The International (Dota 2)

The International is the premier annual esports world championship for the popular team-based video game Dota 2, produced by the game's developer Valve. Serving as the climactic event of the professional Dota 2 competitive season, the tournament brings together the world's top teams to compete for the title of world champion in a high-stakes showcase of the game at the highest level. First held in 2011 to promote the game, the event has since been staged in cities including Cologne, Seattle, and Vancouver, growing into one of the most prestigious competitions in esports.

The International is especially famous for its enormous prize pools, crowdfunded through in-game purchases by the player community. Valve introduced the Battle Pass, a seasonal in-game item bundle, with a portion of sales funneled into the prize fund. This model produced some of the largest single-tournament prize pools in esports history, peaking at over $40 million in 2021 and drawing major attention to competitive gaming. The prize pool for the first tournament was $1.6 million, already massive for esports at the time.

Over the years the tournament has crowned champion teams from around the world, produced legendary moments, fierce rivalries, and dramatic matches that have become part of esports lore. As the most important event on the Dota 2 calendar, The International stands as one of the defining championships in competitive gaming and a showcase of the game's global scene. [edit]

Valve announced The International in August 2011 as a promotional event for the then-upcoming Dota 2, a sequel to the popular Warcraft III mod Defense of the Ancients. The first tournament was held at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, with 16 invited teams competing for a $1.6 million prize pool, the largest in esports history at the time. Natus Vincere from Ukraine won the title.

The event moved to Seattle's Benaroya Hall in 2012 and 2013, then to the larger KeyArena in 2014 and 2015. In 2013, Valve introduced the Compendium, a digital interactive booklet that allowed players to contribute to the prize pool, which skyrocketed to $2.8 million. By 2014, the prize pool reached over $10 million. The tournament expanded to 18 teams in 2016 and introduced the open qualifier system, allowing amateur teams to compete for a spot.

The International 2017 was held at KeyArena again, with a prize pool of nearly $25 million. In 2018, the event moved to Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. The 2019 edition saw OG become the first team to win twice, defeating Team Liquid in the finals. After a pandemic-related delay, The International 10 took place in Bucharest, Romania in October 2021, with Team Spirit from Russia winning the $18.2 million first prize. The event returned to Singapore in 2022 and to Seattle in 2023. [edit]

The International has had a massive impact on esports, proving that competitive gaming can draw audiences and prize pools comparable to traditional sports. Its crowdfunding model, pioneered in 2013, has been adopted by other esports events and even some traditional sports. The tournament has also helped popularize Dota 2 globally, particularly in regions like China, Southeast Asia, and Europe. The Aegis of Champions, the trophy awarded to winners, has become one of the most recognizable symbols in gaming. The event's production value, including its elaborate opening ceremonies and use of augmented reality, set a new standard for esports broadcasts.

Beyond esports, The International has influenced game development itself, with Valve introducing new heroes and gameplay updates timed around the tournament. The annual Battle Pass has become a major revenue driver for the company, funding the prize pool and offering cosmetic items to players. The tournament's success has also inspired other game developers to create similar premier events for their titles. [edit]

The International has faced criticism over the years for its handling of competitive integrity. In 2018, several players were banned for match-fixing during the open qualifiers. The 2021 edition was moved from Stockholm to Bucharest after Sweden's esports federation refused to grant visas to players, leading to a last-minute relocation. In 2022, Valve reduced the prize pool significantly from the previous year, citing a change in the Battle Pass revenue split, which angered some in the community. Additionally, the lack of a direct invite system for regional leagues has been a point of contention, with some teams feeling the qualification process is opaque. [edit]