Bet On The International

Each season of The Dota Pro Circuit concludes with arguably the most prestigious event in all of esports – The International. Hosted by Valve, The International is Dota 2’s flagship annual championship and is a must see for any esports fan. The competition showcases the most skilled players in the competitive scene, as they battle for the largest prize pool for a single tournament in the world of esports. With the upcoming TI 2018 set to make new records for tournament cash prizes (at a staggering $25M), there’s no better time to earn some of your own winnings. Looking for the best sites to bet on The International? SickOdds has the lowdown on the best gambling operators offering a range of esports betting markets.

The International 2018 Odds

Each edition of The International presents the same question for bookies and bettors alike – who will win it all? The bookies’ favourite will be attributed with the least favourable odds, while punters will be looking to find some value for their betslip, perhaps by backing an underdog, or even seeking a different market. Our match odds for The International 2018 are shown in real time, with odds that are updated every minute. So, whether the bookies favourite seems like a solid option or you fancy the odds on a longshot, you’re sure to find your perfect bet right here.

The eighth edition of The International presents plenty of betting opportunities, with odds for outright winner ranging between 4.00 and 71.00 at Arcane Bet. Virtus.pro ranks among the favourites at most bookies, with Arcane, Bet365 and Betway pricing them at 4.00. However, it seems this is no forgone conclusion, with many bookies offering PSG LGD and Team Liquid at the same price as Virtus.pro.

Teams Competing in The International 2018

The final 16 teams will be decided following the completion of the group stage on August 18th 2018.

Picking a Winner

Experts, tipsters and avid fans within the scene all have their opinions. While you could land a winner following the betting advice of someone ‘in the know’, we’d always recommend learning about Dota 2 if you want to bet successfully.

Ultimately, it all comes down to doing your research. While you won’t have to pick up a keyboard and mouse to become a winning bettor, you’ll need to know the basics, starting with how the game is played. Follow this up with a closer look into the scene – you’ll need to know what to expect from the players and teams at The International 2018. Watching footage from the Dota Pro Circuit that precedes the tournament is a great way to gauge the current state of the competition.

If you’re a complete newcomer to Dota 2 betting, we’d recommend reading our introduction to Dota betting. It’s jam-packed with top tips for better betting and is sure to set you on the right path.

Betting Markets

Esports fans will be eagerly anticipating the start of the next edition of The International, to find out which team can earn bragging rights at the premiere Dota 2 tournament. However, savvy esports punters will know that the outright winner market isn’t the only one worth looking out for. The best bookies go the extra mile and offer a number of pre-tournament markets, as well as a range of options for each individual match. Let’s take a look at a few outright betting markets on offer for The International at our featured betting sites.

Tournament Matchups – Bet on individual matches that take place at The International. Simply pick your winner.

Region of Winner – If you can’t make a call on the winner, perhaps you can identify the region with the strongest competitors.

To be Eliminated in Group Stage – Picked out a weak link at the tournament? You could earn some winnings by backing them to fall at the first hurdle following qualification.

The International to be Won by an Invited Team or a Qualifier – Fancy an underdog win? This market allows you to back an underdog to go through qualifying and beyond to win The International. Of course, you could always bet on one of the invited teams to prevail instead.

History

As the premiere esports event, it’s no surprise that the growth of The International mirrors the phenomenal spike in esports viewership. The first event was held in 2011, and was the first time players had the opportunity to face off in an official Dota 2 tournament. NaVi left Cologne with the $1 million prize pool. Not exactly pocket change, but this figure pales in comparison to the $23 million prize pool offered at The International 7, in 2017.

While the first tournament did catch the eye of many, it took place while the game was still in early stages of development. As years passed, the game attracted a wider audience, larger pool of players and greater coverage. These were accompanied by bigger venues, larger crowd funded prize pools and specialist broadcast teams. From a relatively humble beginning, the hype surrounding The International has well and truly gone through the roof. Each year sees the tournament break its own record for prize pools – 2016’s The International 6 was the first esports tournament to award a prize pool over $20 million.

Tournament Format

The International main event is contested by sixteen teams. However, the tournament begins with a series of qualification rounds.

Open Qualifiers
These are open to all teams and are contested in single elimination format. The winner from each region advances to the regional qualifiers.

Main Qualifiers
These qualifiers are contested between teams from six regions: North Americas, South Americas, Europe, China, CIS, and Southeast Asia. The winner from each region advances to the main event. The 2nd place team in the Europe, China, Southeast Asia and North America regions qualify for the main event too. Finally, the 3rd place team in the China and Southeast Asia Qualifier also advances to the main event.

Group Stage
Two groups of nine teams face off in a round robin series which sees the two four teams in each group advance to the upper bracket of the main event. The bottom team from each group is eliminated, while the remaining teams advance to the lower bracket in the Main Event.

Main Event
16 teams participate in a double elimination tournament. Most matches in the tournament are best-of-three, with the 1st round lower bracket and Grand Finals being the only exceptions. These matches are best-of-one and best-of-five, respectively. The main event for the eight iteration of The International will kick off on 20th August 2018, concluding on 25th August.

All-Star Match
This match is a special event akin to those found in the calendar of other major sporting leagues. The game sees two teams of five face of in a Captains Mode match, with players picked via The International Battle Pass.

Find your perfect esports bookie

There are plenty of matches that take place throughout the year thanks to Dota’s Pro Circuit, however, The International only comes around once a year. Take advantage of the world’s biggest esports tournament and find the best betting opportunities at our featured bookmakers. We’ve lined up a list of the best bookies for your Dota 2 betting. These operators offer comprehensive coverage of Dota 2, as well as a number of other esports. You can expect secure payments, rewarding bonuses and the sickest odds. All that’s left for you to do is pick out a favourite, sign up and start betting!

TI 2018 FAQ

Can I place in-play bets on The International?
Yes. These markets are largely similar to those offered on individual matches prior to the event. Of course, you’ll be able to bet on the match result in play, but the top bookies will offer additional markets, including total number of maps and first team to get a specific objective.

Can I bet on The International using a mobile device?
Most online gambling operators, including sportsbooks, offer a mobile-friendly version of their site. Some of the biggest brands also offer a native mobile app available for download. You’ll be able to sign up and claim your welcome bonus on just about any web-enabled mobile device. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have access to the same pre-match and in-play markets and of course, the same sick odds!

Where can I watch The International?
You’ll be able to tune in live and watch the entire tournament through Stream Broadcasting or on Twitch. Great news for in-play bettors.

Where does The International take place?
In it’s 11 years, The International has been hosted in a number of different venues. The first iteration was held in Cologne, Germany, while following events have been hosted in The KeyArena and Benaroya Hall, both in Seattle, Washington. The 2018 tournament will take place in the Rogers Arena, in Vancouver, Canada.