Dota 2 The International 2018 tournament is quite near to its tournament date. Where a challenging part from many teams and players taking their part from Open Qualifiers until Regional Qualifiers.
This process of determining to which teams are eligible to qualify on the main event of The International 2018. But there are selected teams that gain the special access direct to main event allocated team slots. Those teams did perform well on the year's major and premier tournament where each of those tournaments does have equivalents points which are calculated and added to their year's achievements in Dota Pro Circuits.
Top eight of those team are tagged as Direct Invite on Dota 2 The International 2018 tournament.
Current prize pool in the tournament continuously increasing everyday as players purchase Dota 2 Battle Pass where 25% of that purchased amount will be added directly to the prize pool. Now prize pool is $19,603,215 which is still lesser than previous International tournament with prize pool of $24,787,916. There is still a chance that it will be surpassed since we have still one month to go. There is possibility that the game company Valve, will add some tweaks that would capture the interest of the gamers and make them purchase Battle Pass.
What is Battle Pass?
Battle Pass is a premium in-game purchase where you can have some exclusive features and rewards. The price of battle pass starts from $2.49 USD $36.99, depending to how many levels you want to purchase.
There will be unlocked levels, team challenges, treasures, emblem effects to your heroes and some exclusive seasonal hero avatars. Again, 25% of those total amount will be added as prize pool to the tournament.
Main Event Details
On the previous The International tournaments from 2012 until 2017, all are at the same venue, Seattle, USA. But this upcoming tournament is a total shift wherein, it will be held in Vancouver, Canada at Rogers Arena where total of 18 teams are taking their opportunity to be awarded as The International 2018 champion.
The tournament is organized and sponsored by Valve, the creator of Dota 2. The coverage of the tournament is from August 15 until August 25, where many Dota 2 fanatics are looking forward on it too.
Top Team Rankings in Dota Pro Circuits
Virtus.pro (Russia)
Virtus.pro who manage to achieved 12,372 total points Dota Pro Circuit Rankings. They have won 1st in ESL One Katowice 2018, The Bucharest Major and ESL One Birmingham 2018 while 2nd place on China Dota2 Supermajor. Their current active rosters are Roman Kushnarev (RAMZES666), Vladimir Minenko (No[o]ne), Pavel Khvastunov (9pasha), Vladimir Nikogosyan (RodjER) and Alexei Berezin (Solo).
Team Liquid (Netherlands,Europe)
Team Liquid earned 9,459 total points in Dota Pro Circuit Rankings. The team have won 2nd in EPICENTER XL and 1st in China Dota2 Supermajor. They manage to defeat Virtus.pro with a 3:2 standing in finals of China Dota2 Supermajor. Their active rosters as of now are Lasse Urpalainen (MATUMBAMAN), Amer Al-Barkawi (Miracle-), Ivan Ivanov (MinD_ContRoL), Maroun Merhej (GH) and Kuro Salehi Takhasomi (KuroKy). They are the champion on the previous The International tournament.
PSG.LGD (China)
PSG.LGD earned total points of 7332 in Dota Pro Circuit Rankings. They also performed well in Premier tournaments, they achieved 2nd in Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018, 1st in EPICENTER XL and 1st in MDL Changsha Major. Current Active Rosters are Wang Chunyu (Ame), Lu Yao (Somnus丶M), Yang Shenyi (Chalice), Xu Linsen (fy) and Yap Jian Wei (xNova).
Team Secret (Europe)
Team Secret achieved total points of 5136 in Dota Pro Circuit Rankings. Their active rosters are Marcus Hoelgaard (Ace), Yeik Nai Zheng (MidOne), Adrian Trinks (Fata), Yazied Jaradat (YapzOr) and Clement Ivanov (Puppey).
Mineski (Southeast Asia)
Mineski earn 3,150 points in Dota Pro Circuit Team Ranking. The team able to placed on several on this year's tournaments, 3rd in Captains Draft 4.0, 3rd in StarLadder i-League Invitational Season 4, 1st in Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018, 5th in EPICENTER XL, 5th in MDL Changsha Major and 5th in ESL One Birmingham 2018. Their current active rosters are Chai Yee Fung (Mushi), Kam Boon Seng (Moon), Daryl Koh Pei Xiang (iceiceice), Anucha Jirawong (Jabz) and Michael Ross Jr. (ninjaboogie).
Vici Gaming (China)
Vici Gaming earn 2,835 points in Dota Pro Circuit Team Ranking. The team did manage to win 2nd in ESL One Katowice 2018 while 3rd in MDL Changsha Major. Their current active rosters are Zhang Chengjun (Paparazi灬), Zeng Jiaoyang (Ori), Ren Yangwei (eLeVeN), Zhang Zhicheng (LaNm) and Lu Chao (Fenrir).
Newbee (China)
Newbee earned 2,445 points in Dota Pro Circuit Rankings. They won 1st place in ESL One Genting 2018 premier tournament. Their active rosters are Xu Han (Moogy), Song Chun (Sccc), Damien Chok (kpii), Hu Liangzhi (Kaka), Zeng Hongda (Faith). They are the champion of The International 2014.
VGJ.Thunder (China)
Newbee earned 2,445 points in Dota Pro Circuit Rankings. They won 1st place in ESL One Genting 2018 premier tournament. Their active rosters are Xu Han (Moogy), Song Chun (Sccc), Damien Chok (kpii), Hu Liangzhi (Kaka), Zeng Hongda (Faith). They are the champion of The International 2014.
