The International

Info

The official `The International` announcement banner

The International is an annual double-elimination LAN tournament hosted by Valve. 16 invited professional DotA teams fight for the title of best Dota 2 team. Winners of The International are awarded large sums of money raised by the community, as well as the Aegis of Champions For the in-game item, see Aegis of the Immortal. Aegis of Champions Associated with Factions DireRadiant The Aegis of Champions is a physical trophy that is awarded to the winners of The International tournament. It .

As of 2015, The International now takes the place of the summer event in the Dota Major Championships The Dota Major Championships are four annual tournaments sponsored by Valve. It consists of fall, winter, spring events, while The International takes the place of the summer event. Contents 1 Roster restrictions 2 Tournaments 2.1 .

Videos

2011

Valve announced The International in Aug. 2011 as the first view on Dota 2. The tournament was held at Gamescom in Cologne. 16 invited teams were fighting for a total prize pool of $1.6 million. This was the highest prize pool ever awarded up to that point in time.

2012

Unlike the previous tournament, Valve held The International 2012 by themselves in Benaroya Hall in Seattle with 14 teams invited and 2 chosen with qualifiers The International 2012 Qualifier Online Start Date 6 Jun. 2012 End Date 10 Jun. 2012 Teams 16 Version 6.74 Prize Pool Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Results 2.1 East 2.1.1 Upper Bracket 2.1.2 Lower .

2013

See more: The International 2013 The International 2013 Seattle, Washington, United States Start Date 2 Aug. 2013 End Date 11 Aug. 2013 Teams 16 Version 6.78c Prize Pool $2,874,407 USD Website Link International 2013 Ticket Rarity: LegendarySlot: Ticket Buy Now

Similar to the previous tournament in 2012, Valve held The International 2013 in Benaroya Hall in Seattle with 13 teams invited. 2 teams qualified and a wildcard match was held for the runner ups of the qualifiers The International 2012 Qualifier Online Start Date 6 Jun. 2012 End Date 10 Jun. 2012 Teams 16 Version 6.74 Prize Pool Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Results 2.1 East 2.1.1 Upper Bracket 2.1.2 Lower .

2014

See more: The International 2014 The International 2014 Seattle, Washington, United States Start Date 8 Jul. 2014 End Date 21 Jul. 2014 Teams 16 Version 6.81b Prize Pool $10,930,698 USD Website Link Access The International Compendium 2014 The International 4

The International 2014 moved to KeyArena, taking place Jul. 18th through the 21st in Seattle. There were 11 teams invited directly as well as four Regional Qualifiers taking place May 12th through the 25th. The winner of each Qualifier received an invitation, with the four runner-ups competing in Seattle for the final spot.

2015

See more: The International 2015 The International 2015 United States Start Date 16 May 2015 End Date 8 Aug. 2015 Teams 16 Version 6.84 Prize Pool USD $18,000,000+ Access The International Compendium 2015 The International Compendium 2015 - Level 50

The International 2015 returned to KeyArena, taking place Aug. 3rd through the 8th in Seattle.

2016

See more: The International 2016   Overview   Open Qualifiers   Main Qualifiers   Wild Card Series   Group Stage   Main Event   Special Events     The International 2016 Seattle Start Date 2 Aug. 2016 End Date 13

The International 2016 was held in KeyArena again, taking place Aug. 2nd through the 13th in Seattle.

2017

See more: The International 2017   Overview   Champions Cup   Open Qualifiers   Main Qualifiers   Group Stage   Main Event     The International 2017 Seattle Start Date 7 Aug. 2017 End Date 12 Aug. 2017 Teams 18

The International 2017 is held in KeyArena again, taking place Aug. 7th through the 12th in Seattle.

