Dota 2 is no stranger to high-stakes esports competition, but The International isn’t just another tournament. It’s the tournament – the one every pro player dreams of winning. With millions of dollars on the line and the eyes of the entire esports world watching, the stakes of The International cannot get any higher.
Standing tall as one of the most iconic championships in all of competitive gaming, it’s essential for fans to know how the event works. Here’s everything you need to know about The International.
The International, also known as TI, is the annual world championship of Dota 2 esports, hosted directly by the game’s developers, Valve Corporation.
It first launched back in 2011 as a bold showcase for Dota 2’s official release. Groundbreaking news dropped that the first ever TI had $1.6 million in prize money – an amount almost unheard of at the time. Some of the game’s top players even thought about skipping the tournament, as they thought it was a scam.
Since then, TI has grown into a cultural phenomenon – an annual celebration for Dota 2. Each year, it brings together the best teams in the world to battle it out for prestige, legacy, and a prize pool that has reached as high as $40 million.
The matches are intense, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the stories are unforgettable. The production value is through the roof, and some of the greatest esports runs have occurred at this very event.
The International has become more than just a typical tournament – it’s the pinnacle of the competitive Dota 2 scene. The end goal of every professional player is to win The International – it’s a career-defining moment for players that will write their names in the history books. Despite the monumental prize pools, lifting the Aegis of Champions is worth more than any paycheck for these players.
The prestige also comes from its history, where the greatest rivalries were forged and where unforgettable plays became legend. Some of the most iconic voice lines and stories include:
Moments like these have cemented The International as the stage where not just Dota 2 history, but esports history itself, is made.
The International is held only once a year. Typically, TI takes place in late summer or early fall (August to October).
Each Dota 2 season builds up to this moment. Teams work on building chemistry and winning prior events throughout the year to secure a spot at The International. This tournament will make or break rosters.
Teams that fail to lift the Aegis will often undergo roster changes, hoping to win it next year.
There are two main paths to qualify for The International: direct invitations and regional qualifiers.
Direct invites are awarded to teams that demonstrate consistent top-tier performance throughout the competitive season. These invites aren’t based on a single tournament win – it’s about sustained excellence across the year.
Third-party tournaments are organized by major organizers such as ESL, BLAST, and PGL throughout the year. These events serve as a benchmark for determining a team’s overall standing.
Valve pays close attention and monitors teams at these tournaments. Teams that place highly in these events – racking up championship wins, deep playoff runs, and a strong overall record – are likely to be recognized by Valve and directly invited to The International.
Typically, Valve invites the eight teams that have proven they can compete with the best across all regions and metas.
For teams that don’t make the cut for direct invites, not all hope is lost. Valve also hosts regional qualifiers, giving teams from every major Dota 2 region a final shot at participation.
These qualifiers are split by region:
Smaller regions, such as MESWA (Middle East & South West Asia) or Oceania, must join larger neighboring qualifiers, depending on Valve’s format for that year.
Qualifiers feature a mix of Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams. The winner of each regional qualifier earns a spot at The International. This system ensures that some sort of global representation is guaranteed, allowing emerging regions and underdog squads to prove themselves and participate in the year’s biggest events.
Although directly invited teams generally perform better, witnessed incredible Cinderella stories – such as OG at The International 8 and Team Spirit at The International 10 – who battled through regional qualifiers and went on to win the championship.
One of The International’s famous traits is that it has one of the highest prize pools in esports. We’re not just talking millions, we’re talking record-breaking amounts.
This is why many esports fans say Dota 2 is where the money is at. While our community may not be the largest, we undeniably pay our players handsomely.
These astronomical amounts were possible because, for years, Valve used the Battle Pass and Compendium system to crowdfund the prize pool. 25% of in-game cosmetic sales were added directly to the pot. This model turned regular Dota 2 players into investors in the biggest tournament of the year – and it worked.
However, recent iterations have returned to smaller prize pools after the Battle Pass crowdfunding system was retired, but the prestige hasn’t dropped.
The International usually follows a two-stage format:
The stakes in the Lower Bracket are brutal, as teams in this situation are on their last life. However, this format has allowed for legendary lower bracket runs, such as Team Spirit at Ti10, where they had to win six matches in a row from the Lower Bracket to win the title.
Over the years, The International has taken place in some of the biggest arenas around the world:
Wherever TI lands, the event always delivers unforgettable fan experiences. Fans don’t only gather there to watch matches; many online friends have also met each other for the first time at these events.
A typical TI includes massive stages, cosplay contests, live music, and packed stadiums full of Dota diehards.
Even if you’re not a hardcore Dota 2 player, The International is always worth watching. I’ve seen players commenting on Reddit that they’d take their annual leave from work just to watch the event.
The stories, the production, and the sheer energy every iteration produces makes it the most electrifying esports event in the world. Every team is fighting for glory, and every game could make or break a career.
Even if you don’t understand the full extent of Dota 2 gameplay, content creators run beginner-friendly live streams that explain the basics as the game progresses!
And stay up to date on all the latest trends in esports
By submitting your information you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
