Dota 2 is the premier multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game on Steam. As one of the most-played games on Steam, Dota 2 has also grown into one of the biggest esports on the planet, having hosted international tournaments every year, bringing professional players from all over the world to compete against one another for cash prizes. 

The International is Dota 2’s season finale where the best of best compete for the ultimate trophy “The Aegis of Champions” and a place in Dota 2 history. Only ten teams in history have attained this prestigious title, and only one team has managed to win the trophy twice.

As expected, “The International” draws in millions of spectators globally who seek to live vicariously through their favorite team’s journey, follow every game passionately, and even place bets on their favorite matches.

Many sports betting sites allow users to bet on The International, and make predictions on match outcomes and ultimately the winner. An entire industry of analysts and experts help make predictions easier, analyze matches and predict the winner of the next event. An extensive list of Dota 2 betting sites has markets available for those seeking to put their money where their mouth is.

Perhaps this year the winner could be the one indicated by the odds, or maybe we will have one of these previous “The International” winners win yet another trophy:

  • 2011 – Natus Vincere, The International; “The International 1” in 2011 was Dota 2’s first big event. The Ukrainian team, Natus Vincere (Na’Vi), won this event in a best-of-five match versus EHOME. This event took place during Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. Na’Vi’s victory at TI1 is still considered one of the most impressive esports performances of all time.
  • 2012 – Invictus Gaming (IG) beat Natus Vincere in the grand final of “The International 2” in 2012, becoming the first team to receive the Aegis of Champions. IG’s victory at TI2 was a major turning point for the Chinese Dota 2 scene, and it helped to establish China as a dominant force in the game.
  • 2013 – Team Alliance won “The International 3,” which took place in 2013, after defeating Natus Vincere in the finals and taking home the cash prize and trophy. Alliance’s victory at TI3 was a testament to their incredible skill and teamwork, and it solidified their legacy as one of the greatest Dota 2 teams of all time.
  • 2014 – The Chinese team NewBee won “The International 4” which took place in 2014  by defeating Vici Gaming in the championship match. NewBee’s victory at TI4 was a major upset because they were a relatively unknown team before the tournament. They had only formed a few months earlier, and they had not won any major tournaments.
  • 2015 – In 2015, the American team Evil Genius won “The International 5”, becoming the first North American team to win the Aegis by beating CDEC Gaming in the finals. Evil Geniuses’ victory at The International 5 was a historic moment for North American Dota 2. It was the first time that a team from the region had won the tournament, and it helped to put the region on the map.
  • 2016 – Wings Gaming made a lasting impression in “the International 6” in 2016 by defeating Digital Chaos in the final, taking home the cash prize and trophy. As it happened during TI4, Wings Gaming was a relatively unknown team. Wings Gaming’s victory at TI4 is still considered one of the biggest upsets in esports history.
  • 2017 – Team Liquid made their existence known at “The International 7” by showing outstanding teamwork, which led to their victory over the Newbee team, taking home the cash prize and trophy. Liquid’s journey to victory at TI7 was not easy. They lost their first match of the tournament, and they were forced to play in the lower bracket. However, Liquid managed to win a number of close matches, and they eventually made it to the grand finals. Their victory was a testament to their incredible teamwork and dedication. They had been one of the best teams in the world for several years, but they had not been able to win the biggest tournament in Dota 2. However, at TI7, they finally managed to break through and achieve their goal.
  • 2018/2019- Team OG became the first team to win back-to-back in both “The International 8” (2018), and “The International 9” (2019). Being the first team to win two titles in a row, a feat no other team had accomplished. OG has also won a number of other major tournaments, including the ESL One Major and the Dota Pro Circuit Major.
  • 2021 –  Team Spirit became the first Russian team to win the Aegis of the Immortal by defeating the Chinese team PSG.LGD in the grand final of “TI10” , taking home the cash prize and trophy. This was the team’s first major championship victory, and it came as a surprise to many, as Team Spirit was not considered to be one of the favorites to win the tournament.
  • 2022 – Tundra Esports won “The International 11” 2022, the biggest Dota 2 tournament, by defeating Team Secret in the Grand Finals, taking home the cash prize and trophy. Tundra Esports had a very impressive run at The International 2022. They finished the group stage with a perfect 15-0 record, and they remained undefeated throughout the playoffs. One of the most memorable moments of Tundra Esports’ run at TI11 was their match against Team Liquid in the upper bracket semifinals. Tundra Esports was down 0-2 in the series, but they managed to come back and win the next three games to advance to the upper bracket finals.

Final Remarks

The International 2023 or TI12, is just around the corner, keeping fans hyped and predicting who the next Champions will be. Four of the ten former TI Champions (Tundra Esports, Team Spirit, Evil Geniuses and Team Liquid) are present this year, each hoping to etch their name into the Aegies for the second time.

I am looking forward to what strategy, teamwork and unique gameplay are going to be shown to us by the teams participating this year. Predicting the winner is harder than ever this year, we can only support our favorite teams and hope the best team wins.