Results

Year	Location		Winners	Score	Runners-up		Third place		Fourth place		Number of teams
2011 Details The International Cologne, Germany Start Date 17 Aug. 2011 End Date 21 Aug. 2011 Teams 16 Version 6.72 Prize Pool $1.6 million USD Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Squads 3 Coverage 3.1 Commentators 3.2	Cologne, Germany		Natus Vincere Natus Vincere Ukraine Created: 2010-10-22 Team Information Captain: Per Anders Olsson "Pajkatt" Lille Coach(es): Manager(s): Ihor "caff" Sydorenko Sponsor(s): G2AHyperXAOCTwitch.tvЗОНА 51Kiev CyberSport ArenaEsportStoreESPFragstoreDXRacerNewzoo Links Website: navi-gaming.com Facebook: NatusVincere Twitter: natusvincere DOTABUFF: 36 VK: natus.vincere Natus XBOCT XBOCT Background Information Name: Олександр Дашкевич Romanized name: Alexander Dashkevich Date of birth: 29 Dec 1987 (age 29) Country: Ukraine Role: Carry, Offlaner Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 89625472 DOTABUFF: 89625472 Twitch: xboct Twitter: NaViXBOCT VK: yaiestura ArtStyle ArtStyle Background Information Name: Іван Антонов Romanized name: Ivan Antonov Date of birth: 21 Apr 1989 (age 28) Country: Ukraine Team: Virtus.pro Role: Support, Carry, Coach Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 176184718 DOTABUFF: 176184718 Facebook: ArtStyledota Twitter: LighTofHeaveN LighTofHeaveN Background Information Name: Дмитрий Куприянов Romanized name: Dmitry Kupriyanov Date of birth: 04 Jan 1988 (age 29) Country: Russia Role: Offlaner, Carry Alternate IDs: Light, Lost, LostMySelf Signature Heroes: Links DOTABUFF: 89326318 Twitch: lightofheaven VK: Dendi Dendi Background Information Name: Данило Ішутін Romanized name: Danil Ishutin Date of birth: 30 Dec 1989 (age 27) Country: Ukraine Team: Natus Vincere Role: Midlaner Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 70388657 DOTABUFF: 70388657 Twitch: dendi Twitter: DendiBoss Puppey Puppey Background Information Name: Clement Ivanov Date of birth: 06 Mar 1990 (age 27) Country: Estonia Team: Team Secret Role: Support, Captain Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 87278757 DOTABUFF: 87278757 Twitch: puppey Facebook: OfficialPuppey Twitter: clementinator VK:	3-1	EHOME EHOME China Created: 2004 Team Information Captain: Coach(es): Sponsor(s): VPGame GIGABYTE Razer Links Website: Facebook: ehomecn Twitter: EHOMECN Weibo: EHOME datdota: 2 DOTABUFF: 4 QQQ, PCT, LaNm, Dai, and KingJ at The International 2012. Contents 820 619 Background Information Name: 邹倚天 Romanized name: Zou Yi Tian Date of birth: 13 Apr 1990 (age 27) Country: China Team: Old Boys Role: Carry, Support Nicknames: 8-Boss(8老板), 566 Signature Heroes: Links History Dota: 2006 — 357 Dai MMY! Background Information Name: 雷增荣 Romanized name: Lei Zengrong Date of birth: 10 Sep 1989 (age 27) Country: China Role: Support, Midlaner Nicknames: Furry Duck (毛毛鸭), X!! Weapon 1] Alternate IDs: X!!, Xwkkx, Dai Signature Heroes: PLT LaNm Background Information Name: 张志成 Romanized name: Zhang Zhicheng Country: China Team: EHOME Role: Support, Carry, Coach Alternate IDs: NUZ, PLT Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 89423756 DOTABUFF: 89423756 History Dota: 2010Nirvana.cn Dota 2: 2011EHOME 2012-03-01 FCB		Scythe Gaming hyhy hyhy Background Information Name: 林汉勇 Romanized name: Benedict Lim Han Yong Date of birth: 06 Mar 1990 (age 27) Country: Singapore Team: White Fries Gaming Role: Carry, Offlaner, Captain Signature Heroes: Links History DotA: 2007 - xy iceiceice iceiceice Background Information Name: 许培祥 Romanized name: Daryl Koh Pei Xiang Date of birth: 17 Jun 1990 (age 27) Country: Singapore Team: Team Faceless Role: Offlaner, Midlaner, Captain Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 84772440 DOTABUFF: 84772440 Twitch: