The International 2025: The Greatest Battle in Dota 2 Esports History
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The world's Dota 2 elite is preparing for this year's season pinnacle. The International 2025 starts September 4 as the biggest esports event of the year, where the planet's 16 best teams will fight for the prestigious Aegis of Champions trophy and world champion status. Tournament Format and Path to Victory This year's edition brings a traditional yet demanding format divided into three key phases. The group stage utilizes a Swiss system where all 16 teams gradually face opponents with similar win-loss records. The top three teams advance directly to playoffs, while teams in positions 4-13 must navigate the elimination phase. The elimination portion determines five additional qualifiers who join the direct qualifiers. A total of eight teams then compete in the playoff phase with double elimination, where every match can decide the fate of favorites. Defenders vs. Challengers Team Liquid arrives at the tournament as defending champions with ambitions to achieve ...