The International 2025 — a New Road to the International

Valve recently revealed a new structure for The International 2025. The revamped Road to The International is divided into two parts and features a fresh take on the Swiss format. According to Valve, these changes aim to ensure that every match matters.

In recent years, The International has undergone significant transformations. Following the decision to spread the development effort of the Battle Pass throughout the year, we now see a reworked Group Stage. Let’s take a closer look at how The International 2025 will operate.

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Will This Year’s Edition Finally Find a Balance Between Form and Function? (Credit: Dota 2)

The Swiss Format in a Few Words

Over the years, Valve has continuously refined The International to enhance the experience for both players and fans. These small improvements have contributed to making the event a global spectacle for Dota 2 enthusiasts. However, one persistent issue remained: low-engagement matches.

In previous editions, the final round of the Group Stage often featured matches with little significance. Some teams that were already eliminated played their last round with no stakes, while in other cases, a team's fate depended entirely on the results of other matchups.

The Swiss format has been widely adopted in tournaments as a solution to this problem. (Credit: Pinnacle)

Under this format, teams play an initial round, and subsequent rounds match teams with identical records. This approach eliminates both issues mentioned above, ensuring that every match has meaning. As this system has become the standard in Dota 2, Valve has decided to integrate it into The International 2025.

The International 2025 and the New Road to The International

The International 2025 will incorporate the Swiss format in its Group Stage but with a unique twist. While the tournament will still feature five rounds, the way teams advance will be different. Unlike previous years, every team will play all five rounds of the Group Stage.

At the end of these rounds:

• Three teams with a 4-1 record will secure a spot in the main event.
• Three teams with a 1-4 record will be eliminated.
• The remaining ten teams will face an additional elimination round, where the 2-3 and 3-2 teams compete for five final spots in the main event.

Instead of early eliminations, all teams will play the full five rounds, similar to GG and Falcons. (Credit: Liquipedia)

According to Valve’s announcement, extra precautions have been taken to prevent player fatigue. In the new format, no team will ever play the last match of a round and the first match of the next round. This is an important step, particularly given the recent burnout concerns raised by Team Spirit skipping the next DreamLeague.

The Main Event: Format and Dates

Following the new Road to The International, the main event will proceed as usual, featuring a double-elimination bracket with best-of-three matches and a best-of-five Grand Final. While slightly different from previous formats, this structure has been extensively tested in other tournaments this year.

All qualified teams will begin in the upper bracket, as seen in FISSURE Universe. (Credit: Liquipedia)

The Road to The International runs from September 4th to September 7th, covering both the Swiss rounds and the elimination rounds. The International 2025 main event begins on September 11th and will take place over four days, culminating in the Grand Finals on September 14th.

For those looking to attend in person at the Barclay Arena, Valve has announced that single-day and multi-day bundle tickets will go on sale via AXS at 10am CEST (8am GMT) on Tuesday, April 15th.

Are you planning to cheer for your favorite team in Hamburg? (Credit: Dota 2)

It’s important to note that the information presented here is an interpretation of Valve’s official announcement regarding The International 2025. While minor changes or clarifications may arise, the core format appears to be as outlined above.

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Featured Image Source: Dota 2