Chawy Roy		MeetYourMakers MeetYourMakers Germany Created: 2000 Disbanded: 2014-09-30 Team Information Captain: Coach(es): Manager(s): Damir "NeStli3k" Dedic Sponsor(s): G2A Azubu Links Website: mymym.com Facebook: mymsocial Twitter: myMYMcom MeetYourMakers (MYM) is an amateur gaming organization based in Leipzig, Germany. Maelk Maelk Background Information Name: Jacob Toft-Andersen Date of birth: 18 Jun 1986 (age 31) Country: Denmark Role: Support, Captain Nicknames: Milk Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 59457413 DOTABUFF: 59457413 Twitch: maelk Facebook: LikeMaelk Twitter: TheMaelk Reddit: Maelk MiSeRy MiSeRy Background Information Name: Rasmus Berth Filipsen Date of birth: 14 Jul 1991 (age 25) Country: Denmark Team: Planet Odd Role: Support, Carry, Midlaner, Offlaner, Captain Alternate IDs: moosery, MiSeRyTheSLAYER Signature Heroes: Links Website: Link datdota: MaNia MaNia Background Information Name: MaNia Date of birth: 03 Sep 1984 (age 32) Role: Support, Coach Signature Heroes: Links History Brian "MaNia" Strandby was one of the more popular players in European DotA history. Professional Career PlaymatE PlaymatE Background Information Name: PlaymatE Date of birth: 26 Oct 1988 (age 28) Country: Denmark Role: Support, Offlaner Links History Amel "PlaymatE" Barudzija was a professional DotA- and Dota2-Player until his retirement in Jun. 2012. References DeMoN DeMoN Background Information Name: Jimmy Ho Date of birth: 08 Jul 1990 (age 26) Country: United States Team: compLexity Role: Support, Captain Alternate IDs: DGaF, Miley, AvA-, Pegasus Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 85805514 DOTABUFF: 85805514 Twitch:		16
2012 Details The International Cologne, Germany Start Date 17 Aug. 2011 End Date 21 Aug. 2011 Teams 16 Version 6.72 Prize Pool $1.6 million USD Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Squads 3 Coverage 3.1 Commentators 3.2	Seattle, United States		Invictus Gaming Invictus Gaming China Created: 2011-08-02 Team Information Captain: Fu "Q" Bin Coach(es): Manager(s): Li "zaizai" Pan Sponsor(s): Personal sponsorship from Wang Sicong Links Website: http://www.igaming.com.cn/ Facebook: InvictusGaming.Official Twitter: invgaming Weibo: 2099708877 Invictus Gaming (iG) is Zhou Zhou Background Information Name: 陈尧 Romanized name: Chen Yao Date of birth: 14 Jun 1990 (age 27) Country: China Team: DanGo Role: Carry Signature Heroes: Links PandaTV: 99999 VK: 40 History DotA: 2009 - 2010cD 2010 ChuaN ChuaN Background Information Name: 黄福全 Romanized name: Wong Hock Chuan Date of birth: 28 Jul 1991 (age 25) Country: Malaysia Role: Support, Utility Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 88553213 DOTABUFF: 88553213 Twitch: chuan_ig Twitter: iGChuaN DouyuTV: chuan967 Faith Faith Background Information Name: 曾宏达 Romanized name: Hong Da Zeng Date of birth: 06 Feb 1992 (age 25) Country: China Team: Newbee Role: Support Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 82327674 DOTABUFF: 82327674 Weibo: faith86 History Dota 2: Ferrari_430 Ferrari_430 Background Information Name: 骆非池 Romanized name: Luo Feichi Date of birth: 14 Feb 1990 (age 27) Country: China Role: Midlaner Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 88585077 DOTABUFF: 88585077 History Dota: 2010Mr 2010ToT 2010 — 2011CH 2011Deity YYF YYF Background Information Name: 姜岑 Romanized name: Jiang Cen Date of birth: 03 Feb 1987 (age 30) Country: China Team: Old Boys Role: Offlaner Nicknames: Big Head Fish(胖头鱼) Signature Heroes: Links History DotA 2: 2010-01-10 —	3-1	Natus Vincere Natus Vincere Ukraine Created: 2010-10-22 Team Information Captain: Per Anders Olsson "Pajkatt" Lille Coach(es): Manager(s): Ihor "caff" Sydorenko Sponsor(s): G2AHyperXAOCTwitch.tvЗОНА 51Kiev