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Valve have officially unveiled the full format for The International 2025 (TI14), confirming a major shake-up to Dota 2’s premier esports event.
Set to take place at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena this September, TI14 will introduce a Swiss Stage system — replacing the traditional group format and promising high-stakes matches from the very first day.
Dubbed The Road to The International, the revamped opening phase of the tournament runs from September 4 to 7 and will feature 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams battling through a five-round Swiss bracket.
In this system, teams are paired each round with others holding the same win-loss record — ensuring balanced matchups and maximum suspense throughout.
Each match will be a best-of-three series.
Teams that secure four wins will earn immediate progression to the main stage of TI14.
Conversely, those who suffer four losses will be eliminated from the competition.
“Swiss formats come with unique challenges, and we’ve taken special care to make sure fans can know in advance when their favourite teams are playing, and that no team with a winning record ever has to play two series in a row,” Valve explained in a blog post.
Once the Swiss stage concludes, only six teams will have confirmed outcomes — three qualified, three eliminated.
The remaining 10 teams will enter an elimination round, where the highest-performing teams face off against the lowest.
Five teams will advance from this knockout phase, and five more will be sent packing.
The main event of TI14 kicks off on September 11, with eight teams competing in front of a live audience in Hamburg.
The format remains a double-elimination bracket, with all teams starting in the upper bracket.
All matches will be best-of-three, except for the grand final on September 14, which will be a best-of-five clash for the Aegis of the Immortal.
This year’s format significantly narrows the field compared to previous iterations — only half of the teams from the opening stage will make it to the playoffs.
Valve’s redesign aims to make every match meaningful, intensifying the competition and trimming down on dead rubbers.
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