Dota 2’s biggest tournament is getting a makeover. The International, run by Valve, has a new format. It’s called “The Road to The International.” This change keeps the excitement of the group stage and gets rid of meaningless matches.
The new system uses a Swiss format for the qualifying stage. 16 teams compete from September 4 to 7. They play best-of-three matches against teams with the same win-loss record. If a team wins four matches, they’re in. If they lose four, they’re out. The rest keep competing until all the spots are filled.
The top teams with more wins than losses don’t have to play two best-of-three series back-to-back. This new format cuts the field in half by the end of the qualifying stage. The top eight teams move on to the main event, fighting for the world championship.
The Qualifying Stage
The qualifying stage is where teams earn their spot in the main tournament. It’s a tough road, but the best teams will make it through. The new format is designed to make every match count.
The Main Event
The main tournament starts on September 11, with the grand final on September 14 at the Barclays Arena in Germany. All series will be best-of-three, except for the final, which will be best-of-five.
This new format is a big change for The International. It’s designed to make the tournament more exciting and competitive. The best teams will rise to the top, and the world will be watching.