CyberSport ArenaEsportStoreESPFragstoreDXRacerNewzoo Links Website: navi-gaming.com Facebook: NatusVincere Twitter: natusvincere DOTABUFF: 36 VK: natus.vincere Natus Puppey Puppey Background Information Name: Clement Ivanov Date of birth: 06 Mar 1990 (age 27) Country: Estonia Team: Team Secret Role: Support, Captain Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 87278757 DOTABUFF: 87278757 Twitch: puppey Facebook: OfficialPuppey Twitter: clementinator VK: Dendi Dendi Background Information Name: Данило Ішутін Romanized name: Danil Ishutin Date of birth: 30 Dec 1989 (age 27) Country: Ukraine Team: Natus Vincere Role: Midlaner Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 70388657 DOTABUFF: 70388657 Twitch: dendi Twitter: DendiBoss ARS-ART LighTofHeaveN LighTofHeaveN Background Information Name: Дмитрий Куприянов Romanized name: Dmitry Kupriyanov Date of birth: 04 Jan 1988 (age 29) Country: Russia Role: Offlaner, Carry Alternate IDs: Light, Lost, LostMySelf Signature Heroes: Links DOTABUFF: 89326318 Twitch: lightofheaven VK: XBOCT XBOCT Background Information Name: Олександр Дашкевич Romanized name: Alexander Dashkevich Date of birth: 29 Dec 1987 (age 29) Country: Ukraine Role: Carry, Offlaner Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 89625472 DOTABUFF: 89625472 Twitch: xboct Twitter: NaViXBOCT VK: yaiestura		LGD Gaming LGD Gaming China Created: 2009 Team Information Captain: Coach(es): Wang "Banana" Jiao Manager(s): Pan "Fei" Fei Sponsor(s): Guizhou Laogandie Food Taobao Razer Kingston HyperX ZhanqiTV Harbin Beer Links Website: Facebook: lgddota Twitter: LGDgaming Weibo: teamlgd xiao8 xiao8 Background Information Name: 张宁 Romanized name: Zhang Ning Date of birth: 14 Nov 1989 (age 27) Country: China Team: DanGo Role: Support, Midlaner, Offlaner, Captain Nicknames: Director 8 Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 98887913 DOTABUFF: 98887913 DDC DDC Background Information Name: 梁發明 Romanized name: Leong Fat-meng Date of birth: 03 Jul 1990 (age 26) Country: Macau Team: Vici Gaming Role: Support Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 114239371 DOTABUFF: 114239371 Weibo: 2312518554 History Dota 2: Sylar Yao DD		Team DK BurNIng LongDD Zippo rOtk Super		16
2013 Details The International Cologne, Germany Start Date 17 Aug. 2011 End Date 21 Aug. 2011 Teams 16 Version 6.72 Prize Pool $1.6 million USD Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Squads 3 Coverage 3.1 Commentators 3.2	Seattle, United States		Alliance Loda s4 AdmiralBulldog Akke EGM	3-2	Natus Vincere Natus Vincere Ukraine Created: 2010-10-22 Team Information Captain: Per Anders Olsson "Pajkatt" Lille Coach(es): Manager(s): Ihor "caff" Sydorenko Sponsor(s): G2AHyperXAOCTwitch.tvЗОНА 51Kiev CyberSport ArenaEsportStoreESPFragstoreDXRacerNewzoo Links Website: navi-gaming.com Facebook: NatusVincere Twitter: natusvincere DOTABUFF: 36 VK: natus.vincere Natus Puppey Puppey Background Information Name: Clement Ivanov Date of birth: 06 Mar 1990 (age 27) Country: Estonia Team: Team Secret Role: Support, Captain Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 87278757 DOTABUFF: 87278757 Twitch: puppey Facebook: OfficialPuppey Twitter: clementinator VK: Dendi Dendi Background Information Name: Данило Ішутін Romanized name: Danil Ishutin Date of birth: 30 Dec 1989 (age 27) Country: Ukraine Team: Natus Vincere Role: Midlaner Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 70388657 DOTABUFF: 70388657 Twitch: dendi Twitter: DendiBoss KuroKy XBOCT XBOCT Background Information Name: Олександр Дашкевич Romanized name: Alexander Dashkevich Date of birth: 29 Dec 1987 (age 29) Country: Ukraine Role: Carry, Offlaner Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 89625472 DOTABUFF: 89625472 Twitch: xboct Twitter: NaViXBOCT VK: yaiestura Funn1k		Orange Esports Mushi XtiNcT Net Ohaiyo kYxY		TongFu Hao Mu SanSheng Banana KingJ		16
