Five Dota 2 players to watch out for at The International 2026 (TI15)

Zloster Published August 13, 2026

The International 2026 will be where Dota 2 fans from around the globe can see some of the best players in action. Some have been dominating for several years, whereas others are making their first professional steps. But which TI15 players should you watch? Let’s take a look at each one.

Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov – PARIVISION

Image credit: Esports World Cup

When it comes to the TI15 top players, we must definitely mention Satanic. Ever since he started playing in 2023, the 18-year-old player has been in a league of his own. He quickly became one of the best in the world and he’s currently on loan to PARIVISION. The latter happens to be the big favorite to win the event, according to our TI15 power rankings.

Satanic enters the competition as one of the most exciting carry players. Yes, he does not have that much experience, but his mechanical ceiling gives his team a huge advantage.

Alimzhan “watson” Islambekov – Team Yandex

Image Credit: BLAST

Another of the more interesting Dota 2 players is watson from Team Yandex. He is also a carry and continues to impress everyone with his stellar performances. The player is famous for being disciplined and is the foundation of his team’s tactics.

The 24-year-old already has some experience under his belt from playing for Gaimin Gladiators, so it’s time for him to lift the Aegis. This is one of the names that Dota 2 bettors may want to pay close attention to because bookies will offer individual markets.

Michał “Nisha” Jankowski – Team Liquid

Image credit: Adam Lakomy / ESL

Another of the Dota 2 esports stars that you should definitely pay close attention to is Nisha. He is the most famous Polish Dota 2 player in the world and has proven himself countless times in the last couple of years.

The midlaner is incredibly flexible because he can play with all kinds of heroes and still do well. This gives Team Liquid an advantage because their opponents never know what to expect. On top of that, Nisha has many years of TI experience.

Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf – Team Falcons

Image credit: Esports World Cup

Team Falcons are the current TI champions, and ATF is one of the reasons the team is in that position. He is one of the most aggressive offlaners in professional Dota and his playstyle can completely disrupt an opponent’s strategy.

ATF is in many people’s The International 2026 predictions and for a very good reason. Despite his young age, he has proven to be a crucial asset for his team and someone who can make a difference.

Wang “Ame” Chunyu – Xtreme Gaming

Image credit: ESL / Adam Lakomy

Most people will agree that Ame had to be included one way or another. He is one of the most legendary names in Dota 2 and deserves a place on the TI15 player ranking list. The 29-year-old has been playing since 2015 and was at TI numerous times, but he has always fallen short of lifting the Aegis.

2026 might be the year when he will finally add the missing trophy to his collection. He came close twice in 2018 and 2021, but finished second after losing to OG and Team Spirit.

Featured image credit: BLAST