Win.gg
Dota 2
The International 2019 prize pool breaks new records The International 2019 prize pool breaks new records
The International 2019 is officially set to be the largest event in Dota 2 history.
The prize pool has surpassed the $25,532,177 record set by The International 2018. As of this writing, the tally stands at $25,601,298. Perhaps even more impressively, there are still more than 50 days left for fans to add to inject cash and make The International the most lucrative event in esports once again.
To say this is a massive success for Valve would be an understatement.
Though The International’s gaudy prize pool has long been the envy of the esports world, the event’s growth has been slowing in recent years. While the $25,532,177 prize pool of TI8 was massive, it was only 3% higher than The International 2017’s $24,787,916. This was a sharp decline in percentage increase from previous years which consistently saw multi-million dollar leaps.
Additionally, The International threatened to have some of its thunder stolen by the Fortnite World Cup. Dota 2 has long stood as the most lucrative title in esports with its players dominating any list of winningest professional gamers. Epic Games has been looking to change that by investing
$100 million
into Fortnite’s esports scene.
The centerpiece of this effort is the $30 million prize pool for the Fortnite World Cup. This dwarfed any other esports event in history and was set to blow away the single-event record set by TI8.
That competition and market contraction undoubtedly worried Valve, which pockets 75% of all battle pass purchases. The Dota 2 publisher made a number of additions to this year’s installment, which have paid off in a big way.
All the typical TI battle pass options are present and accounted for, including a limited time special game mode, ranked roles matchmaking, and new chat wheel voice lines. New ways to interact with other players including seasonal consumable items and a matchmaking block list were also added. Perhaps most importantly, the battle pass offers unique cosmetics ranging from the Earthshaker arcana to the Axe Unleashed set.
The additions were not surprising, but the extra rewards were enough to get Dota 2 players to invest heavily. And with TI9 not kicking off until August 15, there is a strong chance that the event will be able to eclipse the prize pool of the Fortnite World Cup.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
View full profile
Read Also
Dota 2
Team Spirit wins TI15 to lift a record third Aegis of Champions
Michael Hassall
Team Spirit has defeated TEAM VISION in the grand finals of TI15, The International 2025. In a full five-game series on Aug. 23, Spirit pulled out all the stops and narrowly defeated an incredible VISION team in a back-and-forth series in Shanghai, China. With Spirit’s victory, Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk and Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov become the first ever three-time TI champions, and Team Spirit becomes the first ever organization to lift ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Finals Preview and Predictions
Michael Hassall
The International 2026, TI15, has reached its final day, and just three teams remain in the fight for the Aegis of Champions. With the lower bracket final and Grand Final still to come, everything comes down to one final day of Dota 2 action. The lower bracket finalists will first battle for the right to reach the main event’s final series, while the winner will advance to face the upper-bracket ...
Dota 2
TI15’s opening ceremony weaves a tapestry of emotion for Valve’s storied title
Michael Hassall
The main stage of The International 2026, TI15, kicked off today with the traditional opening ceremony heralding the start of the biggest celebration of Dota 2 on the calendar. On Aug. 20 fans in Shanghai, China, and at home, were treated to a rousing 11-minute series of performances and video packages, introducing TI15’s main stage show. Here’s how the magic unfolded: The ceremony began with a graphic which quite literally ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Playoffs preview and predictions
Michael Hassall
The Group Stage of The International 2026, TI15, is in the books and we’ve whittled down 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to just eight finalists. One of these talented lineups will be the ones lifting the Aegis of Champions come Sunday, Aug. 23, but until then, there’s plenty of playoff shenanigans that could go on. Below we’ve put together a preview of the upcoming Playoff Games, along ...
News
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027
Ben Boland
The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs Iron Wing at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
The playoffs for TI15 starts off with an absolute banger of a match between Team Spirit and Iron Wing, and the betting odds could not be any closer. Here are our TI15 Team Spirit vs Iron Wing predictions. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Playoffs Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: This is the closest series we have at the first round of the TI15 playoffs, as ...
Dota 2
Who Will Win The International 2026 (TI15)? These Are Our Best Picks
Owen Harsono
The TI15 group stage is over, and we’re down to the top eight teams. We’ve now got a pretty good idea of which teams are the favorites heading into the playoffs based on recent performance and season results, so here are the teams we think have the best shot at winning TI15 and claiming some of The International prize pool. The TI15 group stage saw eight teams exit the event ...