2014 Details The International Cologne, Germany Start Date 17 Aug. 2011 End Date 21 Aug. 2011 Teams 16 Version 6.72 Prize Pool $1.6 million USD Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Squads 3 Coverage 3.1 Commentators 3.2	Seattle, United States		Newbee xiao8 xiao8 Background Information Name: 张宁 Romanized name: Zhang Ning Date of birth: 14 Nov 1989 (age 27) Country: China Team: DanGo Role: Support, Midlaner, Offlaner, Captain Nicknames: Director 8 Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 98887913 DOTABUFF: 98887913 Mu Hao Banana Sansheng	3-1	Vici Gaming Fenrir Super rOtk Sylar fy		Evil Geniuses ppd mason UNiVeRsE Arteezy zai		Team DK BurNIng Mushi iceiceice iceiceice Background Information Name: 许培祥 Romanized name: Daryl Koh Pei Xiang Date of birth: 17 Jun 1990 (age 27) Country: Singapore Team: Team Faceless Role: Offlaner, Midlaner, Captain Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 84772440 DOTABUFF: 84772440 Twitch: Dai MMY! Background Information Name: 雷增荣 Romanized name: Lei Zengrong Date of birth: 10 Sep 1989 (age 27) Country: China Role: Support, Midlaner Nicknames: Furry Duck (毛毛鸭), X!! Weapon 1] Alternate IDs: X!!, Xwkkx, Dai Signature Heroes: LaNm		16
2015 Details The International Cologne, Germany Start Date 17 Aug. 2011 End Date 21 Aug. 2011 Teams 16 Version 6.72 Prize Pool $1.6 million USD Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Squads 3 Coverage 3.1 Commentators 3.2	Seattle, United States		Evil Geniuses ppd SumaiL UNiVeRsE Aui_2000 Fear	3-1	CDEC Gaming Agressif Shiki Xz Garder Q		LGD Gaming LGD Gaming China Created: 2009 Team Information Captain: Coach(es): Wang "Banana" Jiao Manager(s): Pan "Fei" Fei Sponsor(s): Guizhou Laogandie Food Taobao Razer Kingston HyperX ZhanqiTV Harbin Beer Links Website: Facebook: lgddota Twitter: LGDgaming Weibo: teamlgd Sylar Maybe Yao MMY xiao8 xiao8 Background Information Name: 张宁 Romanized name: Zhang Ning Date of birth: 14 Nov 1989 (age 27) Country: China Team: DanGo Role: Support, Midlaner, Offlaner, Captain Nicknames: Director 8 Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 98887913 DOTABUFF: 98887913		Vici Gaming Hao Super iceiceice iceiceice Background Information Name: 许培祥 Romanized name: Daryl Koh Pei Xiang Date of birth: 17 Jun 1990 (age 27) Country: Singapore Team: Team Faceless Role: Offlaner, Midlaner, Captain Signature Heroes: Links datdota: 84772440 DOTABUFF: 84772440 Twitch: fy Fenrir		16
2016 Details The International Cologne, Germany Start Date 17 Aug. 2011 End Date 21 Aug. 2011 Teams 16 Version 6.72 Prize Pool $1.6 million USD Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Squads 3 Coverage 3.1 Commentators 3.2	Seattle, United States		Wings Gaming Shadow bLink Faith_bian yu4e36 iceice	3-1	Digital Chaos Resolut1on w33 Moo Saksa MiSeRy MiSeRy Background Information Name: Rasmus Berth Filipsen Date of birth: 14 Jul 1991 (age 25) Country: Denmark Team: Planet Odd Role: Support, Carry, Midlaner, Offlaner, Captain Alternate IDs: moosery, MiSeRyTheSLAYER Signature Heroes: Links Website: Link datdota:		Evil Geniuses Fear SumaiL UNiVeRsE Zai ppd		Fnatic Mushi MidOne Ohaiyo Dj 343		16
2017 Details The International Cologne, Germany Start Date 17 Aug. 2011 End Date 21 Aug. 2011 Teams 16 Version 6.72 Prize Pool $1.6 million USD Website Link Contents 1 Teams 2 Squads 3 Coverage 3.1 Commentators 3.2	Seattle, United States		TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD	0-0	TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD		TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD		TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD		18

