What to Expect from DOTA's The International 10

Which teams will dominate the battlefield? Will they make DOTA history?

The Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) and regional qualifiers have officially come to a close, finally completing the roster for DOTA 2's biggest tournament, The International 10 (TI10). While the competition is still a few months away, enthusiasts have been holding their excitement long enough for the grandest event in ESports.

As the most stacked tournament to date, there's going to be a lot of action and millions (the biggest ever prize pool) on the line. With rising stars trying to make a name and hard-nosed veterans looking to build their legacy, you can expect a week of high-level games to put you on the edge of your seat. 

So without further ado, let’s get you up to speed with the competition!

Bigger than Ever: What to Expect from Dota 2's The International

How much is the prize pool? Which teams will dominate the battlefield? And will OG defend their championship and make DOTA history?

The Stage is Officially Set in Bucharest, Romania

The International 10, which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is finally set in motion. The event was supposed to take place in Sweden this August. After managing logistic issues, Valve finally announced that the epic battle will be held at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest, Romania.

The International will kick things off with a Group Stage on October 7 to 10, with the Main Stage commencing on October 12. Finally, the two supreme DOTA 2 teams in the world will battle it out for the championship title on October 17. To show you how competitive TI10 will be, here's a list of the event's participants.

The International 10 Participants via DPC Points:

• Evil Geniuses
• PSG.LGD
• Virtus.pro
• Quincy Crew
• Invictus Gaming
• T1
• Vici Gaming
• Team Secret
• Team Aster
• Alliance
• beastcoast
• Thunder Predator

The International 10 Regional Qualifier Winners:

• Undying (North America)
• SG esports (South America)
• OG (Western Europe)
• Team Spirit (Eastern Europe)
• Elephant (China)
• Fnatic (Southeast Asia)

The Biggest Prize Pool in ESports History (₱2,012,334,944.67)

The best of the best will face off to take home the Aegis of the Immortal and a whopping jackpot of $40,018,195 (₱ 2,012,334,944.67 as of July, 27, 2021). Surpassing $40 million makes TI10's prize pool the largest in ESports history. Valve has yet to disclose the percentage breakdown for the prize pool, but it's likely funded through battle pass sales and in-game purchases.

It's not an exaggeration to say that winning this tournament will be life-changing. Just look at how the competition has changed the life of two-time TI winner N0Tail, the world's highest-earning ESports player.

Chinese Teams Look Sharper than Ever

Chinese teams have always been known for their clean and calculated playstyle. This year is no exception since the winners of both DPC majors hailed from this region. PSG.LGD stood over Evil Geniuses 3-0 in the grand finals, triumphing as the winner at the WePlay AniMajor playoffs. 

Meanwhile, Invictus Gaming claimed victory in the final series against Evil Geniuses in Singapore Major.

From the looks of it, Chinese teams PSG.LGD and Invictus Gaming are set to dominate this year's The International. While there's no way to predict who will reign supreme, viewers should expect both to showcase high-level Dota gaming at TI10.

Will the Defending Champs Give Us Another Showcase?

The past two years have been a rollercoaster ride for OG. After winning TI9 in 2019, the back-to-back defending champions faced several setbacks. They lost two key players in Ana and Jerax, dealt with multiple roster changes, and faced enormous amounts of pressure from fans, competitors and the media.

Despite such a hard road, OG was able to prove the doubters wrong. After they added TI-5 champion SumaiL back to their lineup, the team finally found the missing piece and qualified for The International 10. OG may look different this time around, but if there's one thing the last two TIs have taught us, it's that the team plays best when their backs are against the wall!

Which Team Will Dominate the New Meta?

Now that patch 7.30 is live, the DOTA community has much to be excited about. Especially now that pub stomping heroes like Axe and fan-favorite items such as Flicker have received adjustments, we can expect the approach of teams to change drastically. 

TI10 may still be some time away so we can expect more changes to come before the main event. But now the lingering question would be, who will understand and break down the meta perfectly? Only time will tell!

Stay Tuned for the Grandest ESports Event in the World

The best DOTA 2 teams to date are set to face off, and enthusiasts are eager to see who gets to lift the Aegis of the Immortal.

Now that you're updated with the competition's details, you can plan and organize a watch party with your friends! Witness TI10 live by following Valve's official The International Twitch account and subscribing to YouTube channels.

Of course, you'll need a fast and reliable internet connection to fully enjoy the event. Thankfully, Globe has got you covered. Get a Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi or Globe At Home Broadband Plan from the Globe Shop for a seamless viewing experience!