It had been a while since Team Spirit reached the grand final of a tier one tournament, with their last appearance in August 2022 at the PGL Arlington Major, which they also won. As for their opponents, Team Liquid, this marked their fifth time falling just short of clinching a championship title.
Throughout the year, Team Liquid had persistently battled the Gaimin Gladiators for supremacy in the majors and DreamLeague events. However, Riyadh Masters presented a different scenario as GG was eliminated in the top 4, leaving Team Liquid to face Team Spirit in the finals.
In the first match, Team Liquid showed early dominance with their offlane Naga Siren and an Io-Leshrac duo, overwhelming Yatoro's Faceless Void. Despite the disadvantage, Yatoro remained confident in his Void and picked it again in the second match. Unfortunately for Liquid, Team Spirit's draft proved superior in the mid to late game, evening out the series and forcing Team Liquid to rethink their approach.
Game three saw Yatoro utilizing Troll Warlord, facing a challenging early game as Team Spirit struggled against Liquid's control in the laning and mid game stages. However, the team rallied around Yatoro's potential to shine in the late game. Spirit's perfectly executed engagements, combining Wall of Replica with Ice Blast, brought them within reach of victory and the championship title.
Yatoro's remarkable ability to turn the tide in critical moments and his stellar performance as a carry throughout the series ultimately made the difference in Team Spirit's triumph at the grand finals of Riyadh Masters 2023. Notably, his textbook Terrorblade gameplay in the fourth game sealed the deal for his team.
As a result, Team Spirit proudly claimed the coveted title and a prize of $5,000,000, while Team Liquid had to settle for the runner-up position once again, taking home a prize of $2,500,000.
