When Does The International Start and End? – Full TI 2025 Schedule

The International 2025 is more than just a tournament – it’s an annual celebration for Dota 2 fans, bringing together the best teams in the world to compete for the coveted Aegis of Champions. Each year, fans eagerly mark their calendars for this premier event, and TI14 is no exception.

Hosted in Hamburg, Germany, at the renowned Barclays Arena, this year’s International is geared to deliver some great Dota action from start to finish. So, when exactly does TI start and end? What happens during each stage? Here’s everything you need to know about the TI 2025 schedule. 

Group Stage: September 4 – 7 2025

Like your typical esports tournament, The International 2025 kicks off with the Group Stage, which is scheduled for September 4 to September 7. Unlike previous editions that used the notorious round-robin format, TI14 is taking notes from other events and introducing the Swiss system format.

In this system, teams are paired against others with the same win-loss records in a series of rounds. The Swiss stage is used in Counter-Strike Majors, and ensures every match matters, and early results don’t automatically doom a team’s chances to advance. However, TI14 does add an additional twist to the tried and tested format. 

What to Expect:

• 16 teams are seeded into a single Swiss system.
• All matches are played in Best of 3 format.
• The top three teams advance to the Playoffs.
• 4th to 13th place teams proceed to a special elimination round.
• The remaining teams are eliminated.

In the elimination round:

• Five teams advance to the Playoffs.
• The remaining teams are eliminated.

By the end of the Group Stage, half of the competition will be wiped out, with only eight teams advancing to the Playoffs stage. 

Playoffs: September 9 – 14 2025

After a two-day break, the Playoffs will be held from September 9 to 14, moving from the quieter confines of a studio setting to the roaring crowd at the Barclays Arena. This is where the top-performing teams from the Group Stage face off in the classic double-elimination bracket. 

Double-elimination means that teams must lose two matches to be knocked out. The bracket is split into Upper and Lower Brackets. Lose once in the Upper Bracket, and you’ll fall into the Lower Bracket for a final chance. Lose in the Lower Bracket? That’s the end of your TI journey.

We’ve seen several dominant runs from the Upper Bracket like OG’s at Ti9, as well as arduous Lower Bracket journeys like Team Spirit’s at Ti10 with this format. 

What to Expect:

• All eight remaining teams start in the Upper Bracket. 
• All matches are played in Best of 3 format.
• Teams must survive and advance: each day trims the field, as the stakes continue to rise.

The pressure from playing in front of a crowd is what separates the top teams from contenders. A lot can happen – comebacks from the Lower Bracket, reverse sweeps, and perhaps some nail-biting base races – but these are what have defined TI’s legacy. 

Stamina, strategy, adaptation, and mental fortitude are tested like never before. 

Grand Final: September 14 2025

Everything culminates in the Grand Final, which is set for September 14, the last day of the Playoffs and the most important date on the calendar for every Dota fan. 

The final match features the winner of the Upper Bracket Final against the survivor of the Lower Bracket. These two teams will compete in a Best of 5 series to crown the next world champion.

What to Expect: 

• The Upper Bracket winner enters the Grand Final undefeated in the Playoffs, having delivered a dominant performance throughout.
• The Lower Bracket Final victor advances after playing – and winning – a high-stakes series earlier that same day, potentially coming in with momentum but also fatigue.
• The winner will claim one of the most prestigious titles in all of esports. 

Historically, TI Grand Finals have delivered unforgettable moments, but the past few iterations have been clean sweeps due to one team reigning supreme. However, we are in one of the most competitive eras Dota 2 has ever seen, where no single team has been able to dominate the entire circuit. With upsets becoming the norm rather than the exception, TI14 is shaping up to break that pattern.

We’re hopeful for a Grand Final that delivers a true back-and-forth battle – a full five-game series, something we haven’t witnessed since 2020. After years of one-sided outcomes, everyone is craving a clash that goes the distance, where teams develop new metas throughout the series, with clutch plays and momentum swings being plenty. 

Whether you’re a new Dota player or a die-hard fanatic, make sure to tune in, mark the TI 2025 schedule, and prepare for another unforgettable chapter in The International’s storied legacy!