The International, Dota 2’s premier championship, is heading back to China for the first time in years. Before the main event kicks off in August, a regional qualifier will determine which Chinese teams earn their spot on the biggest stage in competitive Dota.
The China Qualifier runs June 15 to 18 using a double-elimination bracket, with two coveted main stage slots up for grabs. The main event itself takes place August 20-23 at Shanghai’s Oriental Sports Center, carrying a total prize pool of $1.6M.
What’s happening in Shanghai
Valve, the developer behind Dota 2 and the organizer of The International, announced seven direct invites to the main event on May 25. Among them was Xtreme Gaming, a Chinese squad that earned its seat without needing to grind through the qualifier. The remaining six invites went primarily to European organizations.
The main event features a group stage running August 13-16, followed by the playoff bracket from August 20-23. TI has historically relied on community-funded Battle Pass and Compendium purchases to build its prize pool, with previous editions reaching tens of millions of dollars. The $1.6M figure for this year represents a significant shift toward a more controlled funding model.