Overview

The International, often abbreviated as TI, is an annual tournament organized by Valve. In 2015 Valve increased their number of hosted events, founding the Dota Major Championships which incorporates The International into its structure. The International remains the biggest and most prestigious event on the Major Championship circuit.

The first International was held in Cologne, Germany, during the trade show Gamescom, in order to unveil Dota 2 to worldwide audiences. It drew attention due to its staggering $1.6 million USD prize pool (with $1 million for the champion). 16 teams were invited to play for the title.

In 2012 The International moved to Seattle, Washington. The prize pool remained at $1.6 million USD. Only 14 teams were invited; two additional slots were awarded to the winners of regional qualifiers.

Since 2013, the Dota 2 community has been able to contribute to the prize pool. The total prize of The International 2013 grew to $2.8 million USD. In 2014, the prize pool surpassed $10 million. In 2016, it eclipsed $20 million, making The International the biggest esports tournament in terms of prize pool.

Tournaments

Prize Pool

¹This average does not include Valve`s $1,600,000 base prize pool

Team participation

Since the tournaments inception, 52 different teams have appeared in the group stages of The International.

Every year Valve hands out direct invites to certain teams, usually the defending champion and the best performing teams in the months leading up to the tournament.
Although the first International was exclusively invitation based, in 2012 Valve implemented the qualifying phase, with the trend being of gradually reducing the number of invitees, and increasing the number of qualifying spots.
If a team changes it`s roster during a roster lock period, they are relegated to the open qualifiers, an additional tier of qualifying phase added in 2015, allowing any team to register and play for the place at the finals.

Natus Vincere are the only team to appear at every tournament from 2011 onwards. Natus Vincere and Invictus Gaming have been invited more than any other team (5 invites).

Qualifying