Wildcard tournament returning for The International 11

Steven Rondina Published 21/01/2022

Valve has announced that The International 11 is going to have a new format and a different qualifier system compared to past years.

Following the enormous backlash surrounding the cancelation of the 2022 Winter Major, Valve has detailed its plans for the remainder of the season. There were two notable revelations therein, including regional competitions to replace the major as well as a new qualification system for The International 11.

Replacing the canceled major will be Regional Finals tournaments. In February, each region will host a four-team tournament featuring the top placements from the first tour. These tournaments will feature a $100,000 prize pool with DPC qualifying points towards TI11 being on the line. The distribution will be as follows:

• 1st place: $50,000, 250 DPC points  
• 2nd place $25,000, 130 DPC points 
• 3rd place: $15,000
• 4th place: $10,000

Each tournament will take place across two days. Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America will see their Regional Finals events take place from February 11 to 13. North America, CIS, and China will have their tournaments from February 18 20.

The International 11 will have different format, wildcard tournament

Out of caution that the Regional Finals may potentially artificially inflate the legitimacy of some weaker regions, Valve is making changes to The International 11. This will see a wildcard tournament and slightly altered group stage format.

TI11 will have a wildcard tournament that will admit two extra teams into the event. The wildcard tournament will happen ahead of the event and will take place in a LAN setting. It will include the second and third-place finishers from each regional qualifier for The International 11, with the top two teams advancing to the group stage.

The group stage of TI11 will then include 20 teams instead of the usual 18. The event will play out normally, with the pool of 20 teams being divided into two groups that then play in a round robin made up of best-of-two series.

Instead of the bottom team from each group being eliminated, the two worst teams in each group will be eliminated. Seeding for the playoffs and the playoff format will play out normally from there.

No date for The International 11 has yet been confirmed. Expect it to come in the fall of 2022.

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

Esports Betting

Heroic Exits Dota 2, and It’s Bad News for the Scene Owen Harsono Norwegian esports organization Heroic has officially called it quits in Dota 2, dropping its roster after two years in the scene. Despite finding relative success, the organization cited financial constraints as the primarily reason for their departure. If a budget-savvy team like Heroic couldn’t make it work, the Dota 2 scene is in big trouble. On May 4, Heroic suddenly announced they’d be pulling the plug on their Dota 2 ...

League of Legends

Playing League of Legends can improve brain function, study finds Khizar Mundia If you have ever found yourself having to defend the countless you spend gaming online then you may now have a ready-made excuse — researchers have just revealed that video games can improve brain function. A team from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China conducted a study comparing League of Legends with Legends of the Three Kingdoms. The study found both improved brain function, with League of ...

Dota 2

Is Dota 2 dying in 2026? Here’s what the numbers really say Ben Boland The question “Is Dota 2 dead?” has been asked by many people over the last couple of years. Since the game’s player base fluctuates and other MOBAs rise in popularity, it’s understandable that some people feel like Dota 2 is dying and its best days are behind it. However, is this really the case? Let’s find out. Once you start looking for some of the best Dota 2 teams or ...

Dota 2

Every Dota 2 International Champion in History: The Complete Winners List Ben Boland If you know a thing or two about esports, “The International” should ring a bell. TI is Dota 2’s yearly tournament and is one of the most prestigious tournament series in all of esports. It’s best known for its million-dollar prize pools, and every edition tells a different story. Below, we list all the winners of Dota 2’s The International. Every year, Valve hosts an iteration of The International, with ...

Kick

ESL FACEIT Group announces Kick partnership, here’s what we know Khizar Mundia ESL FACEIT Group and Kick have signed a partnership that will allow the platform to distribute and broadcast select official CS2 and Dota 2 tournaments. Esports broadcasting rights are an important element for major streaming platforms, as popular tournaments draw millions of viewers. The esports broadcasting network is substantially fragmented as no one platform holds exclusive rights for major tournaments. Kick has been trying to get into the esports scene ...

Dota 2

Best Dota 2 Players in 2026 Owen Harsono In 2026, pro Dota 2 players are on another level, with a bunch of them even passing 17,000 MMR. However, not all of them can prove themselves on the big stage. Below we have ranked the top 10 best Dota 2 players in 2026 who have championship qualities. We have ranked the top 10 Dota 2 players in the world right now. We primarily considered individual skill and overall contribution ...

Dota 2

Best Dota 2 Teams in 2026 Owen Harsono We're currently in one of the most competitive eras in Dota 2, as many teams have the potential to win an event. But, even though the playing field is very even right now, some squads still manage to win out more often than others. Below are the top 10 best Dota 2 teams this year, including details on their recent successes and any question marks that remain. NAVI went for ...