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Wings Gaming takes TI6, wins $9 million and the Aegis

With a strong finish at The International 6, Wings Gaming may be the favorite heading into the Boston Major. Michael Hanson for ESPN

The final day in KeyArena saw the top three teams in the world clash for the ultimate prize: the Aegis, $9 million and the greatest title in competitive Dota. With millions on the line for every win and loss, the last three standing took to the stage to determine the best team in Dota 2.

In the lower bracket finals, the two remaining NA teams, Evil Geniuses and Digital Chaos, faced off for a ticket to the grand finals. In Game 1, Digital Chaos countered an EG Void with its own support Naga pick, shutting down Saahil "UNiVeRsE" Arora on one of his best heroes and securing the Game 1 advantage.

Pushing into Game 2, DC's Rasmus "MiSeRy" Filipsen drafted a surprisingly effective Jakiro pick. The late-game cores of EG just had to outlast the early pressure, though, and they forced DC onto its back foot with a Game 2 win. Despite the shift in momentum, DC didn't seem tilted; turning to Roman "Resolut1on" Fominok's Slark, Digital Chaos sent the 2015 TI victors home at third place.

Advancing to the grand finals, Digital Chaos would meet Wings Gaming. Two Cinderella stories faced off at the top, with $9 million riding on a tense best of five. In Game 1, a cerebral draft led to Wings selecting a Pudge to counter a Void pick from DC; however, Aliwi "w33" Omar's pocket Skywrath Mage and another unstoppable performance from David "Moo" Hull on Timbersaw put the NA hopefuls up one game to start the series.

Wings fired back in Game 2, evening the series at 1-1 off of Zhou "bLink" Yang's amazing Invoker play and shutting down DC's counterpick of Naga Siren. The win slowed Digital Chaos' momentum, and the effect carried into Game 3, where Chu "shadow" Zeyu's Faceless Void ran over DC in a crushing defeat. Fatigue looked like it was starting to set in for DC, who had played six games so far and was on the wrong side of match point.

Digital Chaos returned to the stage revitalized for Game 4, however, drafting a similar but modified lineup. Putting w33 on an unconventional Slark mid, Digital Chaos secured an early lead and all signs pointed to a Game 5. Unfortunately for them, shadow's Anti-Mage was a silent threat, lurking below the surface and amassing an enormous gold advantage. A series of teamfights slowly broke down DC's defenses, and soon Wings became insurmountable.

Wings Gaming took the series and the Aegis 3-1, taking home a prize of over $9 million. Digital Chaos finished second with just over $3 million, and Evil Geniuses depart Seattle in third with $2 million.