The International 2023 is about to kick off as the 12th iteration of the pinnacle of all Dota 2 events. Here's a look back at the previous years.
We've looked back through the years since Dota 2 was first introduced at The International in 2011 and retraced the evolution of production, prize pool, and fanfare. With staggering prize pools, extraordinary games, fun antics, behind-the-scenes content, and amazing production value, the sky is the limit and has far exceeded the expectations and dreams of the pioneers of the first TI.
The International 2011
Venue Location: GamesCom
Seating Capacity: 275,000 visitors attended the conference itself
Prize Pool: $1,600,000 - the biggest prize pool of any esports tournament at the time
Championship team: Na'Vi
Funfacts: The venue was used by Valve to unveil Dota 2 to the world.
The International 2011 was held in 2011 over the course of five days at GamesCom in Cologne, Germany. This was the first event to feature Dota 2 and would introduce it to the world. The actual game itself was given to the 16 international teams that were directly invited only a short time prior to the event.
The event was held in the center of the convention, with standing room only for fans and player booths that were exposed to everything around them.
Na`Vi defeated EHOME in the Grand Finals 3:1 and took home $1,000,000 in prize money.
The International 2012
Venue Location: Benaroya Hall, Seattle Washington
Seating Capacity: 2,500
Prize Pool: $1,600,000
Championship team: Invictus Gaming
Funfacts: Grand Finals was the ultimate in East vs West between Invictus Gaming and Na'Vi.
By the time The International 2 had come around, Dota 2 had already started to create quite a lot of hype and was in swift meta-development.
The overall atmosphere at TI2 was much more classy, with a well-established and contained atmosphere with real production and light shows -the event had definitely stepped up a level. There was a main stage in the hall, practice rooms for the players, and casting production desks next to the stage. There was still a long way things would evolve, but fans and players alike were impressed and the bar had been set high for future events.
The International 2013
Venue Location: Benaroya Hall
Seating Capacity: 2,500
Prize Pool: $2,874,381
Championship team: Alliance
Funfacts: Introduction of the compendium and crowdfunding
Valve took a new approach towards the tournaments, by increasing their base prize pool through crowdfunding, raising monetary contributions from large key audiences. The concept, as applied to esports, was first introduced by the company for The International 3, in 2013, with the release of the virtual “compendium”.
The starting prize pool was $1,600,000, and Valve raised an additional $1,374,381 through the sales to the community. This would be a drop in the ocean compared to the amount that was funded by the crowd in just two more years at TI5.
Alliance took down Na'Vi in an epic 5 game series that is still hailed today by many as one of the best moments in Dota 2 history.
The International 2014
Venue Location: KeyArena, Seattle Washington
Seating Capacity: 17,000
Prize Pool: $10,930,698
Championship team: Newbee
Funfacts: The International 4 broke all sorts of records including viewership and prize pool
The Dota 2 community contributed with a staggering $9,331,105 to swell the initial $1.6 million base prize pool of The International 4, making the total prize pool of almost $11 million the largest in esports history up until that time.
The production values of the event would set into motion a string of events that would ultimately create some of the best entertainment and experiences in the history of esports. The event caught the attention of mainstream media and coverage and reports from various sources started to create the aura around the event and prize pool.
The International 2015
Venue Location: KeyArena, Seattle Washington
Seating Capacity: 17,000
Prize Pool: $18,429,613
Championship team: Evil Geniuses
Funfacts: The prize pool surpassed all other esports events and even some traditional sporting events.
The TI5 prize pool continued to soar high above any other esports event and has even surpassed the prize funds of some well-known traditional sporting events, such as the Cricket World Cup, The Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, and others.
With an astounding total of over $18,000,000, the TI5 prize pool had outpaced the combined prize funds of all previous four Internationals - $17,005,079.
The TI5 prize pool had also exceeded the top three biggest Dota 2 purses until that time combined: TI3 ($2,874,381), TI4 ($10,930,698), and Dota 2 Asian Championships ($3,057,519), with a combined total of $16,862,598.
The event not only boasted the largest prize pool in history, but it also featured a live orchestra for the opening ceremony, a stage that had special effects in synch with hero ultimates, private practice rooms, group stage rooms, private casting and observer rooms for even the group stages, a sensational All-Star Match, and a closing ceremony featuring progressive-house, electro-house, topped off with electronica music performer Deadmau5.
The International 2016
Venue Location: KeyArena, Seattle Washington
Seating Capacity: 17,000
Prize Pool: $20,770,460
Championship team: Wings Gaming
Funfacts: Prize pool shattered records for prize pool
With a contribution of $19,170,460 added to the prize pool fund, TI6 became another record breaker. Thanks to such an extensive prize pool, Wings Gaming ultimately received a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records for winning the largest single prize in esports – $9,139,002.
It was an event to remember for a myriad of reasons besides the mindblowing prize pool. It brought about shocking results, fairy-tale storylines, and triumphs that will remain in the Dota 2 history. The main event itself kicked off with a phenomenal start with an opening ceremony featuring Lindsey Stirling that opened the gates for spectacular production including augmented reality features on stage and at the hosting panel, incredible segments by Kevin “Godec” Purge, Puppet panels, and Kaci’s Timbersaw cosplay. A highly entertaining All-Star Match was stacked with action, kills, and surprises. And perhaps the most exciting piece for many devout players was two hero releases were announced – Underlord and Monkey King – to usher in a new meta and year for Dota 2.
The International 2017
Venue Location: KeyArena, Seattle Washington
Seating Capacity: 17,000
Prize Pool: $24,787,916
Championship team: Team Liquid
Funfacts: Team Liquid became the first team to win an International with a roster consisting of five different nationalities (six including their coach).
