When is the International Dota 2 2023: Prize Pool, Schedule, Location

The International 2023 is the biggest Dota 2 tournament of the year and possibly the largest esports tournament in the world. This tournament will bring together the top 20 Dota 2 teams worldwide. Here's everything you need to know about this epic event.

In late June, Valve confirmed that The International 2023 will start on October 12, 2023. This is a few days earlier than what was announced back in May. 

The current tournament format has not been revealed. In the past, teams were split into two round-robin groups for the Group Stage. Dota 2 esports fans will have to await an official post from Valve for more details.

The International 2023 will feature 20 teams in total. Twelve of them will be directly invited based on their Dota Pro Circuit rankings, while the remaining eight teams will earn their spots through regional qualifiers. 

The International 2023 is taking place in Seattle, Washington, near Valve's headquarters. This is the first TI to be held in North America since 2018. Seattle has hosted two previous TIs in 2012 and 2017. The exact location is the Climate Pledge Arena, an iconic venue opened in 1962 for the World's Fair, with a capacity of around 17,000 to 18,000 people.

The International 2023 will be streamed on its own Twitch channel as well as the official Dota 2 YouTube channel. Fans can also watch through the in-game client on the Watch tab.

Every year, The International Dota 2 is known for its massive prize pool. Since 2015, TI has had an increasingly impressive prize pool, partially funded by battle pass purchases. The International 2021 set a record with a prize pool of nearly $40 million. However, in recent years, Valve announced that there would be no battle pass for The International, which has affected the prize pool. 

Last year, TI22 had a prize pool of $18.9 million, which is still an impressive sum. This year's prize pool is expected to be similar, with almost half of it going to the winning team.