Team Liquid is a professional team based in the Netherlands that was established in 2000. A former Brood War clan, the team moved to StarCraft II during the SC2 Beta in 2010, and has gone on to become one of the most successful western teams in recent history. According to reports, the team has established a Dota 2 section, which was revealed on December 6, 2012.
A significant part of Team Liquid's identity is tied to its website, TL.net. Starting out as a simple StarCraft II news site, it has grown into a major hub for Dota 2 and StarCraft II coverage, eventually becoming the most-visited StarCraft-related website in the world, attracting thousands of members (including several professional players) and serving as a hub for information about the global SC2 scene. Teamliquid.net stated on August 30, 2012, that it will be expanding its Dota 2 coverage. Additionally, the website includes the TLPD, a programming database, and Liquipedia, a wiki devoted to games such as Brood War, StarCraft II, Hearthstone, Dota 2, Super Smash Brothers: Melee, Heroes of the Storm, and Overwatch, among other titles.
History
Team Liquid would be one of the favorites to win The International 2017 when it takes place. They would be seeded into Group A for the Group Stage, where they would face off against other well-known teams like as Evil Geniuses, LGD Gaming, and Team Secret, among others. In the wake of a strong start to the Group Stage, Team Liquid found themselves in a tight battle with LGD Gaming for the top seed in their group, which they were eventually able to win with an overall score of 13-3. This meant that they would be able to choose their opponent in the Upper Bracket of the Main Event from either the Virtus.pro or Invictus Gaming teams that finished third and fourth in Group B, respectively. Team Liquid picked iG as their first opponent because they were unwilling to face the aggressive Russian team.
But the opening series of the main event did not go as planned, as Team Liquid was demoted to the Lower Bracket after losing 1-2 to Intel Extreme Masters (iG). The International 2016 was a successful tournament for Digital Chaos, and they needed to replicate that success in order to advance to the Grand Finals. Their first opponent in the Lower Bracket would be Team Secret, with whom they had already lost the first game of the series in the previous round. They were one game away from elimination, but it would not be the last time they faced that fate at this competition.
With victories against the surprise challenger Team Empire, fellow favorites Virtus. pro, and LGD Gaming, Team Liquid advanced to the Lower Bracket final, where they played another surprise contender in LGD. Forever Young. Team Liquid defeated LGD. Forever Young in the Lower Bracket final. When it came to the main stage, LFY had managed to almost sweep Group B with just two losses and hadn't lost a game until the Upper Bracket Final versus Newbee. In the Lower Bracket final, LFY rapidly established themselves as a dangerous opponent, and Team Liquid found themselves with their backs against the wall after losing the first game. However, they were victorious once again, and the series was turned around thanks to MinD ContRoL's Nature's Prophet, which they created. In the Grand Final, Team Liquid had advanced to the finals, where Newbee awaited. Previously, Team Liquid had never lost a series to Newbee, and this time was no exception: Liquid swept the series 3-0 in dominant fashion, claiming their first Dota Major Championship and becoming the seventh winner of The International, earning more than $10 million USD in prize money in the process.
TI Grand Finals had never been won by an unbeaten team, and this would be the first time an Aegis team composed of five different nationalities has taken home the trophy in three straight games. It was also denied to Newbee's Faith, who was a member of the Invictus Gaming team that took home the title at The International 2012, a second TI victory. Liquid's triumph also maintained the pattern of the TI champion rotating between Chinese and Western teams, which began with the first edition of the tournament.