Dota 2: The International 14 is Back to Germany in 2025

The pinnacle of competitive Dota 2, The International 2025 (TI14), is officially set to return to its German roots, so from Sept. 11 to 14, 2025, the world’s top 16 teams will battle it out at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena.

Known simply as TI within the esports community, The International is an annual esports world championship for the five-on-five video game Dota 2 produced by the game’s developer, Valve. 

Starting from the second tournament, teams compete for the symbolic Aegis of Champions, a physical trophy that was forged out of bronze and silver by Weta Workshop with engraved names of each player on the winning team of The International.

Besides the winning glory and Aegis of Champions, teams are also fighting for a massive prize pool, which has seen a slight decrease in recent years due to Valve’s decision to discontinue the Battle Pass system, which previously contributed significantly to the prize pool through community funding. The International 2024 (TI13) featured a total prize pool of $2,602,164, marking the lowest since 2013.

Return to Germany marks a significant milestone in TI’s history, as the event revisits the country where it all began. The initial event of The International in 2011 took place at Gamescom in the German city of Cologne, where NAVI secured the first-ever championship title. Now, 14 years later, the competition comes full circle to celebrate its legacy at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena, a premier venue with a seating capacity of approximately 13,800 for esports events.

For The International 2025 (TI14), sixteen competitor teams will be determined through a mix of open qualifiers, regional qualifiers, and direct invitations. Team Liquid, the reigning champions from TI13, will look to defend their title, assuming they secure a spot through the qualification process. 

Winners chart for previous years:

The International 2024 – Team Liquid
The International 2023 – Team Spirit
The International 2022 – Tundra Esports
The International 2021 – Team Spirit
The International 2019 – OG
The International 2018 – OG
The International 2017 – Team Liquid
The International 2016 – Wings Gaming
The International 2015 – Evil Geniuses
The International 2014 – Newbee
The International 2013 – Alliance
The International 2012 – Invictus Gaming
The International 2011 – Natus Vincere