Bet on The International 2026

The prize pool of The International

The tournament's inaugural edition in 2011 featured a prize pool of $1,600,000. By 2013, this had risen to $2,874,380, and by 2021, it reached an astonishing $40,018,195, marking a growth of over 25 times the initial prize. Here's a year-by-year breakdown of the prize pool amounts.

• 2011: $1.6 million
• 2012: $1.6 million
• 2013: $2.8 million
• 2014: $10.9 million
• 2015: $18.4 million
• 2016: $20.7 million
• 2017: $24.7 million
• 2018: $25.8 million
• 2019: $34.3 million
• 2021: $40.0 million

As you can see, the prize pool has been on a consistent upward trend since 2012, suggesting this pattern is likely to continue.

How big is The International event for Rwandan players?

The International is widely recognized as one of the premier esports tournaments globally. It attracts hundreds of thousands of talented players and is followed by millions of viewers online, making it a significant event for esports enthusiasts in Rwanda and beyond.

With a prize pool that reached about $45,000,000 (for the 2022 edition), it's clear that The International is no small affair. Such a massive amount up for grabs signifies the tournament's significant standing.

Furthermore, The International's global appeal is evident as it brings together 18 top teams from various corners of the world. It's a truly international competition, not confined to a single region. In terms of viewership, the event consistently draws millions. For example, the 2021 edition saw a peak of 2.74 million concurrent viewers, highlighting its immense popularity among gamers worldwide.

About Dota 2

Dota 2 is an online multiplayer game developed by Valve Corporation, the same company behind the popular video game series, Counter-Strike. The game employs a real-time strategy (RTS) system where players control a hero character to battle against other gamers or computer-controlled opponents. Uniquely, Dota 2 focuses on a single hero character per player, differentiating it from some other esports titles.

Players can engage with Dota 2 through two main avenues: the Dota 2 item shop, where in-game currency can purchase various items, and the use of Dota 2 items for cosmetic character customization.

Originating as a mod for Warcraft 3, Dota 2 has maintained its popularity since its official release in 2013. It's a game that constantly challenges players, with the main objective being to destroy the opposing team's base while simultaneously defending their own.

Why is Dota 2 a popular choice for Rwandan gamers?

Dota 2 has a variety of features that make it enjoyable. Some of these include:

• It is easy to understand, even for those who are not very familiar with video games.
• It brings back memories of long ago at a time when video games had dragons and other creatures for players to fight against.
• Players can choose from various characters with different abilities that can be upgraded.
• The game is good in every aspect; gameplay, graphics, and animations are smooth. The heroes are handsome, and you can find new ones as soon as they come out (sometimes within days or hours following their debut). Therefore, there's always something new to play with.

Why is The International popular to bet on?

The International is undoubtedly one of the most exciting esport online tournaments in the world. It provides the opportunity for bettors to wager on their favorite team or player. But what really makes this tournament popular among punters?

1. The tournament brings together the best Dota 2 teams in the world. Each of these teams commands a massive following in terms of fans, most of which are also punters. A tournament in which the best teams compete will undoubtedly attract millions of bettors.

2. The International offers a wide range of betting markets for bettors to choose from. Some of these include:

• Team to win The International
• Player to win The International
• Winner of the group stage
• Winner of the playoffs

3. The International is also a very competitive tournament. Only the best teams in the world make it to the finals, which makes it more exciting for bettors.

4. Dota 2 Odds on The International tournament are available at all online esport betting sites, as long as the event is on. Hence, bettors don't struggle to find where to bet on this tournament.

The International's Winning teams and biggest moments

The International is one of those major esport tournaments that are very competitive; the race for the prize is stiffer than you can imagine. Since the first edition in 2011, only one team has managed to be crowned champions twice. Other winners have only been recognized once. Here are the winners and the most significant moments in the tournament's history.

Natus Vincere

This was the first team to test The International title. Its NaVi won the first edition in 2011. In this final, the team defeated EHOME 3-1 to lift the title. Featuring in this team were Puppey (Clement), a legendary Dota 2 player who has participated in the tournament more than any other individual.

Others included XBOCT, Artstyle, and Dendi. Taking home a staggering US$1 million from a $1.6 million grand prize is something the team will never forget; we won't let it go either.

And while the team has not won the title a second time, it has constantly been harassing its opponents, ensuring they have to run for their money. The fact that NaVi went all the way to the final the following year (2012) says it all.

Invictus Gaming

Wrestling the title from the first edition champions was not easy, and that perhaps highlights how strong this team was at the time. During this final, Invictus Gaming defeated Natus Vincere 3-1, taking home a grand prize of US$1 million.

Alliance

This was the tournament's best team in 2013. Like Invictus Gaming, Alliance was given a run for their money by none other than Natus Vincere, and they were the first European team to win the tournament. They defeated their opponents 3-1, and taking home a $1.4 million prize was spectacular. Players here included Akke, Loda, EGM, AdmiralBulldog, and s4. This third edition is what put The International on the global map in terms of popularity.

Newbee

With the tournament's popularity having soared the previous year, Newbee was seeking the crown against a backdrop of a highly publicized competition. And while the tournament was hosted in Washington, an away ground did not stand in the way of Newbee. In this edition (2014), the finalists were entirely new, with Newbee on the one hand and Vici Gaming on the other.

The former would beat the latter 3-1, taking a whopping US$5,025,029 and reasserting China's dominance in the competition.

Other winners

2015: Evil Geniuses 2016: Wings Gaming 2017: Team Liquid 2018: OG 2019: OG

Where and how to bet on The International?

The International is a global tournament, and thus, it is one of the best esports tournaments when it comes to betting. It doesn't matter where you're betting on esport tournaments from; you should be able to access the event as long as your country allows. To choose the best site for betting on The International or other eSport championships, here are a few things to look at:

• Odds offered by the site: The better the odds, the more you can win if you bet on the tournament.
• The site's reputation: Look at what their track record is and whether the site is licensed or not.
• Live betting: If you want to place your bets while watching the game live, this is a factor you will want to consider. Also, some sites allow you to place bets during halftime.
• Mobile compatibility: Some sites only work on a desktop or laptop, so you will want to consider this factor.
• Customer support: If you ever have any questions about the site or the betting process, the support team should be able to efficiently help.

How to bet on The International

The procedure for betting on The International is simple:

• Sign up with an esports site that offers odds on the tournament
• Log in and make a deposit
• Choose the match you want to bet on
• Choose your stake and complete the process