The biggest event in the world of competitive Dota 2 is set to begin this Thursday, September 4th. This is The International 2025, a championship known for its history and intense competition. This year marks the 14th edition of the tournament. Sixteen teams from all corners of the globe will gather in Hamburg, Germany, hoping to lift the coveted trophy. The action will run through September 14th, promising high-stakes matchups.
Among the 16 teams battling for glory, two rosters feature notable talent from Brazil. PARIVISION includes astini as their coach. HEROIC fields players 4nalog and kj, with kaffs coaching the squad. These teams bring an extra layer of excitement for many fans following the tournament.
Competing Teams at The International 2025
- PARIVISION (astini – coach)
- HEROIC (4nalog and kj – players, kaffs – coach)
- Team Liquid
- BB Team
- Team Tidebound
- Spirit
- Falcons
- Tundra Esports
- Yakutou Brothers
- Natus Vincere
- Nigma Galaxy
- Aurora Gaming
- Xtreme Gaming
- Team Nemesis
- BOOM Esports
- Wildcard
The Tournament Structure
The tournament begins with a unique group stage format. It uses a modified Swiss system. The top three teams from this stage automatically secure spots in the playoffs. Teams ranking from 4th to 13th place will then enter an elimination round. This round consists of Best of 3 matches between teams with 3-2 and 2-3 records. The winners of these matchups will join the top three, forming an eight-team bracket for the knockout stage. On the first day of the group stage, a special match is scheduled. PARIVISION will face HEROIC at 8 AM, Brasília time. This early match will surely capture attention.
The playoffs are scheduled from September 11th to 14th. This stage uses a double-elimination bracket. Teams must win their Best of 3 matches to stay in the running. Losing two Best of 3 matches means automatic elimination from the tournament. The grand final will be a Best of 5 series, determining the ultimate champion.
How to Watch and What’s at Stake
Fans can catch all the live action from the tournament on the official Dota 2 Twitch channel. The prize pool for The International 2025 is substantial. Valve has put together a total of $2,389,780 USD. This impressive sum includes a base amount of $1,600,000 USD. An additional $789,780 USD was added through player-purchased bundles. This community contribution highlights the strong support behind competitive Dota 2.