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The International - the main Dota 2 tournament and the pinnacle of the esports season
The International (TI) is the premier Dota 2 tournament, an annual event that is considered the discipline's world championship.
Created by Valve in 2011, The International has become a symbol of esports greatness, with record prize money, legendary matches and the status of an event that changes the history of the industry.
History and formation
The first The International took place in 2011 in Cologne (Germany) as part of the Gamescom exhibition.
Valve introduced Dota 2 and invited 16 of the best teams in the world, offering $1,600,000 in prize money unprecedented at that time, which came as a shock to the gaming industry.
Since then, the tournament is held annually and has become a symbol of esports success, where the strongest teams from all continents gather.
Valve made TI unique by allowing the community to directly participate in the formation of the prize pool through in-game purchases (Compendium/Battle Pass).
The record was set in 2021 (TI10) - more than $40 million, the largest prize pool in the history of video games.
Format and structure
The tournament traditionally takes place in three stages:1. Qualifications (Regional Qualifiers) - determine participants from six regions: Europe, CIS, China, SEA, North and South America.
2. Group stage - distribution into two groups, Round Robin format.
3. Main Event - double elimination, where each card can become a story.
The TI system emphasizes the strategic depth of Dota 2: teams adapt to patches, build a meta and choose heroes for specific opponents.
Winners and legends
The International spawned dozens of legendary champions that defined the Dota 2 era:- Natus Vincere (NaVi) - the first champions (2011), the team that set the standard for the professional game.
- Alliance (2013) - victory of the Swedish school, symbol of the macro game.
- Evil Geniuses (2015) - the first triumph of North America.
- OG (2018-2019) is the only team to win two TIs in a row to become a legend.
- Team Spirit (2021) - the revival of the CIS scene, sensational gold and a new era of the younger generation.
- Gaimin Gladiators and Team Liquid are the main forces of modern DPC.
Each TI becomes an arena for new stories, strategies and heroes that determine the meta for years to come.
Prize money and tournament economics
The International is famous for its crowdfunding system:- Valve releases an in-game Battle Pass, and part of its sales goes to the prize pool.
- TI5 (2015) - $18.4 million
- TI7 (2017) - $24.7 million
- TI9 (2019) - $34.3 million
- TI10 (2021) - $40.0 million
- TI12 (2023) - about $3 million after format reform
Valve is gradually reforming the TI system, focusing on the sustainability of the DPC season and attracting new regions, while maintaining the prestige of the championship.
The International and betting
TI is one of the most anticipated developments for bettors and analysts.
The number of matches, depth of the meta and psychological pressure create dozens of scenarios for betting.
Popular markets:1. Winner of the match/card (Bo3/Bo5).
2. Murder/time/card handicap.
3. Total kills or card duration.
4. Winner of the tournament (Outright Winner).
5. First blood, first Roshan, first tower.
6. Live betting - especially in the playoff stages, where the pace of matches is constantly changing.
Analytics and Rates Tips
Watch the patch before TI - Valve traditionally releases a balanced update right before the tournament.
Study drafts and peaks of heroes - it is the selection strategy that decides the fate of most matches.
Consider fatigue and psychology - teams that have gone through qualifications often perform better.
Analyze the playoff grid - the most unexpected comebacks often occur in the lower bracket.
Make live bets if you see early dominance in networking and card control.
Why The International is unique
The International is not just a tournament, but an e-sports icon, where every match is like a World Cup final.
It is a combination of art, strategy and emotion, where fans follow not only the game, but also the human stories inside it.
For analysts, TI is the gold standard for data and meta-predictions, and for players, the pinnacle of a career, a symbol of recognition and glory.
The International is the heart of Dota 2, a place where legends are born and new pages of esports history are recorded.
Every year the tournament reminds: in Dota, not only reflexes win, but also intelligence, team faith and the desire to become the best in the world.