Welcome to the annual GosuAwards for Dota 2, where we celebrate the top teams, stories, and players in their individual roles.

Please feel free to read all of our nominations here. This year, you can find some similar categories from last year's with a bit of freshness added in such as the new categories: "Biggest Upset", "Best Roster Transfer", "Best Drama" and "Best Dota 2 Meme".

We will be splitting the awards into three parts. First, the teams will be awarded, followed by the players and then miscellaneous awards for all the other stuff worth mentioning.

But enough of that, let's check out the awards!

Category: Best team

Winner: Alliance

Photo: Valve



Alliance dominated most of 2013 through a mix of innovative strategies and hard work, bringing together what in every sense of the word was a team of talented players, to create one of the most dominating presences in Dota 2 to date. They carved out their place as the kings of the Western scene, and they also made history by going to China and becoming the first non-Chinese team to defeat the locals on their home turf. Their efforts culminated in the taking of the greatest single prize pool in e-Sports history when they defeated Na`Vi on the grand finals of the International 2013. Alliance did deteriorate towards the end of the year, but their string of first place finishes throughout the year should be able to cover their recent short slump.

Runner-up: Na`Vi, for a consistent great showing for most of the year and for taking top billing in the West heading into 2014.



Community poll results Winner: Na`Vi (38%) Runner-up: Alliance (34%) Results

Photos: GosuGamers





Category: Most improved team

Winner: Fnatic

Photo: GosuGamers



At the start of 2013, there were still quite a lot of doubters when it came to Fnatic being able to earn themselves a spot at The International. Yet 12 months later, it seems impossible to tell the story of Dota 2 without them. They’ve established themselves as the third European powerhouse, forever present on the scene, fighting through tough times in order to time and again give the world's best a run for their money. There is no doubt that heading into the new year, they’ve silenced all doubts regarding whether they will become a mainstay of the scene, and a household name as Dota 2 continues it’s growth in 2014.

Runner-up: Speed Gaming, for a strong second half including first place at MLG Columbus.



Community poll results Winner: Speed (45%) Runner-up: Fnatic (26%) Results

Photos: GosuGamers





Category: Most disappointing

Winner : LGD.Int

Photo: LGD



At the tail end of last year, we lived in a world where China was still the undeniable superpower of Dota and the sole custodians of our future. At this time, the prospect of a team of Western players heading off on this journey to the promised land was not only sensational but hopeful, and that hope was rewarded through their strong showing during the G-League group stages. But as the new year rolled in, things went sour and the LGD.Int experiment turned to dust; losing their own flair and causing many to lose all faith in the prospects of Western Dota. This malaise lasted for several months, until Alliance came in and showed that the answer was not in the LGD.Int model, but that by working hard at home, Western teams could find a new path to success. Their decision to return to China after The International 3 was nothing but further disappointment for their fans. The team more or less disbanded a few days before their WPC-ACE League playoffs match.

Runner-up: Virtus.Pro, for their post-TI3 roster disaster .



Community poll results Winner : Virtus.Pro (39%) Runner-up: LGD.Int (28%) Results

Photos: Virtus.Pro, LGD





Category: Best carry

Winner: Loda

Photo: GosuGamers

Internally, this was cause for a huge debate as Loda and XBOCT are as close as it could get this year, both performing to the very limits of their capabilities. In the end, our pick was the Swedish “living legend”, who impressed the Chinese with his wide array of carry heroes at the G-1 League and became the flexible backbone for his team. This enabled their style of drafting which could lead the opponents to simply throw up their hands and admit that while they knew what was coming, they could never prevent it from happening. Loda has been the bedrock upon which Alliance built a year of dominance.



Runner-up: XBOCT, for epitomizing the aggressive carry player who takes things to the edge, and then pushes the boundaries of the possible.

Community poll results Winner: XBOCT (39%) Runner-up: BurNing (30%) Results



Photos: GosuGamers



Category: Best solo mid

Winner: Mushi

Photo: GosuGamers

Mushi has for a long time been one of the very best players in the world and was widely considered the epitome of a great laner, yet for whatever reason true success has seemed to elude him in the past. However in 2013, not only did Mushi lead Orange to become a constant competitor in Chinese competitions, his versatility allowed the Malaysian sensation to storm The International. Playing an unmatched array of heroes, he thus allowed his team to counter their opponents styles of play by constantly adapting. Mushi's efforts were rewarded with a third place at The International 3, the best finish for an Eastern team, and ultimately leading him into being picked up by DK. Becoming the dynamo of action for the new super team, Mushi has helped DK make their bid for being the best team in China, and possibly the world, clear.



Runner-up: s4, for his great teamfight awareness as well as impeccable and consistent execution.