The Qualified Teams
OG (Europe) - Europe Qualifier
OG only manage to get 930 points Dota Pro Circuit Team Ranking. Which the team needs to qualify from open qualifier until main qualifier in Europe Region. Their current active rosters are Anathan Pham (ana), Topias Taavitsainen (Topson), Sébastien Debs (7ckngMad), Jesse Vainikka (JerAx) and Johan Sundstein (N0tail).
Winstrike Team (Russia) - CIS Qualifier
Winstrike Team manage to win 1st place in The International 2018 CIS Qualifier. This team is one of the anticipated in the upcoming tournament. Their current rosters are Airat Gaziev (Silent), Bogdan Vasilenko (Iceberg), Alexey Vasilev (nongrata), Aleksander Churochkin (Nofear) and Andrey Bondarenko (ALWAYSWANNAFLY).
Team Serenity (China) - China Qualifier
Team Serenity manage to make name for the year 2018 where they have won several tournaments which are mostly qualifier tier. They won 1st in Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018 - China Open Qualifier #1, 1st in EPICENTER XL: China Open Qualifier, 1st in ESL One Birmingham 2018 China Open Qualifier, 1st in China Dota2 Supermajor 2018 - China Open Qualifier #1, 1st also in The International 2018 China Qualifier. Their active team rosters are Jin Zhiyi (zhizhizhi), Zhang Quanda (Zyd), Zhao Zixing (XinQ), Xiong Jiahan (Pyw) and Xiao Chaojian (XCJ).
Invictus Gaming (China) - China Qualifier
Invictus team won The International 2012. Their current active rosters are Sun Zheng (Agressif), Lin Jing (Xxs), Sun Runfa (Srf), Ye Zhibiao (BoBoKa) and Fu Bin (Q).
Fnatic (United Kingdom, Malaysia) - Southeast Asia Qualifier
Fnatic made a place on premier and major tournaments. They have achieved 4th place in ESL One Katowice 2018, 2nd in DreamLeague Season 9 and 4th in ESL One Birmingham 2018. Their active rosters are Jacky Mao (EternaLEnVy), Abed Azel Yusop (Abed), Saahil Arora (UNiVeRsE), Djardel Mampusti (DJ) and Johan Åström (pieliedie).
TNC Predator (Philippines) - Southeast Asia Qualifier
TNC Pro Team earned low in Dota Pro Circuit Team Ranking with total points of 495. The team manage to make a place in two premier tournament, 4th in Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018 and 7th in China Dota2 Supermajor. Their current active rosters are Marc Fausto (Raven), Armel Paul Tabios (Armel), Sam Hidalgo (Sam_H), Timothy Randrup (Tims) and Carlo Palad (Kuku).
VGJ.Storm (United States) - North America Qualifier
VGJ.Storm displayed great performance on many major and qualifier tournaments. The team manage to place 1st in China Dota2 Supermajor 2018 - North American Qualifier, 1st in GESC: Thailand Dota2 Minor, 1st in The International 2018: North America Open Qualifier #2 and 1st in The International 2018 North America Qualifier. Their current active rosters are Yawar Hassan (YawaR), Roman Fominok (Resolut1on), Jingjun Wu (Sneyking), Arif Anwar (MSS) and Avery Silverman (SVG).
Evil Geniuses (United States) - North America Qualifier
Evil Geniuses achieved rank 11 in Dota Pro Circuit Team Ranking with 1,335 points. They have won The International 2015 and have shown great game strategies on most major and premier tournaments. Their current active rosters are Artour Babaev (Arteezy), Sumail Hassan (Suma1L), Gustav Magnusson (s4), Andreas Nielsen (Cr1t-) and Tal Aizik (Fly).
OpTic Gaming (United States) - North America Qualifier
OpTic Gaming who have almost got the team invite with rank 9 and 1,800 total points. For this year they have won 1st place in StarLadder ImbaTV Invitational Season 5, 2nd in ESL One Birmingham 2018 and 3rd in The International 2018 North America Qualifier. Their current active rosters are Per Olsson Lille (Pajkatt), Quinn Callahan (CC&C), Neta Shapira (33), Ludwig Wahlberg (zai) and Peter Dager (ppd).
paiN Gaming (Brazil) - South America Qualifier
paiN Gaming won 1st place on WESG 2017 South America Finals, 2nd in World Electronic Sports Games 2017 and 3rd in ESL One Birmingham 2018. Their active rosters are William Medeiros (hFn), Aliwi Omar (w33), Otavio Gabriel (tavo), Danylo Nascimento (Kingrd) and Heitor Pereira (Duster).
Tournament Format
First all eighteen teams will be divided into two groups where they will be playing a round robin matches. Top four of each group will advanced to the upper brackets while 4 lower teams will go to the lower brackets while eliminating the last team in each group.
On the playoffs, it will be played in double elimination matches until it reaches to the grand finals.
Dota 2 Open AI Bots
With the success of Open AI Bots in a one on one match with professional player Dendi. They are now in focus on challenging The International 2018 champion. This could be a great challenge for humans on how to beat such AI bot.
Who will be the champion of The International 2018?
We have now best of the best teams waiting for the main event of the tournament. Now many players and fans on Dota 2 are making their bets to whom who will finish as champion in the biggest tournament in Dota 2.
Each of those teams are very competitive to each other and that it is very hard to determine who will be the champion for this year.
If you have an option to select a team, what team is it?
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