TI9 tickets sold out due to scalpers, being resold for $1,800

Olivia Richman Published 02/06/2019

Hopefully, true Dota 2 fans have already purchased their tickets for The International. 

Prices for TI9 have spiked to an insane $1,800 since their May 24 release. Many Dota 2 fans are blaming the skyrocketing ticket prices on scalpers. Tickets for the major Dota 2 event were sold out within minutes. 

The 26,804 tickets Valve had made available in the Chinese market were sold out the instant they became avaialable for purchase. This included 9,268 tickets for August 20 and 21, and 8,268 for the weekend, including the grand finals. 

Team Secret manager Matthew “Cyborgmatt” Bailey said that the weekend bundles sold out in 27 seconds. That was due to player’s using early access codes, which were given to individuals subscribed to Dota Plus and to those who purchased the T19 Battle Pass on May 21. 

Since the early access code-weilding fans had purchased all of the available tickets within seconds, Valve and Damai canceled the open purchasing period. But even with the early access barrier, tickets started popping up on resale sites. And they weren’t cheap. 

Resale sites like TaoBao had weekend passes for up to $1,800. Their original price was a little over $300.

“Personally as a Dota player, I’v always been dreaming of going to a TI tournament live. In the past years the tournament has been held in America. This was the first time that it is held in China. But the tickets are all sold to scalpers, even before I had a chance to buy any. I hope people, Valve if possible, are aware of this issue,” said one Dota 2 fan on Reddit. 

The post also pointed out that this is, sadly, nothing new. 

In 2018, Damai also authorized tickets sales for a League of Legends tournament. Most of the tickets went to scalpers before the official ticket sales even started. 

Unfortunately, this isn’t a problm Valve can easily fix. The venue where the event is being held are usually the ones in charge of ticket sales, and choose which website to sell the tickets on. 

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

View full profile

Read Also

Esports Betting

Here’s the complete Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 schedule Hannan Mundia The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has finally arrived, and here’s the complete schedule for the event to ensure you don’t miss anything. While it isn’t exactly the newest name in the esports scene, the EWC has quickly become a leading event for esports fans worldwide. It brings together professional players and fans from various games, combining them into one long event that everyone can enjoy. 2026’s Esports World Cup ...

Dota 2

Dota 2 at the EWC 2026 preview, details, predictions, and more Michael Hassall A titanic 24 teams are set to compete in Dota 2 at the Esports World Cup 2025 in one of the largest events of the competitive season. These two dozen organizations are set to take over the Paris Convention Center, filling it with top-tier competitive Dota 2 action. With a $2,000,000 USD prize pool, the largest on the Dota 2 calendar, there’s everything to play for in the final major ...

Dota 2

Top Dota 2 combos to boost your MMR fast Wasif Ahmed Dota 2 is a complex and interesting game that requires skill, strategy and teamwork to be successful. Having said that, one of the best ways to improve your MMR is by learning certain Dota 2 combos that have proven themselves over time. It’s worth knowing that there are not that many Dota 2 combos that have survived the test of time because every new patch changes the game’s meta. Nevertheless, ...

Dota 2

Dota 2 temporarily deletes popular hero before launching huge Dark Carnival update Michael Hassall If you were an Axe player in Dota 2 earlier this week, you’d have found yourself out of luck when you tried to pick the stalwart Oglodi warrior, as the hero was straight up removed from the game on June 23. The hero was completely missing from All-Pick and his hero model was replaced with a missing poster. Axe couldn’t even be demoed or picked in a custom game for ...

Dota 2

Team Yandex stop the magic, defeating LGD in BLAST Slam VII finals Michael Hassall Team Yandex have defeated LGD Gaming in the grand finals of BLAST Slam VII in a dramatic 3-1 series that saw both teams pushed to the limit, but ultimately Yandex come out on top. Concluding the last major tournament before teams head to the Esports World Cup and The International 2026 next month and in August, Yandex were able to counter the momentum of LGD that had brought them into ...

Dota 2

BLAST Slam VII Finals Predictions and Picks – Can LGD make it all the way? Michael Hassall LGD Gaming in the top three of a tournament!? What is this 2021? BLAST Slam VII has been one of the most surprising tournaments of the year, and has capped off the pre-EWC and TI season with some of the most thrilling gameplay we’ve seen in months. And the finals are set to be even more exciting. With just three teams left there’s a lot on the line, from the ...

Dota 2

Easiest Dota 2 Heroes for Beginners – Best Picks to Learn the Game Simon Day We can all agree that Dota 2 is a complex game, but starting with the right heroes can make the learning process much smoother. Choosing one of the best Dota 2 heroes for beginners is key to building your skills and enjoying your matches. That’s why it’s time to explore the heroes that are easy to understand, effective in the game and great for learning the fundamentals. Without going into ...