM 4 PM
Upper Round 1 BetBoom 2-1 9Pandas 11:30 AM 2:30 AM 7:30 PM

Day 2: July 26

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Lower Round 1 Quest 2-0 PSG.LGD 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Lower Round 1 Gaimin Gladiators 2-1 Tundra 5:30 AM 8:30 AM 1:30 PM
Lower Round 1 Aster 2-0 Evil Geniuses 9 AM 12 PM 5 PM

Day 3: July 27

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Lower Round 1 9Pandas 2-0 Team Secret 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Upper Round 2 Talon 1-2 Liquid 5:30 AM 8:30 AM 1:30 PM
Upper Round 2 Spirit 2-1 BetBoom 9 AM 12 PM 5 PM

Day 4: July 28

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Lower Round 2 Quest 0-2 Gaimin Gladiators 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Lower Round 2 Aster 1-2 9Pandas 5:30 AM 8:30 AM 1:30 PM
Lower Round 3 BetBoom 1-2 Gaimin Gladiators 9 AM 12 PM 5 PM

Day 5: July 29

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Lower Round 3 Talon 2-0 9Pandas 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Upper Final Liquid 1-2 Spirit 5:30 AM 8:30 AM 1:30 PM
Lower Round 4 Gaimin Gladiators 1-2 Talon 9 AM 12 PM 5 PM

Placement Team Record
1 Quest Esports 2-5-0
2 Team Spirit 2-4-1
3 Gaimin Gladiators 2-4-1
4 9Pandas 1-4-1
4 PSG.LGD 2-3-2
4 Evil Geniuses 2-3-2
7 OG 0-5-2
8 Xtreme 1-3-3

Group B

Placement Team Record
1 BetBoom Team 6-0-1
2 Team Liquid 3-3-1
3 Team Aster 3-3-1
4 Talon Esports 3-2-2
5 Team Secret 2-2-3
6 Tundra Esports 0-4-3
7 TSM 0-4-3
8 Shopify Rebellion 0-4-3

Day 4: July 24

Group Match PT ET GMT
Group A PSG.LGD 1-1 Quest 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A EG 2-0 Xtreme 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A Spirit 1-1 9Pandas 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A GG 2-0 OG 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group B SR 0-2 Aster 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B Talon 0-2 Liquid 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B BetBoom 2-0 TSM 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B Tundra 1-1 Secret 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Tiebreakers Match PT ET GMT
Group A 4-6 EG 0-1 9Pandas 7:30 AM 10:30 AM 3:30 PM
Group B 6-8 SR 0-1 TSM 8:30 AM 11:30 AM 4:30 PM
Group A 4-6 PSG.LGD 0-1 9Pandas 8:40 AM 11:40 AM 4:40 PM
Group B 6-8 Tundra 1-0 TSM 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM
Group B 6-8 Tundra 1-0 SR 10:30 AM 1:30 PM 6:30 PM

Past results:

Day 1: July 21 

Group Match PT ET GMT
Group A Xtreme 1-1 Quest  2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A GG 1-1 Spirit 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A EG 2-0 9Pandas 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A PSG.LGD 2-0 OG 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group B Tundra 0-2 BetBoom 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B Aster 1-1 Liquid 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B SR 1-1 TSM 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B Talon 2-0 Secret 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group A GG 1-1 PSG.LGD 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A EG 1-1 Spirit 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A Quest 1-1 9Pandas 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A Extreme 1-1 OG 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group B Aster 2-0 Secret 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B Tundra 1-1 Talon 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B SR 0-2 BetBoom 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B Liquid 1-1 TSM 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM

Day 2: July 22 

Group Match PT ET GMT
Group A 9Pandas 1-1 OG 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A GG 1-1 EG 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A Quest 2-0 Spirit 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A Xtreme 2-0 PSG.LGD 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group B Tundra 1-1 SR 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B Aster 1-1 Talon 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B Liquid 0-2 BetBoom 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B TSM 0-2 Secret 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group A Spirit 2-0 PSG.LGD 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A GG 1-1 Quest 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A 9Pandas 1-1 Xtreme 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A OG 1-1 EG 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group B TSM 0-2 Talon 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B Tundra 0-2 Aster 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B Liquid 1-1 SR 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B Secret 2-0 BetBoom 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM

Day 3: July 23

Group Match PT ET GMT
Group A Quest 2-0 EG 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A GG 2-0 Xtreme 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A 9Pandas 1-1 PSG.LGD 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A OG 1-1 Spirit 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group B BetBoom 2-0 Talon 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B Tundra 0-2 Liquid 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B TSM 1-1 Aster 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B SR 1-1 Secret 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group A GG 0-2 9Pandas 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A PSG.LGD 2-0 EG 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A OG 1-1 Quest 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group A Spirit 2-0 Xtreme 7:15 AM 10:15 AM 3:15 PM
Group B Secret 0-2 Liquid 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B Talon 2-0 SR 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B BetBoom 2-0 Aster 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM
Group B Tundra 1-1 TSM 9:45 AM 12:45 PM 5:45 PM

Riyadh Masters 2023: Play-In (July 19-20)

