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The International 2025: Format, Schedule, Fixtures and More
After a long wait and a few unexpected setbacks, The International 2025 is about to begin. Let’s take a look at the Group Stage format and schedule, the opening matchups, and everything else you need to know about the biggest Dota 2 tournament in the world.
This year’s International is not only the peak of the professional Dota 2 circuit, but also a unique chance for Team Spirit, Team Liquid, and Neta "33" Shapira. Both teams and the legendary offlaner are chasing history, each with the opportunity to become the first three-time champions of The International.
The International 2025: Invited and Qualified Teams
No tournament can shine without the teams that bring the action to the arena. The International 2025 features 16 teams — eight direct invites and eight qualifiers from the regional competitions. Since Valve’s announcement, there was a major twist: Gaimin Gladiators withdrew, and Yakutou Brothers (Yakult Brothers) were called in as replacements.
Here’s the full lineup of invited and qualified teams:
- Team Liquid (TI 2024 Champions)
- PARIVISION (Invited)
- BetBoom Team (Invited)
- Team Tidebound (Invited)
- Team Spirit (Invited)
- Team Falcons (Invited)
- Tundra Esports (Invited)
- Yakutou Brothers (Invited)
- Natus Vincere (Western Europe Qualifier)
- Nigma Galaxy (Western Europe Qualifier)
- Aurora Gaming (Eastern Europe Qualifier)
- Xtreme Gaming (China Qualifier)
- Team Nemesis (Southeast Asia Qualifier)
- BOOM Esports (Southeast Asia Qualifier)
- Wildcard (North America Qualifier)
- Heroic (South America Qualifier)
Another key update involves Tundra Esports. Position 5 support Matthew "Whitemon" Filemon once again faced visa issues and will miss TI 2025. Tobias "Tobi" Buchner steps in as a stand-in, hoping to help 33 chase his third Aegis of Champions.
The International 2025: Organization
The event will feature two stages: the Group Stage (Road to The International) and the Playoffs (The International). Valve had already announced the format back in April but either failed to explain it clearly or changed course and forgot to update teams on the new terms of the Group Stage.
The Group Stage uses a Swiss-system with all 16 teams. However, Valve’s rules deviate slightly from the standard system. The first-round pairings were determined by Valve’s own criteria, and from there, new restrictions apply to how matchups are generated.
Unusual Matchups
In traditional Swiss tournaments, teams with the same record play each other. At TI 2025, however, there are restrictions:
- Rounds 2–3: teams can only face others from their initial group.
- Round 4: teams can only face teams from the opposite initial group.
- Round 5: standard Swiss rules apply again.
All matches are best-of-three.
After five rounds, teams with 3-2 or 2-3 records will enter the Elimination Phase, where they fight for survival. The top three teams from the Swiss Stage advance directly to the Playoffs, teams finishing 4th–13th go into the Elimination Phase, and the bottom teams are eliminated with no second chances.
The Playoffs then return to tradition: a double-elimination bracket with best-of-three matches on the main stage, capped by a best-of-five Grand Final to crown the TI 2025 champions. Sixteen teams go in, only one (possibly three-time) champion comes out on the other side to lift the Aegis of Champions.
Venue, Talent and Streams
The International 2025 will take place at Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany. The venue is a perfect stage for the spectacle, though once again Germany’s strict visa process caused issues, as seen with Whitemon. Germany got pretty infamous for the recurring visa issues with professional Dota 2 players and The International 2025 was no exception to this trend.
The broadcast and talent lineup is stacked. Alongside familiar names, newcomers such as Tal "Fly" Aizik will join the desk and commentary team. The full list can be found in the Dota 2 client, with some teasers already shared on social media.
Adding to the hype, Valve is also licensing community broadcasts in various languages. This gives fans the chance to watch The International 2025 with local casters and support their region’s Dota 2 scene.
Group Stage Schedule – Round 1
Valve revealed the first-round matchups of the Group Stage. From Round 2 onwards, results and the unique rules will dictate pairings. Here’s the Round 1 schedule which will take place on September 4th:
Round 1
- 08:00 GMT — Aurora Gaming vs. Xtreme Gaming
- 08:00 GMT — Team Spirit vs. Wildcard
- 08:00 GMT — Team Falcons vs. Team Nemesis
- 08:00 GMT — Tundra Esports vs. Yakutou Brothers
- 11:00 GMT — PARIVISION vs. Heroic
- 11:00 GMT — Team Liquid vs. BOOM Esports
- 11:00 GMT — BetBoom Team vs. Nigma Galaxy
- 11:00 GMT — Team Tidebound vs. Natus Vincere
Matches to Look Out For
Despite the noticeable imbalance in some pairings, the opening round of the Group Stage still features a couple of very interesting clashes:
BetBoom Team vs. Nigma Galaxy — On paper, BetBoom Team looks favored, but this match could prove trickier than expected. BetBoom holds the historical advantage, having secured championships earlier this year at FISSURE Universe Ep. 4 and PGL Wallachia Season 5.
On the other hand, Nigma Galaxy only managed one Top 4 finish at BLAST Slam II. Still, their fanbase is eager for a long-awaited comeback at The International 2025. This first test will be a strong indicator of whether Nigma can carve a path back to the top.
Team Tidebound vs. Natus Vincere — Another must-watch match sees China’s brightest hope, Team Tidebound, face Natus Vincere in the second half of Day 1. Tidebound has been the most successful Chinese team in recent history, highlighted by their victory at the Clavision Masters Championship, where they toppled Tundra Esports.
Meanwhile, Natus Vincere brings a remarkable storyline of their own. Starting the year as NaVi Junior, they earned promotion to the main roster after impressive results at PGL Wallachia Season 4, the Esports World Cup Regional Qualifiers, and the TI 2025 Regional Qualifiers. Now, they’ll have the chance to prove that their rise isn’t a fluke as they take on China’s strongest squad in a best-of-three showdown.
The International 2025 Prize Pool and Closing Thoughts
Finally, let’s address the prize pool. According to dota2.prizetrac.kr, TI 2025 is projected to feature another US$2.4 million prize pool, which has become the standard since the end of the Battle Pass era. While the BP had its flaws — often predatory monetization — it also created part of the “magic” around TI that many fans still miss.
This year, Valve introduced Quartero’s Curios, a lighter in-game event reminiscent of the Cavern Crawl. While enjoyable, it doesn’t fully capture the same excitement as past Battle Passes or last year’s Crownfall. Valve has promised something bigger in the future, but for now, TI 2025 is focused on delivering thrilling matches and crowning the world’s best.
As a show, The International remains the pinnacle of Dota 2 competition. It might not feel like the “Christmas for Dota fans” it once was, but it’s still the ultimate stage where legends are made.
If you want to stay informed on The International 2025, hero guides, metagame shifts, and everything else about Dota 2, check out the news section on the Strafe website!
Featured Image Source: Twitter (@wykrhm)