The 12th annual Dota 2 world championship event, known as The International 2023, is slated to take place in Seattle, Washington, from October 12th to 29th, 2023. The $40 million prize fund for the competition will make it the biggest esports event ever.
History of The International
US Dollars 1.6 million was the prize fund which was awarded for the inaugural International, which took place in 2011. Since then, both the tournament and the prize money have grown.
The prize money for the 2019 International: $34.3 million, the largest in esports history at the time. The prize money for the 2022 International: $40.3 million, making it the largest in esports history. The prize pool at the 2023 International: expected to exceed $40 million, will be the largest in esports history.
Format of The International
With 18 teams competing, 2023 will be a fascinating event for TI. The format will increase the removal by two, which will make things more complicated and unpredictable. The first 12 teams will enter regional competitions to ensure enough representation, while the remaining six teams will be invited solely. As the tournament moves along, each match will be played in the best possible condition.
But when it comes to the finale, brace yourself for an epic struggle as it adopts a best-of-5 format. This format promises to keep viewers entertained with a blend of: unseen strategies, techniques, and nail-biting moments.
Prize Pool of The International
The $40 million prize pool for TI 2023 is the highest reward pool in esports ever. A combination of ticket and merchandise sales, as well as crowdfunding, pay for the prize fund. The Dota 2 Battle Pass, a seasonal battle pass that provides players with a range of benefits, including special cosmetics and in-game items, is how the crowdfunding component of the prize pool used to be funded.
Schedule of The International 2023
The International 2023 will take place in Seattle, Washington on the following dates: October 8-18 of 2023.
- The group stage will be held on the following dates: October 8-12.
- The Main event will be held on the following dates: October 13-16.
- The Finale will be played on: October 18th.
Predictions for The International 2023
Making any firm predictions on who would win the TI 2023 is still too early. A few teams, though, are thought to be the front-runners. These teams include:
- Team Spirit
- Evil Geniuses
- PSG.LGD
- OG
- T1
These teams have the talent and know-how to win the TI 2023. They have all displayed great form in recent competitions. But in Dota 2, everything is possible, so it will be intriguing to watch who prevails.
ALSO READ: 2023 RANK CONFIDENCE UPDATE
Teams Qualified for The International 2023
As of July 15, 2023, the following teams are invited and from them these teams have qualified for the TI 2023:
Team | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 | Player 5 |
Team Liquid | Michael “miCKe” Vu | Michał “Nisha” Jankowski | Ludwig “zai” Wåhlberg | Samuel “Boxi” Svahn | Aydin “iNSaNiA” Sarkohi |
Gaimin Gladiators | Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov | Quinn “Quinn” Callahan | Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard | Erik “tOfu” Engel | Melchior “Seleri” Hillenkamp |
Evil Geniuses | Crhistian “Pakazs” Savina | Jean Pierre “Chris Luck” Salazar | Adrián “Wisper” Dobles | Farith “Matthew” Puente | Jose “Panda” Padilla |
Shopify Rebellion | Artour “Arteezy” Babaev | Abed “Abed” Yusop | Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek | Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen | Tal “Fly” Aizik |
Tundra Esports | Oliver “skiter” Lepko | Leon “Nine” Kirilin | Neta “33” Shapira | Martin “Saksa” Sazdov | Wu “Sneyking” Jingjun |
Talon Esports | Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon | Rafli “Mikoto” Rahman | Anucha “Jabz” Jirawong | Worawit “Q” Mekchai | Chan “Oli” Chon Kien |
9Pandas | Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev | Gleb “kiyotaka” Zyryanov | Matvey “MieRo`” Vasyunin | Vladislav “Antares” Kertman | Alexey “Solo” Berezin |
Team Spirit | Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk | Denis “Larl” Sigitov | Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov | Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov | Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov |
PSG.LGD | Guo “shiro” Xuanang | Cheng “NothingToSay” Jin Xiang | Li “niu” Kongbo | Lin “planet” Hao | Zhang “y`” Yiping |
Beastcoast | David “Parker” Nicho Flores | Gonzalo “DarkMago” Herrera | Rafael “Sacred” Yonatan | Elvis “Scofield” Peña | Steven “StingeR” Vargas |
TSM | Enzo “Timado” Gianoli | Jonathan “Bryle” Santos | Ilyas “kasane” Gainullin | Matthew “Ari” Walker | Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon |
BetBoom Team | Egor “Nightfall” Grigorenko | Danil “gpk” Skutin | Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko | Vitalie “Save-” Melnic | Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek |
Venue and Tickets
Venue for the TI 2023: Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena
Seating Capacity: 17,000 – 18,000
Fans of Dota 2 are eagerly awaiting an announcement on how to reserve their tickets and participate in this event that takes place once a year. Although details regarding ticket sales have yet to be made public, the fans are full of enthusiasm to take their seats.
Latest News
- The TI 2023 Battle Pass has been released. The Battle Pass offers a variety of rewards, including exclusive cosmetics, in-game items, and a chance to participate in the TI 2023 Compendium.
- The TI 2023 Group Stage is scheduled to start on October 8, 2023. The top 4 teams from each group in the double-elimination Group Stage will advance to the Main Event.
- The TI 2023 Main Event is scheduled to start on October 13, 2023. The Main Event will be played in a single-elimination format, with the winner of the Main Event taking home the $40 million prize pool.
Other News
Following the most recent news, here are some additional TI 2023 developments to watch out for:
- The Meta: The Meta is always changing in Dota 2, and it will be interesting to see what the Meta is like at TI 2023. Some of the strongest heroes in the current Meta include: Ember Spirit, Phantom Assassin and Magnus.
- The new patch: Valve has been teasing a new patch for Dota 2, and it is possible that the patch will be released before TI 2023. The new patch could shake up the Meta and make for some interesting games at TI 2023.
- The crowd: The crowd at TI is always one of the best parts of the tournament. The fans in Seattle are known for being passionate and supportive, and they will create an electric atmosphere at TI 2023.
- No Battle pass this year: The conventional Battle Pass mechanism, which has been a key component of the success of TI since it has been utilized to fund the prize pool of these events, will no longer be employed, according to a June 19 release from Valve.
Instead, Valve will keep moving in the direction indicated by the New Frontiers release. Valve will prioritize releasing “a variety of exciting updates” that will keep the community engaged, placing cosmetic stuff in the background. The majority of Dota gamers “never purchase a Battle Pass and never receive any rewards from it,” admitted Valve.
Conclusion
The anticipation and excitement for The International 2023 grows to new heights as the Dota 2 community gears up. Fans can rest assured that this year’s tournament will offer a fantastic Dota 2 experience thanks to the most up-to-date details, including the tournament schedule, participating teams, location information, and the promise that they will win a wonderful prize.
Long considered the pinnacle of Dota 2 esports, the International will take place from October 12 to October 29, 2023. With the world’s best teams taking part on the biggest stage, there is no doubt that it will be an exciting time full of surprises!
