The International 2023 group stage kicks off in just three weeks, but fans are still waiting for information on the prize pool and True Sight from TI11.
No other event rivals The International. Staggering prize pools, prime cut games between teams of the highest caliber, gut-wrenching action, emotional storylines, top-notch production, unique and engaging content, and perhaps a surprise or two create the landscape that fans around the world will talk about for the rest of the year and aspiring players will etch into their hearts as their goal and dream for next year.
But this year, one thing is quite uncertain. And three weeks before the group stage kicks off on the Road to The International 2023, players and fans alike as wondering what exactly they will be playing for.
Or more apt would be HOW MUCH?
The International has become synonymous with jaw-dropping prize pool amounts. When DOTA 2 made its debut at GamesCom 2011, the total prize pool of $1,600,000 was the biggest of any esports tournament at the time.
Just two years later, Valve took a new approach towards The International prize pool, by increasing the base reward through crowdfunding, raising monetary contributions from large key audiences.
But this year is different.
Valve changed how Dota 2 content should be shipped and announced no Battle Pass for The International 2023.
No Battle Pass meant no Crowd Funding. No Crowd Funding meant no prize pool trackers and astonishing sums of money being dumped into the final tally.
And what's more, is that there has been radio silence on anything related to the prize pool.
While we are at it...
Where is the TI11 True Sight?
Typically released halfway between TI of the previous year and TI of the next, True Sight has become a highly anticipated annual cinematic series. However, the TI10 True Sight premiered on the 24th September, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the historic battle between PSG and Team Spirit.
The International prize pools of the past
The International 3
As applied to esports, the concept was first introduced by the company for The International 3, in 2013, with the release of the virtual “compendium” (now known as the Battle Pass).
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 for this year.
The International 4 and 5
Since then, the prize pool has gone up exponentially each year. In TI4 it was $10,930,698. At TI5 — $18,429,613, boasting the largest prize pool in history until then.
The International 6
TI6 saw another increase to $20,770,460. 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.
The International 7 and 8
TI7 increased to $24,787,916, followed by The International 8 at $25,532,177.
The International 9
Fortnite thought it would steal the spot for the 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! It clocked in at $34,330,068.
But wait, there's more.
The International 10
TI10 prize pool broke the $40 million mark. The final total for the prize pool clocked in at $40,018,195 when the crowdfunding and battle pass purchases ended. That is a 2401.14% increase from the original base amount of $1.6 million.
And then it happened.
The International 2022
TI11 Battle Pass sales went slower than the most pessimistic expectations. A month after the Battle Pass was released, the TI11 prize pool was trailing behind four previous TI’s prize pools at the same number of days into the Battle Pass release.
The International 2021 champions, Team Spirit took home 18,208,300 which was barely less than the total prize pool for TI11 which clocked in at $18,930,775 at the end.
The International 2023
Unlike previous years, The International for this year is split into two distinct phases; the group stage and playoffs (until 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.
