The International (Dota 2)
Valve's Record-Breaking Crowdfunded Esports Pinnacle and the Battle for the Aegis
Inaugurated in 2011 by Valve, The International (TI) is Dota 2's world championship, famed for shattering world records with prize pools surpassing $40 million funded directly by players.
The Million-Dollar Shocker at Gamescom
Valve unveiled Dota 2 at Gamescom 2011 by staging The International with an unheard-of $1,000,000 grand prize. Ukrainian team Natus Vincere (Na'Vi) claimed the historic victory, proving to global mainstream media that competitive video gaming commanded stadium-filling prestige and serious athletic compensation.
The Battle Pass Era and Historic Wealth
In 2013, Valve pioneered the interactive Compendium (later Battle Pass), contributing 25% of all digital purchases directly into the championship prize pool. This crowdsourced financial model caused purses to swell exponentially, culminating in a historic $40 million tournament in 2021 where Team Spirit hoisted the Aegis of Champions.