The International 14 Tournament Details Confirmed

Valve has officially unveiled the comprehensive format for The International 2025 (TI14), signaling a significant transformation in the landscape of Dota 2 esports. Scheduled to take place at the prestigious Barclays Arena in Hamburg this September, TI14 will introduce an innovative Swiss Stage system, marking a departure from the traditional group format and promising high-stakes match-ups from the very first day of the event.

The new phase, termed “The Road to The International,” will run from September 4 to 7. During this period, 16 of the globe’s elite Dota 2 teams will engage in an intense five-round Swiss bracket format. This structure engages teams through a competitive environment that pairs each round’s participants based on their current win-loss records, ensuring balanced match-ups that heighten the anticipation and excitement with every game.

Each contest will follow a best-of-three series format, where teams that achieve four wins will seamlessly progress to the main stage of TI14. In contrast, those that suffer four losses will face immediate elimination from the tournament.

Highlighting the complexities of the Swiss format, Valve has carefully designed the tournament to facilitate a streamlined viewing experience. “Swiss formats come with unique challenges, and we’ve taken special care to make sure fans can know in advance when their favorite teams are playing, and that no team with a winning record ever has to play two series in a row,” Valve noted in an official blog post.

Upon completion of the Swiss stage, the results will condense the competition down to six teams—three qualifying for the next phase and three being eliminated. The remaining ten teams will enter an elimination round, featuring the highest-performing teams facing off against the lowest performers. Ultimately, five teams will move forward in the competition, while five others will exit.

The thrilling main event of TI14 will commence on September 11, spotlighting eight teams competing in front of a live audience in Hamburg. Utilizing a double-elimination bracket, all participating teams will start in the upper bracket. Consistent with the series format, all matches will be best-of-three, with the grand final scheduled for September 14 presented as a gripping best-of-five showdown for the coveted Aegis of the Immortal.

This year’s structural redesign notably reduces the number of teams advancing from the opening stage, allowing only half of the participants to proceed to the playoffs. Valve’s strategic overhaul aims to infuse every match with significance, intensifying the competition while minimizing the occurrence of inconsequential games—ensuring that the stakes are high and the drama is palpable throughout the tournament.

Stay tuned for real-time updates and comprehensive coverage of TI14 as we approach one of the most anticipated events in the esports calendar.