Virtus.pro took down Inner Circle x Insanity 2-1 in a best-of-3 series on June 22, securing their advance through the Upper Bracket Round 1 of The International 2026 Europe Closed Qualifier. The win keeps one of Dota 2’s most recognizable organizations firmly on track for a potential berth at the main event.
For context, The International is Dota 2’s premier annual tournament that draws the best teams on the planet, and the road to get there runs through a gauntlet of regional qualifiers that can end a roster’s season in a single bad series.
How the series played out
VP took the series 2-1, which means Inner Circle x Insanity made them work for it. ICxI reached this stage through the open qualifiers, and taking a game off VP in a qualifier with this much on the line is no small feat for a team that had to earn its seat at the table the hard way.
Virtus.pro, meanwhile, received a direct invite to the closed qualifier stage. The Europe Closed Qualifier is running from June 15 through June 28, meaning VP still has more matches ahead before they can punch their ticket to Shanghai. Staying in the upper bracket gives them a significant structural advantage: more chances to win, fewer do-or-die scenarios.
