It’s official! Valve has confirmed The International 13 (TI 2024) will take place in September this year. Despite the absence of the esteemed professional Dota 2 circuit, the highly anticipated annual event will continue with some exciting changes as it relocates to Copenhagen, Denmark, a cherished hub for esports enthusiasts across Europe.
This year’s TI will unfold at Copenhagen’s renowned Royal Arena, renowned for hosting the record-breaking R6S and CSGO Blast 2023. Notably, Valve has streamlined the competition, opting for 16 competing teams instead of the usual 20, promising even more tense battles for the coveted Aegis.
In its recent official blog post, Valve shed light on the qualification process post the closure of the DPC last year. It is anticipated that the initial invite process will be reinstated for the majority of teams, potentially drawing directly from the ESL circuits. However, some details remain undisclosed, leaving room for potential adjustments leading up to the event.
“The sixteen participating teams will be a mix of open qualifiers, regional qualifiers, and direct invitations, similar to how invitations worked for the first few years of The International. The invited teams will be announced leading up to the event, and chosen based on team performance during the year.” stated Valve.
Intriguingly, Valve hinted at the potential revival of Midas mode for this year. Originating from Moonduck in 2017, this mode integrated charitable initiatives with Dota’s competitive spirit, elevating the tournament’s significance and anticipation. Valve hinted, “The more eligible teams, the greater our consideration.”
As Dota steps into Europe’s esports scene, fans are super excited. But will TI’s viewership take over the world once more? Last year’s TI 12 in Seattle saw fewer viewers and prizes, not quite matching the excitement of other tournaments. We’ll have to wait and see if Denmark brings back the hype!
