Dota 2 – The International

The International is the biggest event on the Dota 2 calendar, with it also the no.1 event to bet on in esports. The International betting is done all over the world, although Dota 2 is particularly popular in Asia, with the top player ranks dominated by China and Korea.

The best The International betting sites will largely be determined by your location. Our guide to The International betting includes details like how to bet, the top Dota 2 bookies, The International odds and, of-course the latest news and tips that will enhance your betting.

Dota 2 The International betting and odds 2025

Odds for the Dota 2 International are not available. ESB will update this page when they are released.

Dota 2 The International 2025 teams

Six teams will be invited and 10 teams qualify through the regional qualifiers. Two teams from each of the Western Europe, China, Southeast Asia and South America leagues will qualify, while one team from North America and Eastern Europe will also book their place at The International.

Why The International is a huge betting event

The International is the biggest annual esports tournament in the world and one every fan of professional video gaming should watch. It showcases the best Dota 2 talent on the world-stage every year in September and is famous for having the largest prize pool for a single esports tournament around the globe.

The 2025 tournament is the 14th edition of The International, organized entirely by Dota 2’s creators, Valve. This year’s event is the richest yet, with the prize pool expected to top $30 million, and we can’t wait to see how the competition adapts to the higher stakes. Here’s what we know of this year’s plans.

Where to bet on Dota 2 The International

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Betting markets on The International are currently not open. With the event held in September or October each year, there’s still plenty of professional Dota 2 tournaments, part of the Dota ESL Pro Tour, which you can bet on all year-round at the many highly-reviewed sites listed in the table above, geo-targeted to only display the best options for customers from your country.

An introduction to The International

For Dota 2 esports players who play year-round, The International remains the best possible shot at top bragging rights and a million-dollar payout (and more) every single year. Valve has implemented some big changes for 2024 onwards, making the whole qualification process smoother, more transparent and more rewarding to the teams that perform well throughout the season.

The International 2025 qualification structure

Professional Dota 2 teams around the world must participate in Majors and officially sponsored tournaments run by third-party organizers like Electronic Sports League, to earn an invitation to The International.

These events make up the Dota 2 ESL Pro Circuit and offer massive prize pools and titles of their own, but the main reason to participate is to collect ESL Pro Tour ranking points. Awarded to teams based on their performances in all tournaments, these points ultimately determine who takes part at The International. The more points you earn, the better your chances of making the cut.

For The International 2024, Valve also decided to send out direct invites to the six top-ranking teams on the ESL Pro Tour.

The remaining 10 teams had to win their way into The International through regional qualifiers. Two teams each from Western Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and South America, and one team each from Eastern Europe and North America, will qualify through the qualifiers.

The International 2025 match structure

• Group Stage – Phase One

  • Four groups of five teams each
  • Single round-robin
  • All series are best-of-two
  • Top two teams in each group will get matched with opponents from either the third or fourth place teams in the opposite group for phase two
  • The bottom team in each group is eliminated

• Group Stage – Phase Two

  • Remaining 16 teams play eight best-of-three head-to-head matches to determine main event bracket placement

• Main Event

  • 16 teams play in a double-elimination bracket
  • Eight teams begin in the upper-bracket and eight teams in the lower bracket
  • Grand final is best-of-five, but all other series are best-of-three

Dota 2 The International prize money

The prize pool for The International is ever-growing thanks to Valve’s immense contribution and investment.

Given they are one of the wealthiest gaming companies in the world supporting esports, it makes sense Valve want to see their most successful property continue to lead the way in the booming pro gaming circuit.

In the last few years, Valve has crowdfunded the prize-pool by selling a digital compendium, the ‘Battle Pass’, to hardcore fans, with 25% of all revenue generated from sales put directly into the tournament’s prize-pool.

The prize pool distribution for the 2025 Dota 2 The International will be distributed as the table shows below.

Dota 2 The International past-winners

The International 2025 will mark the 14th edition of the event, which has seen 10 different esports organizations hoist the Aegis of Champions.

Past winners of the Dota 2 The International:

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