The International 2018 groups are now official
With only two days left for the biggest Dota 2 event of the year, The International 2018 groups have been drawn and made official.
Dota 2 tournament
- Starting date Aug 15, 2018
- Format 5v5
The International has always set the bar high for all esports events. Year after year the production value, competition and prize pool to astonish fans around the world and attract attention from mainstream media. This year, The International 2018 is already proving to be no exception and well on its way to stunning the esports scene once again.
General information
Qualifiers
Six qualifiers based on regions
Open Qualifiers (June 14-17)
- Single Elimination Bracket. Bo1 matches.
- Number of teams that will qualify to the Regional Qualifiers:
- CN (7), SEA (5), CIS (6), SA (6), NA (6), EU (4)
Regional Qualifiers (June 18-25)
- Group Stage
- All eighteen teams are divided into two groups.
- Round Robin. Bo2 matches.
- Top 4 teams will advance to the Upper Bracket.
- The bottom team in each group is eliminated.
- The remaining teams advance to the Lower Bracket of the Main Event.
Main event (Aug 15-25)
Main event taking place at Vancouver, Canada
- Sixteen teams play in a double-elimination format over six days.
- Eight teams begin in the Upper Bracket, eight in the Lower Bracket.
- First Lower Bracket round is Bo1, Grand Finals are Bo5, all others rounds are Bo3.
- Group Stage: August 15th – August 18th, 2018 – Like last year, two best-of-two groups of nine teams. Top four teams in each group advance to Upper Bracket, four – eight advance to Lower Bracket, bottom in each group is eliminated.
- Main Event: August 20th – August 25th, 2018 – As before, 16 teams battle through a best-of-three double elimination playoff. Lower bracket first round is best-of-one, Grand Finals are best-of-five.
China Open Qualifier #1
completed
CIS Open Qualifier #1
completed
Europe Open Qualifier #1
completed
North America Open Qualifier #1
completed
South America Open Qualifier #1
completed
Southeast Asia Open Qualifier #1
completed
China Open Qualifier #2
completed
CIS Open Qualifier #2
completed
Europe Open Qualifier #2
completed
North America Open Qualifier #2
completed
South America Open Qualifier #2
completed
Southeast Asia Open Qualifier #2
completed
China Regional Qualifier Group
completed
CIS Regional Qualifier Group
completed
Europe Regional Qualifier Group
completed
North America Regional Qualifier Group
completed
South America Regional Qualifier Group
completed
Southeast Asia Regional Qualifier Group
completed
China Regional Qualifier Playoff
completed
China Regional Qualifier Tiebreaker
completed
CIS Regional Qualifier Playoff
completed
CIS Regional Qualifier Tiebreaker
canceled
Europe Regional Qualifier Playoff
completed
Europe Regional Qualifier Tiebreaker
canceled
North America Regional Qualifier Playoff
completed
North America Regional Qualifier Tiebreaker 1st-3rd
completed
North America Regional Qualifier Tiebreaker 5th-6th
completed
South America Regional Qualifier Playoff
completed
Southeast Asia Regional Qualifier Playoff
completed
Southeast Asia Regional Qualifier Tiebreaker
canceled
Group A
live
Group B
live
Main Event
upcoming
Tournament VODs
News & Features - The International 2018
TI8 prize pool distribution, pubstomps and newcomer stream
Edging closer to TI8 - set to take place in a matter of days, Valve has released information regarding the TI8 prize pool distribution, pubstomps, and newcomer stream.
All teams have secured their visas for The International 8
For what seems to be the first time - or in at least recent years, all 18 participating teams in The International 2018 have been able to secure their visas.
DPC Rewind and International Lowdown with SirActionSlacks
Jake "SirActionSlacks" Kanner will present audiences with an exclusive Dota Pro Circuit Rewind & The International Lowdown daily.
SophoS’ NA Sphere: TI8 NA Power Rankings
Evil Geniuses won TI5. Digital Chaos finished runner-up at TI6. Which team from the NA region will be top contender at TI8?
Previous "The International" Tournaments
About The International
Dota 2 was first introduced at The International in 2011 and the evolution of production, prize pool and fanfare has since soared high above any other esports event and has even surpassed the prize funds of some well-known traditional sporting events, such as the Cricket World Cup, The Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, and others.
Valve took a new approach towards the tournaments, by increasing their base prize-pool through crowd funding, raising monetary contributions from large key audiences. The concept, as applied to esports, was first introduced by the company for The International 3, in 2013, with the release of the virtual “compendium”. At that time, the base prizepool of $1,600,000 was increased by an additional $1,374,381 through the sales to the community. This was a drop in the bucket for what was to come in the following years.
The TI7 prize pool was jaw-dropping, recording breaking at a staggering $24,787,916 - a whopping $23,187,916 added by the community. This year, the TI8 prize pool is already outpacing TI7 and on par to meet or exceed the final prize amount.
It’s not just the gobsmacking prize pool that draws so much attention. The entire package of production, narrative and high caliber gameplay puts the event over the edge as the pinnacle of all Dota 2 events, if not all esports events.
The International brings about shocking results, fairy-tale storylines and triumphs that will remain in the Dota 2 history. Last year at The International 2017 Team Liquid was the first in the history of The International to come back from the second round of the lower brackets and win the entire event. It was also the first time that a team has won with a clean sweep - 3-0 scoreline in the grand final.
With past spectacular production including augmented reality features on stage, live orchestra for the opening ceremony, special guest artist Lindsey Stirling, a stage that had special effects in synch with hero ultimates, private practice rooms, closing ceremony featuring electronica music performer Deadmau5, there is no telling what Valve has planned for this year.
Continuing to always outdo themselves and the glass ceiling shattered years ago, Valve is expected to put on the show of a lifetime once again.
The International 2018 looks set to be another monumental event with another prize pool that will shatter records, and GosuGamers wants to keep you ahead of all the TI 2018 news with our event coverage hub.
As world leaders for DOTA 2 coverage, GosuGamers aims to bring you the most comprehensive coverage possible for The International 2018. Armed with a team of Dota 2 fanatics and content creators, , GosuGamers will cover all of the bases you need to enhance your TI8 experience.
For everything from news, match reports and schedules to footage from the event and player interviews, GosuGamers.net is your one-stop shop for all things related.