The International 2024

A Return to Tradition

The International 2024 represented a significant shift in format for the Dota 2 world championship. Following the conclusion of the 2023 event, Valve abolished the Dota Pro Circuit. This led to a return to the tournament's earlier structure, where direct invitations were issued based on team performances in various global tournaments held throughout the year. This change marked the first time in several years that the event used this classic qualification system.

Valve announced Copenhagen as the host city for the event around September 2024. The tournament was held at the Royal Arena, marking a return of The International to a European audience after several years. The event spanned from September 4 to September 15, 2024.

The Teams and Qualification

A total of sixteen teams earned the right to compete for the Aegis of Champions at The International 2024. The direct invites for the tournament were officially announced on May 27. Six teams secured their spots based on their performances in preceding tournaments during the competitive year. The remaining slots were filled through other qualification paths tied to the new, decentralized system of global tournaments.

The field included notable contenders like the previous year's finalist, Gaimin Gladiators, and the eventual champions, Team Liquid. The shift away from a centralized circuit meant teams' year-long consistency across multiple independent events was crucial for securing an invitation.

Tournament Overview and Prize Pool

The International 2024 featured a total prize pool of $2,776,566. This figure made it the smallest prize pool for a TI event since the tournament's early years. Despite the reduced total, the stakes remained high, with the winning team claiming a lion's share of the money.

The champions, Team Liquid, earned $1,158,154 for their victory. The tournament's main event phase began on September 8, following an initial group stage. All competitive action culminated in the grand finals held at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen.

The Road to the Finals

The tournament bracket whittled the sixteen teams down to two finalists. Team Liquid, the champions from The International 2017, progressed through the upper or lower bracket to reach the grand final. Their opponent was Gaimin Gladiators, a team familiar with the TI finals stage after being the runner-up in the previous year's event.

The matchup set the stage for a clash between a former champion seeking a return to glory and a consistent top team aiming for its first Aegis. The path through the bracket tested both teams' strategies and resilience in the high-pressure environment of the world championship.

Grand Final and Champion

The grand final of The International 2024 was a decisive affair. Team Liquid faced off against Gaimin Gladiators in a best-of-five series to determine the world champion. Team Liquid demonstrated superior form and execution across the series.

They defeated Gaimin Gladiators with a clean 3-0 victory, not dropping a single game in the final match. This dominant performance secured Team Liquid its second Aegis of Champions, adding a 2024 title to its 2017 championship. The victory confirmed Team Liquid's status as one of Dota 2's most successful organizations.

Legacy and Significance

The International 2024 will be remembered for its format reset, returning to a more open qualification system reminiscent of Dota 2's earlier competitive era. The event also stood out for its comparatively smaller prize pool, a topic of discussion within the community. However, the prestige of winning the Aegis of Champions remained undiminished.

Hosting the event in Copenhagen at the Royal Arena successfully brought the premier Dota 2 tournament back to a live European audience. Team Liquid's victory completed a comeback story, proving that a former champion could reclaim the top of the sport after a seven-year gap.