People interested in eSports know that Dota 2 is one of the most important games for them. Despite being almost 10 years old, the game continues to play a key role in eSports because it attracts some of the biggest sponsors in the world.
Speaking of eSports and Dota 2, it is crucial to mention the most important championship of the year – The International. This annual event consists of the best teams in the world. Aside from being the most prestigious Dota 2 tournament, The International is notorious for having the largest prize pool in eSports.
But how large is the Dota 2 The International prize pool, and how has it changed over the years? This is a common question among people new to the game, which is why it is time for an in-depth look at it in this article. As you will see in the information provided by www.blackqiang.com, The International is an event that allows the Dota 2 community to feel special.
Besides having access to the graphics that will show you the price for each year (until 2021), this article will also share a few important things about this event.
Short History of Dota 2 & The International
Dota 2 is a MOBA more than 10 years old, making it one of the longest-lasting eSports titles. The game was in beta for over a year but was officially released in 2013.
Despite being in an official beta, the fans had the chance to see the International two times. The first version of TI was held during Gamescon 2011 in Germany. This was the first time players had the chance to see the game in action because Valve decided to show it to the public. Unsurprisingly, The International 2011 included the best teams from Defence of the Ancients.
The International’s Prize Pool From 2011 until 2021
If you have Dota 2 The International 2022 tickets, you already know that the prize pool of this year’s event is still growing. Players have yet to find the final number, so until then, here is an overview of The International’s prize pool from 2011 to 2021.
The infographic below shows the total prize pool for each year. You can see the massive difference between 2013 and 2014, as well as between 2018 and 2019. TI 10, which took place in 2021, holds the Guinness World Record for the highest eSports prize pool for a single tournament with its massive reward of $40M+.
More Information About The International & The Prize Pool
Also known as TI, Valve, the company behind Dota 2, is also its organizer. The event took place every year from 2011 until 2019. Although it should’ve been held in 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from watching the best teams in action.
Aside from the original TI, every other event until 2017 took place in Seattle, the U.S. The 2018 version was in Vancouver, Canada, whereas 2019 was the first year the event was held in China. The 2020 version had to be played in Europe, but due to the global pandemic, Valve postponed it for 2021.
Although TI had to take place in Stockholm, Sweden, the potential COVID restrictions forced the organizers to announce a new location – Bucharest, Romania. If you look at Dota 2 The International schedule for 2022, you will see that this year’s tournament will be in Singapore.
Since Valve was behind Dota 2’s most prestigious tournament, the company had to decide on The International’s prize pool. However, things changed in 2013 because it allowed the community to contribute to the prize. This was possible thanks to an in-game item called a “Battle Pass”.
The Battle Pass costs real money, but 25% of the sales contribute to TI’s prize pool. Consequently, the reward for 2013 (as seen in the infographic above) is almost twice higher as before. Needless to say, things skyrocketed in 2014 and kept increasing afterwards.
The Battle Pass
As explained, the Battle Pass is the main reason The International is the biggest event in eSports regarding prize pools. But what’s so special about this item, and why do people spend so much money? Well, you are about to learn more in this paragraph.
Before listing some of the benefits of having a Battle Pass, it is essential to address the elephant in the room and point out that the item does NOT give any in-game benefits. You won’t do more damage or have an extra ability just because you have it. Instead, all of the perks are cosmetic.
Speaking of the devil, some of the things that the Battle Pass gave us access to over the years include:
- Immortal Treasures
- Exclusive Items
- Special Emoticons
- Voice Lines
- Access to Special Events
- The Ability to Level Up and Unlock More Rewards
- Arcanas
- Personas
- Couriers
- Sprays
- Consumables
- Music Pack
- Stickers
If you look closely at Dota 2, The International Battle Pass, you will see that the item allows you to level up. Of course, you won’t get every reward mentioned above right away. Instead, each level you unlock will give you access to a given perk. To do that, you must complete different quests or purchase levels.
Although many people like completing quests, others prefer to buy the levels. “Buying levels is easier and saves time, so people are willing to spend more to get what they want”, said Nostrabet’s analyst. “Every transaction for the Battle Pass adds to the prize pool, so people who spend more help the prize pool grow”.
How Do Teams Qualify for The International?
Every Dota 2 fan knows that Valve has changed its rules several times. During the first couple of years, the company used to invite the teams it thought were the best. However, in 2017, Valve introduced the Dota Pro Circuit.
The DPC is a competitive season that consists of several smaller events, all of which are sponsored in a way by Valve. Each of these tournaments provides something called DPC Points. In the end, the teams with the most DPC points receive a direct invitation to The International.
The Dota Pro Circuit is specific for each of Dota 2’s regions listed below:
- Eastern Europe
- Western Europe
- South America
- North America
- Southeast Asia
- China
The teams that did not get an invitation to TI due to a lack of points must compete in regional qualifiers. The number of slots for The International varies, but it can be between 16 and 20. For example, TI 11, which will take place this year in Singapore, will have 20 teams, 12 of which received an invitation because of the DPC points.
Previous TI winners
Winning The International is the best thing to happen to any professional Dota 2 player. Unsurprisingly, only a couple of teams won the most prestigious eSports event, and only one has done it twice. Here are the winners from 2011 until 2021:
- Natus Vincere
- Invictus Gaming
- Alliance
- Newbee
- Evil Geniuses
- Wings Gaming
- Team Liquid
- OG
- OG
- Team Spirit
The International 2022
After learning where is Dota International 2022 going to be held, it is essential to note that the prize pool is still undetermined. The Battle Pass was released a couple of days ago, which means it will keep growing.
The International 2022 will start on October 15 and will last 15 days. Feel free to follow the site for more information about Dota 2.
