Last reviewed: 1 November 2026. This hub explains how professional Dota 2 is organised and how The International works. For schedules and results, use dota2.com/esports and the organisers’ sites; FoxyPulse does not run a live score feed or publish match previews.
The International
The International (TI) is Valve’s annual world championship and the most important Dota 2 event of the year. The winning team lifts the Aegis of Champions. TI prize pools were historically crowdfunded through in-game Battle Pass sales and reached tens of millions of dollars; since Valve changed that model in 2023, prize pools have been much smaller. Team Falcons won TI 2025 in Hamburg.
The circuit since the DPC
Valve ended the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) after 2023. Since then the year is made up of events run by third-party organisers — for example DreamLeague, ESL One, PGL and BLAST tournaments and the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. Teams qualify for these events by invitation or through regional qualifiers, and TI itself is filled by direct invitations plus regional qualifiers.
Typical event formats
- Group or Swiss stage: group stages in Dota 2 often use best-of-two series, which can end 1–1. That draw outcome is unusual in esports and matters for standings.
- Double-elimination playoffs: teams that lose in the upper bracket drop to the lower bracket instead of being eliminated, so a team needs two series losses to be knocked out.
- Grand final: usually a best-of-five; the upper-bracket finalist has no map advantage unless the rulebook states otherwise.
Formats change from event to event, so always check the rulebook for the tournament in question.
Game features that shape series
- Games have no round limit and can swing late: high-ground sieges and Roshan fights often decide them. Our high-ground comeback guide explains why leads are less safe than in many other titles.
- Major gameplay patches can reshape the hero pool mid-season; results from before a big patch are a weaker guide.
If you bet on Dota 2 (18+)
- In best-of-two group matches, check whether a market includes the draw.
- Lower-bracket runs mean outright prices can move sharply during an event.
- Check the margin on any market with our margin calculator.
Betting is for adults only and involves risk of loss. Check that it is legal where you live and see our responsible gambling page.
Sources
Valve announcements and organiser rulebooks; Liquipedia for cross-checking.