Community poll results Winner: Mushi (44%) Runner-up: Dendi (36%) Results



Photos: GosuGamers Photos: GosuGamers



Category: Best secondary solo

Winner: Admiralbulldog

Photo: GosuGamers

There’s little doubt that the Bulldog shot to stardom this year, with his Lone Druid and Nature’s Prophet being perhaps the most defining heroes of the whole year; an ever present thorn in their opponents sides. Bulldog has taken up the mantle left behind by LighTofHeaveN as the great split-pushing semi-carry, having the capability of taking his team on his back, and carrying them to victory when called upon to do so. He may not have been the most versatile this year, but don’t knock what works! Runner-up: iceiceice, for being the most YOLO player. He will more or less decide his team's victory. He also plays a wide range of heroes.

Community poll results Winner: iceiceice (35%) Runner-up: AdmiralBulldog (29%) Results



Photos: GosuGamers

Category: Best supports

Winner: Puppey and Akke

Photo: GosuGamers

Both Alliance and Na`Vi were the hallmarks of great support play this year, and above all else these two players proved instrumental in creating the positions for their teams to win games, in particular with their shared signature heroes of Chen and Enchantress. Akke pioneered the usage of the Harpy Stormcrafter to help win the middle lane, while Puppey continues being the spearhead of Na`Vi’s efforts to ensure that Dendi gets every rune and every advantage. Great players in their own right, they exemplify what a support is through the sacrifices that they make.

Community poll results Winner: Puppey (25%) Runner-up: Akke (18%) Results



Photos: GosuGamers

Category: Most improved player

Winner: Meracle

Photo: Armaggeddon Before this year, you’d be excused if you did not know who Meracle was. Even as he lead First Departure to become a mainstay of the SEA scene, his talents were being paid little attention to until he was given a chance to join the ailing Chinese team, RisingStars. Whilst everything was crumbling around him, Meracle showed that not only could he play with the big boys, he could bring something more to the table - something which few will ever hope to achieve: a kind of vitality and presence that has had even the seasoned professionals singing this young superstar praises. Runner-up: XBOCT and fy. We settled with a tie for the runner-up of this category because both players have shown tremendous improvement over the year.

Community poll results Winner: XBOCT (30%) Runner-up: Meracle (21%) Results



Photos: GosuGamers (XBOCT), Armaggeddon (Meracle)

Category: Best tournament

Winner: MLG Columbus

Photo: GosuGamers

A combination of a great prize pool, great teams, great community management, and overall fulfilling the expectations that had been brewing for a long time, MLG entered Dota 2 with a splash this year. Much of the credit for the great way this event was conceived has to go to Adam Apicella for going out of his way to listen to the community, which was in turn rewarded with not only our viewership, but our affections. Runner-up: DreamLeague, for kicking it up a notch in Europe, a promise of great things to come.



Community poll results Winner: MLG Columbus (51%) Runner-up: DreamLeague (19%) Results



Photos: GosuGamers

Category: Best English caster

Winner: Draskyl

Photo: GosuGamers

Draskyl made a name for himself last year as the sidekick to Ayesee, but it wasn’t until he was picked up to be the headliner for The GD Studio that he truly came into his own as a caster. During the past twelve months, Draskyl has established himself as the best analytical caster in Dota as well as a very capable play-by-play person, having a very distinct personality. What he brings to a cast is undeniable, and whilst he has had great competition from last year's winner LD and the much improved crowd favourite TobiWan, we feel that this is the year to highlight the finest Dota 2 has to offer in terms of analysis, for which we give the honours to him. Runner-up: TobiWan for his incomparable ability to hype up a LAN crowd.

Community poll results Winner: TobiWan (47%) Runner-up: LD (19%) Results



Photos: GosuGamers





Category: Best personality

Winner: Cyborgmatt

Our beloved prophet, Matt has grown to become not just the embodiment of Valve in the community this year but also an ever expanding presence on camera. His is a take on the game which we love to listen to, and he commands the respect of everyone on the scene. We could not imagine the scene without him, nor would we ever want to. Runner-up: Bruno for continuing to provide some of the funniest moments caught on stream in 2013.

Community poll results Winner: Bruno (49%) Runner-up: 2GD (17%) Results



Photos: GosuGamers

Category: Best roster transfer

Winner: DK

Photo: Eric Brinkley

While DK gave up much when they let go of rOtk, Super, and QQQ, it is undeniable that the three names they picked up is as good as good as an addition can get for any team. Chinese talent LaNm as well as SEA super-stars iceiceice and Mushi have all received vast amounts of personal praise throughout their careers, but all of them want to further their career by winning. The new roster is a dream come true for the organization and the players, both in terms of PR and potential. Coming out on top of the Fengyun Championship along with earning their spots in the finals of both G-League and WPC ACE League, the current DK roster seems stronger than ever.

Runner-up: EGM to Alliance , a new star support and was a key player in their TI3 win.

Community poll results Winner: DK (57%) Runner-up: Na`Vi (23%) Results