Is The International the biggest esports event in the world?

Dota 2’s The International is the annual championship for Dota 2, and its massive prize pools and absurd number of contenders make it an easy pick for the biggest esports event of any calendar year.

Several of the world’s best esports teams compete against each other in the popular multiplayer online battle arena, which was developed and published by Valve. The teams compete to literally carve their names into the Aegis of Champions, a massive trophy made just for TI. However, most eyes are on the gargantuan prize pool that continues to dwarf everything else in esports. The event is completely free to watch with plenty of real money wagering opportunities at several licensed online sports betting sites. Find out more about what makes Dota 2’s The International the biggest event in esports right here. 

What is Dota 2’s The International?

The International is the Dota 2  world championship tournament that takes place at the end of every year. The world’s top teams compete against each other in the MOBA to win a share of a massive real-money prize pool. For context, the 2021 edition of The International had a whopping $40 million prize pool up for grabs. The champion Team Spirit ended up taking the lion’s share of the winnings at over $18 million. 

The first-ever International was held in 2011, and at that time, just 16 teams were involved. From 2017 to 2021, a total of 18 teams battled it out, and there are now a total of 20 teams in the main event with even more in the last chance qualifier. The only team to win The International twice is team OG, who won consecutively in 2018 and 2019. The most recent iteration of the event took place at Singapore Indoor Stadium and Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from October 8 to October 30. 

Can Dota 2 fans bet on The International?

Every The International, Dota 2 fans get the opportunity to spice up exciting matches with real money bets. TI is the best time of the year to see unprecedented matchups from across the world, and the biggest storylines of the year are often resolved on the biggest stage. If you want to bet on Dota 2 in Zambia, websites like 10Bet Africa often offer fast lines on all Dota 2 pro matchups. 

Just like with any esports betting situation, it’s important for Dota 2 bettors to take their wagers seriously. Bet with a cool head and never chase losses. The International is a celebration of Dota 2 in addition to being its biggest yearly tournament, so savor the opportunity and potentially earn some money in the process.

Is The International the biggest esports event?

Going purely by prize pool, The International is far and away the biggest tournament on the yearly esports calendar. Its prize pool peak of over $40 million is almost triple the biggest ever non-Dota 2 prize pool. Other popular tournaments and leagues that feature big cash prizes include the following competitive circuits.

• Electronic Sports League ONE Dota 2 (ESL)
• Electronic Sports League ONE CS:GO (Counter-Strike: Global Strike)
• ESL Intel Extreme Masters
• League Championship Series (LCS)
• League of Legends European Championship (LEC)
• League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK)
• League of Legends World Championship

How much money do esports teams win at The International

There are hundreds of esports teams out there today, and some are far more successful than others. When looking at the world’s best gamers, it’s generally based on how much money they have made from placing in tournaments. For example, fans could say that Team Liquid is the best esports team of all time with $40,224,556.78 in tournament prize money. 

Team OG has earned $36,888.212.19 while Evil Geniuses has earned a total of $25,997,509.19. All three of these squads have won The International, which has massively contributed to their total won prize money. Unsurprisingly, the top 21 highest-earning esports players are all Dota 2 players, making it the most lucrative esports in the entire industry.