After dropping to the lower bracket and going through a number of tough series, Team Liquid brought on their best game in the grand finals against Newbee, whom they beat 3-0 to take the title of The International 2017. What was so special about this run of Team Liquid? It was the first time in the history of The International that a team came back from the second round of the lower bracket and won the whole thing. Before this, all the teams that have won have been a part of the upper bracket finals. This is also the first time that a team has won with a clean sweep, i.e., 3-0 scoreline, in not just a TI grand final, but a Valve grand final.
The International 2018
Venue Location: Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada
Seating Capacity: 19,000
Prize Pool: $25,532,177
Championship team: OG
Funfacts: For the first time ever, The International was held in Vancouver, Canada
Aside from the prize pool continuing to surpass previous years and all other esports events, this was the first time that The International was held outside of the United States following the first iteration in 2011 that took place in Germany.
The International 8 was witness to one of the greatest anime comeback stories of our time. Right near the end of the season in May, the departure of Tal "Fly" Aizik and Gustav "s4" Magnusson shook the entire team —and fan base's world. In their place, the ‘dream green’ team picked up Anathan "ana" Pham and Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen in the witching hours before TI8 open qualifiers. OG defied all the odds and exceeded expectations as the European squad with a new roster qualified through the open qualifiers and then made it to the grand final through the upper bracket. There, the team prevailed after a gut-wrenching 5 game series against LGD.
Noteable points of TI8 included when the OpenAI team of five bots faced off against some of the best professional teams in the world and Clement "Puppey" Ivanov pulling out a Chen send-back strategy, combining with Storm Spirit - reminiscent of The International 3 when Na'Vi faced off against Tongfu in the upper brackets round 2 where Puppey Used the send-back spell from Chen combined with Pudge's hook to create a combo that some praised and others screamed abuse.
The International 2019
Venue Location: Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, China
Seating Capacity: 18,000
Prize Pool: $34,330,068
Championship team: OG
Funfacts: First time a team won 2 TI championships (and back to back no less)
Fortnite thought it would steal the spot for largest prize pool of all time when it announced a thirty million dollar prize pool for their World Cup — but no. The International 9 prize pool surged past thanks to the fans, and became the largest prize pool in esports history!
Aside from TI9 being the first TI in China, it also made history when OG claimed the title once again becoming the first team to win two Internationals.
TI9 turned out to be one of the greatest of TI's in history. Yes, we probably do say that every year, and yes it does feel like it is true every time. But this year, between the clutch plays, the mega creep comebacks, the new meta's that have been set, and the storylines, it has definitely been true. Even the group stage was filled with upsets, history-making records, and thrilling action.
Although things started out in favor of Team Liquid with a signature w33po pick and a surprising bee-line to the ancients to claim the first-game advantage. But it didn't take long for OG to disassemble Team Liquid, after taking the 2nd match to tie up the series, OG crushed their spirits and took the series victory in the most spectacular fashion, successfully defending their title and proving they are on a whole other level.
The International 2021
Venue Location: Arena Naţională in Bucharest, Romania
Seating Capacity: 55,634 seats
Prize Pool: $40,018,195
Championship team: Team Spirit
Funfacts: The International 2021 was the tenth annual edition of The International which returned to Europe for the first time since 2011. It was also the first time in The International's history, that there was no crowd present.
The International 10 was originally scheduled to be held from August 18th to 23rd, 2020 in Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Valve delayed the event to 2021 tentatively. However, due to an issue with hosting the tournament in Sweden, Valve announced the tournament was further delayed until October 7th to 17th and would take place in Arena Națională in Bucharest, Romania.
The schedule changes weren't the only hiccup.
For the first time in The International's history, the background cheer was absent. Valve made the decision to refund the TI10 tickets and go ahead with the event without any crowds in the stands. The decision came after the Covid rates in Romania rose in the days leading up to the event, along with the fact that players from Invictus Gaming and Team Aster tested positive for Covid.
Team Spirit pulled off the unthinkable when they took down the Chinese juggernaut, PSG.LGD, in the grand finals of The International 2021 (TI10). Coming into the final day against all odds, these underdogs defeated Team Secret 2-1 in the lower bracket finals and then went on to defeat the tournament favorites 3-2 in the grand finals. It was the first time a CIS team won The International after Na’Vi did it at TI1 in 2011.
TI10 also made history in hero picking, being the tournament with the highest hero picks. The event saw a total of 113 heroes picked at least once in the 194 games that were played, with only 8 heroes unpicked.
The International 2022
Venue Location: Suntec Singapore and Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore
Seating Capacity: 4,000 to 12,000 seats
Prize Pool: $18,930,775
Championship team: Tundra Esports
Funfacts: This was the first occasion where the main event was played out on two different venues: the Playoffs (until top 4) at SunTec Singapore followed by the Finals (remaining top 4) at Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Tundra Esports was able to display a truly dominant form throughout the entire tournament. They found a perfect way to itemize, almost abusing the strongest aura items in the game, and placed first in their group to then proceed to an undefeated playoffs bracket run and claimed the Aegis with a stunning 3-0 victory over Team Secret in the grand finals.
Team Secret had come up through as one of two teams to advance through the Last Chance Qualifiers — an event where second and third-place teams from each region's qualifiers competed prior to The International to determine two additional qualification spots.
Tundra’s victory at TI11 is equally attributed to the five players who had a perfect performance throughout the whole tournament and to coach Kurtis "Aui_2000" Ling, who last year became the first ever to have won TI as a player and as a coach.
The International 2023
Unlike previous years, The International for this year is split into two distinct phases; the group stage and playoffs (until the top 8) are announced as under the phase The Road to The International, while the playoffs for the remaining 8 teams are announced as The International itself.
The prize pool is barely $3,000,000 merely days before the group stage kicks off.