The biggest Dota 2 tournament of the year is almost here, as The International 2025 (TI14) takes center stage in Hamburg, Germany. 16 of the world’s best teams will clash for the Aegis of Champions, the most iconic trophy in esports.

Below, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about TI14 – from the format and favorites, to the schedule and where you can watch the action live.

The International 2025 Details

The International 2025 marks the 14th iteration of Dota 2’s biggest tournament. It will run from September 4 to 14, with Hamburg, Germany, serving as the host location.

TI14 will be played across two stages with the following format:

• Group Stage (Sept 4-7): 16 teams go through a Swiss stage, followed by a special elimination stage to decide which teams advance to the playoffs.
• Playoffs (Sept 11-14): The top eight TI14 teams enter a double-elimination bracket played at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena, culminating in the Grand Finals on September 14.

TI14 begins with a base prize pool of $1.6 million, boosted through in-game Supporter Bundle sales. Each bundle contributes 30% of its revenue to the pot, meaning fans will once again have the chance to crowdfund the event and grow the stakes.

The International 2025 Favorites

We’re in the middle of one of the most competitive Dota 2 seasons to date, but three TI14 teams have risen above the rest as favorites coming into the event.

Team Spirit

Two-time TI winners Team Spirit are looking to chase history with the chance at cracking a threepeat. They enter TI fresh off their win at the Esports World Cup 2025, where they didn’t drop a single map throughout their playoffs run.

The roster is stacked with veterans and star players that are all playing in peak form – what else could you possibly need to win a title?

Team Liquid

Team Liquid is the defending champion, having won last year’s edition of The International. Even with a roster change this season – swapping Neta “33” Shapira for Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek – the team still managed to collect multiple titles in 2025.

The boys in blue are known for stepping up when the pressure is highest, meaning their mix of experience and fearless play makes them a constant threat under the bright lights of TI.

PARIVISION

The new kids on the block, PARIVISION, were formed after TI13 and wasted no time making waves. The roster is built around mechanical prodigies that have already claimed titles at ESL One Raleigh and ESL One Bangkok.

All eyes will be on 17-year-old carry Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov, who many believe could be the best player in the world right now.

How to Watch The International 2025

You can catch all the action on the Dota2ti Twitch channel. There will be multiple simultaneous broadcasts covering different matches during the group stage, but make sure to keep an eye on the main channel for featured games according to the schedule:

• Main Stream
• Secondary Stream
• Tertiary Stream

Matches will also be streamed on YouTube through the following channel:

• Main Stream

History of The International

The International first debuted at Gamescom 2011, shocking the esports world with a then-unheard-of $1.6 million prize pool. Two years later, Valve introduced the concept of crowdfunding (through a Compendium or Battle Pass), and TI quickly grew into a record-breaking phenomenon. At TI10, the prize pool peaked at a staggering $40 million.

While prize pools have seen a significant dip in recent years, the prestige of lifting the Aegis has never changed. Becoming a “TI winner” is the ultimate goal for any professional player. No matter the size of the prize pool, The International remains the most anticipated event on the Dota 2 calendar.

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