Group A

Placement Team Record
1 Team Aster 4-1-0
2 Team Liquid 3-1-1
3 TSM 1-3-1
3 Entity 1-3-1
5 Execration 0-2-3
5 Virtus.pro 0-2-3

Group B

Placement Team Record
1 Quest 4-0-1
2 Xtreme 3-1-1
3 9Pandas 2-2-1
4 Team Secret 1-2-2
4 OG 1-1-3
6 beastcoast 1-0-4

Day 2: July 20 

Group Match PT ET GMT
Group A Liquid 0-2 Aster 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A TSM 1-1 Virtus.pro 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A Execration 1-1 Entity 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group B beastcoast 0-2 Quest 4:45 AM 7:45 AM 12:45 PM
Group B Secret 1-1 9Pandas 4:45 AM 7:45 AM 12:45 PM
Group B OG 0-2 Extreme 4:45 AM 7:45 AM 12:45 PM
Stage Match PT ET GMT
1v1 Tiebreaker Bob 1-0 squad1x 7 AM 10 AM 3 PM
Stage Match PT ET GMT
Decider TSM 2-0 beascoast 7:30 AM 10:30 AM 3:30 PM
Decider Entity 0-2 OG 7:30 AM 10:30 AM 3:30 PM
Decider 9Pandas 2-1 Virtus.pro 10 AM 1 PM 6 PM
Decider Team Secret 2-1 Execration 10 AM 1 PM 6 PM

Past results:

Day 1: July 19 

Group Match PT ET GMT
Group A Liquid 1-1 Entity 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A Aster 2-0 Virtus.pro 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A Execration 0-2 TSM 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group B OG 0-2 Quest 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group B beastcoast 0-2 Secret 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group B Xtreme 0-2 9Pandas 2 AM 5 AM 10 AM
Group A Execration 0-2 Liquid 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group A Virtus.pro 0-2 Entity 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group A Aster 1-1 TSM 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B beastcoast 2-0 OG 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B 9Pandas 0-2 Quest 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group B Xtreme 1-1 Secret 4:30 AM 7:30 AM 12:30 PM
Group A Virtus.pro 0-2 Liquid 7 AM 10 AM 3 PM
Group A Execration 0-2 Aster 7 AM 10 AM 3 PM
Group A Entity 1-1 TSM 7 AM 10 AM 3 PM
Group B Quest 2-0 Secret 7 AM 10 AM 3 PM
Group B 9Pandas 1-1 OG 7 AM 10 AM 3 PM
Group B beastcoast 0-2 Xtreme 7 AM 10 AM 3 PM
Group A TSM 0-2 Liquid 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM
Group A Entity 0-2 Aster 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM
Group A Execration 1-1 Virtus.pro 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM
Group B 9 Pandas 2-0 beastcoast 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM
Group B Secret 0-2 OG 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM
Group B Quest 0-2 Xtreme 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM

Riyadh Masters 2023: Teams and rosters

Gaimin Gladiators were the first team to qualify for the Riyadh Masters after winning DreamLeague S19, with BetBoom Team the next team to make the cut after finishing second to Gaimin Gladiators in DreamLeague S20.

Originally, Season 20 was due to offer a second spot at the Riyadh Masters, but due to Gaimin Gladiators being already qualified, an extra “average DreamLeague placement spot” opened up.

Gaimin Gladiators won all three Majors this DPC season but fell short in Riyadh

Quest Esports qualified for the Play-In stage after winning the MENA Qualifier. The last 11 teams were determined by the ESL Pro Tour ranking.

Group Stage Teams:

Team Players
Gaimin Gladiators dyrachyo, Quinn, Ace, tOfu, Seleri
BetBoom Team Nightfall, gpk~, Pure~, Save-, TORONTOTOKYO
Evil Geniuses Pakazs, Chris Luck, Wisper, Matthew, Panda
Tundra Esports skiter, Nine, 33, Aui_2000, Sneyking
PSG.LGD shiro, NothingToSay, niu, planet, y`
Talon Esports 23savage, Mikoto, Jabz, Q, Oli~
Team Spirit Yatoro, Larl, Collapse, Mira, Miposhka
Shopify Rebellion Arteezy, Abed, SabeRLight-, Cr1t-, Fly

Note: Tundra have announced that, due to illness, Saska will be flying home. Team coach Aui_2000 will be filling in for the Macedonian support.

Play-In Teams:

Team Players
Team Liquid miCKe, Nisha, zai, Boxi, Insania
OG Yuragi, bzm, DM, Ceb, Taiga
Team Aster Monet, SumaiL, XXs, Kaka, 皮球
9Pandas RAMZES666, kiyotaka, MieRo`, Antares, Solo
Team Secret Crystallis, Armel, Fbz, yamich, Puppey
beastcoast Parker, DarkMago, Sacred, Scofield, Stinger
TSM Timado, Bryle, kasane, Ari, Whitemon
Virtus.pro Kiritych~, squad1x, Noticed, sayum, Fng
Execration Palos, Bob, Tino, Shanks, Abeng
Entity watson, Stormstormer, Gabbi, Kataomi`, Fishman
Xtreme Gaming Ghost, Paparazi灬, JT-, XinQ, Dy
Quest Esports TA2000, No!ob, Malik, OmaR, kaori