The stage for the TI10 is set and the stakes are bigger than they have ever been for an esports tournament. A staggering $40 million in prize money is at stake with the winner earning a whopping $15,000,000! Below we spill the details on the most talked-about esports tourney in history.
Sweden Says No Thank You
Politics reared its ugly head and threatened to derail The International 10 but eventually, things got back on track and the tournament is ready to roll. Initially, the TI10 was slated for Stockholm, Sweden after a one-year hiatus due to the global pandemic. It wasn’t until June 21st when the tremors began building as to a suitable location for the tournament. Sweden was considered a fait accompli, but not so fast, as the fair-haired nation suddenly wagged its finger and pretty much said, anywhere but here.
The crux of the issue was that the Swedish Sports Confederation voted 2-1 against deeming The International an “elite sporting event” and would thereby not be accepted into the federation. An appeal was placed to Sweden’s Minister of Interior, Mikael Damberg, but he punted and sent his spokesperson, Per Strängberg, to essentially pass the buck via this statement, “The Swedish Government has not declined to recognize Dota 2 as an elite sporting event. The government does not make those decisions or judgments. Questions about those judgments should be asked to Riksidrottsförbundet, the Swedish Sports Confederation.”
Developer and publisher of Dota 2, Valve, knew that getting visas for players who needed them to enter Sweden would no longer be automatic due to the lack of accreditation, released this statement, “With the Minister of the Interior failing to recognize The International – Dota 2 Championships as an elite sporting event, anyone attempting to procure a visa for travel into Sweden for TI10 (including players, talent, and staff) would be denied,” Valve wrote. “The absence of this official recognition also means individual border agents would be making decisions about entry for those traveling to the event from countries outside the EU who do not typically need a visa to enter Sweden.”
Game On
It’s not surprising that The International found a home for its 10th iteration as the economic impact that the event will attract is not only bountiful for the contestants but also for the local economy hosting the event. Tournaments of this caliber attract big ratings and the best online betting sites like Bookmaker Sportsbook routinely has esports odds which is yet another way to stimulate interest.
Ultimately, the Arena Nationala, capacity 56,000-plus, located in Bucharest, Romania will be the home of the biggest esports event in history. The Group Stage will run from October 7th through the 10th and then the Main Stage will begin from the 12th through the 17th. The ticket prices will range from $60 for the Group Stage events and approximately $240 for the Main Stage rounds.
One might have thought Stockholm would have been delirious to have that distinction but Bucharest is the choice and the event will be nothing short of sensational with the world’s best Dota 2 players congregated in one venue to take home life-changing prize money. The COVID-19 protocols in Eastern Europe are less stringent than those you will find elsewhere which was certainly a major factor in choosing the alternate location.
A Valve spokesperson commented: “We are grateful for the partnership we have formed with Romania and the city of Bucharest, and very much look forward to gathering with the global Dota 2 community, both in-person and virtually, to celebrate the elite players and amazing fandom at The International. Prepare yourselves.”
Of course, Covid precautions will be in place while everyone in attendance will be required to show proof of vaccination, and mask mandates will be in full effect.
The Dota Dozen + 6
Twelve teams of the 18 teams that will compete in the TI10 will be selected based on their Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) points during the 2021 DPC regular season. The remaining six have been chosen from regional qualifiers that will be held to round out the field.
The 12 teams that have already made the cut are the following: Alliance, beastcoast, Evil Geniuses, Invictus Gaming, PSG.LGD, Quincy Crew, T1, Team Aster, Team Secret, Thunder Predator, Vici Gaming, and Virtus.pro.
The six teams and their corresponding regions entering via the qualifiers are as follows:
China Qualifiers Winner: Elephant
Eastern Europe Qualifiers Winner: Team Spirit
North American Qualifiers Winner: Undying
South American Qualifiers Winner: SG e-sports
Southeast Asian Qualifiers Winner: Fnatic
Western Europe Qualifiers Winner: OG
It is somewhat ironic that the only team to win The International twice, OG, had to enter this year’s edition through the backdoor. Let’s take a look at previous TI winners:
2011: Natus Vincere
2012: Invictus Gaming
2013: Alliance
2014: Newbee
2015: Evil Geniuses
2016: Wings Gaming
2017: Team Liquid
2018: OG
2019: OG
2020: Cancelled
Source: Plato Data Intelligence
