Although some people claim that Dota 2 is not as popular as before, the game continues to be one of the biggest eSports in the world. Home to many different tournaments, people interested in betting on Dota 2 can choose from multiple options. One of them, however, is more popular, and its name is The International.
Also known as TI, www.cnwindpower.com shows that the tournament begins on September 4 and will take place in Copenhagen. Considering it will be the most prestigious Dota 2 tournament of the year, fans can expect to find all of the big clubs and players. “It is true that this year’s International will most likely not be as impressive as the Riyadh Masters 2024 in terms of prize pool. Nevertheless, this is Dota 2’s leading event and every team dreams of winning it. This gives people an excellent chance to watch the best players in the world and put their betting skills to the test”, said Veselin, the eSports expert at NB.
Since the tournament begins in a few weeks from now, Dota 2 fans are eager to learn more about it. That’s why it is time to highlight everything you should know regarding the competition and take a look at the betting options. The International 2024 is a solid choice for eSports punters, so keep reading to learn more.
Short History
Every Dota 2 fan knows that The International is not just another tournament on the calendar. This is the most important competition of the year because it brings together the best of the best. It also used to be the tournament with the largest prize pool in eSports.
For example, in 2021, The International (TI)’s reward reached over $40.02M, a record that has yet to be broken. Interestingly, the tournament’s prize pool kept getting bigger every year since 2011 until it reached this amount, but things changed in 2021.
After breaking the record, TI 2022’s prize pool was less than half of what it was the year before. Valve failed to live up to fans’ expectations for TI 2023 as well, resulting in a prize pool of $3.38M. This was the lowest reward since the tournament in 2013.
For now, The International 2024 has a prize pool of $1.6M. This amount could change in the upcoming weeks, but we do not expect to see a drastic change.
Valve has given up on the Battle Pass and/or Compendium items that allowed the tournament’s prize pool to reach jaw-dropping numbers. A percentage of all purchases went towards the prize pool, and it worked well for many years, but things have changed.
Dota 2 developer Valve Software announced on Saturday (9 March) that The International (TI) 2024, this year’s iteration of Dota 2’s annual multimillion-dollar world championship tournament, will be hosted at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark. #dota2 #theinternational2024 pic.twitter.com/kd8emAtrH1
— norsh (@NorshGamer) March 12, 2024
Format & Overview
The International 2024 will begin on September 4 and last until September 15. To visit it, people must purchase TI 2024 tickets and go to the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In terms of the tournament’s format, The International 2024 will have 16 squads in total. Six got an invitation from the organizers, whereas the other 10 participated in regional qualifiers.
These 16 teams will have to take part in the Group Stage. Those that succeed will advance to the Main Event.
If you can’t attend The International 2024 in person, you can watch one of the many live streams that fans will have access to. Considering the size of the event, there will be streams in English, Chinese, Spanish, and more. Don’t worry, you will find the live stream on all of the popular eSports betting platforms.
The teams
Before reviewing some of the potential The International 2024 betting options, it’s important to cover the participating teams. Here is a list of every team that will take part in this event:
- Team Spirit
- Xtreme Gaming
- BetBoom Team
- Team Falcons
- Team Liquid
- Gaimin Gladiators
- Aurora
- Beastcoast
- G2 x iG
- Team Zero
- 1win
- Tundra Esports
- HEROIC
- Nouns
- Talon Esports
- Cloud9
Everyone who follows the Dota 2 eSports scene can immediately tell that all of the best teams in the world are here. However, some are in a much better position than others to win this event.
Dota 2 is among the games where a team is as good as its last performance. That’s why it’s key to look at the Riyadh Masters 2024 results to see which could be some of the favorites at TI 2024.
Considering Gaimin Gladiators won the event in Saudi Arabia, it’s no surprise they are the team to look out for. This squad dominated everyone throughout 2023 and continued with its impressive results in 2024.
Another name that players should keep a close eye on is Team Liquid. Like GG, Liquid was the go-to squad in 2023, and it has always been among the best in 2024. During the Riyadh Masters 2024, Nisha and his teammates reached the Grand Final.
One of the Dota 2 2024 phenomenons, Team Falcons, is also a hidden favorite to win TI 2024. The squad from MENA achieved very impressive results earlier this year and continues to dominate internationally.
Dota 2 The International 2024 Betting Guide
Besides watching some of the best Dota 2 teams in the world at TI 2024, you can also bet on them. There are loads of different bookmakers that will give you access to this tournament. Some, however, will have more options than the rest.
The most important thing to remember when betting on The International 2024 is to look at all the available options. For example, every single bookmaker that offers eSports wagering will give you access to the Outright Winner market. If you choose it, you must bet on the team you think will win the competition.
The odds for this market will be different, depending on the potential winner you choose. Some brands, such as GG.Bet, will offer good odds for all participants, but it seems like Team Falcons are the favorites, followed by Gaimin Gladiators and Team Spirit.
Since we are on the topic of markets, every single match at The International 2024 will let you wager on many options. You can punt on the winner, use a Match Handicap, and bet on markets like First Blood, First Kill on Roshan, Total Kills, Over/Under, and more.
Keep in mind that many of the leading eSports bookies will offer Dota 2-specific markets for TI 2024. For example, you can see markets that will let you wager on specific items, heroes, kill streaks, and more.
The features you need
Choosing a bookmaker that will provide you with enough betting features for The International 2024 is very important. Quality is more important than quantity, so you should check what’s offered.
Starting with Live Streaming, this feature will most likely be available across all sites that allow you to bet on Dota 2. Live Streaming is very important for people who want to place live bets on The International 2024 because it will allow them to follow the action in real time. Dota 2 is fast-paced, and live bettors must watch everything.
Cash Out is the next feature that you should have access to when betting on this Dota 2 tournament. The option will enable you to settle the bet before the match is over, which can be crucial for live bettors. There are countless examples of how this feature can save you from losing, so it’s very important to have it in your arsenal.
If possible, you should also look for Bet Builder. Even though this feature is not that popular among Dota 2 bettors, punters can use it to add several markets into a single bet. Of course, this is only possible if you combine markets that work with each other. For example, you can’t wager that Team X will win in under 20 minutes and bet that the game will be 40+ minutes.
The bonuses to look out for
Betting sites know that Dota 2 is a popular game and realize the importance of The International. Consequently, many operators release short-term bonuses that Dota 2 fans can use while betting on TI 2024.
One reward that you should look forward to is the deposit bonus. Bookies will want to encourage their clients to wager on TI 2024 by giving them additional funds after depositing. Unlike the classic reload bonuses, however, this reward will only work if you stake on TI 2024.
Another popular Dota 2 The International 2024 bonus is the cashback. Bookmakers often give users access to this proposal during a big event because it allows bettors to get some of the money they have lost.
Free bets are also a standard eSports bonus that users can access, especially if they want to bet on Dota 2 and CS 2. Although these are just two of the available eSports, bookies know their importance and allow clients to stake on them.
Finally, some eSports bookies may also offer The International 2024 no deposit bonuses. Just remember that these alternatives may only be available for new clients.