Top Contenders to Watch at The International 2024

The International has been one of the most prestigious tournaments not just in Dota 2, but for the whole esports competitive scene. No one can deny the fact that TI13 is slated to shake the foundations of the esports world as many fans are expecting to see a promising set of battles from the best players in the game from start to finish, and one can say that the top teams heading into action are slated for a massive run to the top.

What’s at Stake in The International 2024

The International 2024 is the 13th edition of the big tournament in the game. It is also worth noting that there are a lot of teams on the way to compete on the big stage with the hopes of making history, but one can say that there are only a few teams who actually have a chance to make their way to the top of the Dota 2 stage.

The International 2024 is a massive competition in the making image

Over the years, there have been multiple winners in the game, and this has been accompanied by impressive and lucrative prize pools, which has made the tournament more enticing for many players, and that says a lot about how the game has evolved into a bigger esports event that has many fans hooked over the years. It cannot be denied that The International has become a global event that dedicated followers have loved to watch over the years.

Since the inaugural edition of The International in 2011, there have been a total of 11 different teams who have gone on to win the tournament. Out of all those winners, OG is the only team to win on a back-to-back campaign, and while being joined by Team Spirit as teams who have managed to win the tournament at least twice. For this season, however, the Team Spirit has a rare chance to join the list and even write their own history. As the defending champion, they can come up with a push to win it back-to-back as OG did, while they can make a historic finish by winning the tournament for the third time.

The International Winners (from 2011 to Present)

Year	Winning Team	Finals Record	Prize Pool
2011	Natus Vincere	3-1	$1,600,000
2012	Invictus Gaming	3-1	$1,600,000
2013	Alliance	3-2	$2,874,380
2014	Newbee	3-1	$10,923,977
2015	Evil Geniuses	3-1	$18,429,613
2016	Wings Gaming	3-1	$20,770,460
2017	Team Liquid	3-0	$24,787,916
2018	OG (1)	3-2	$25,532,177
2019	OG (2)	3-1	$34,330,068
2021	Team Spirit (1)	3-2	$40,018,195
2022	Tundra Esports	3-0	$18,930,775
2023	Team Spirit (2)	3-0	$3,143,063

Who Are the Favorites to Win in The International 2024?

The International 2024 is slated to begin this September 4th with the group stages. The tournament will drag on all the way to September 15th, which is set as the Grand Final of the competition. A total of 16 teams will be battling for the lion’s share of the promising prize pool of $2,279,486. But which team will reign supreme on the big stage?

Gaimin Gladiators

Gaimin Gladiators image

Since becoming a finalist in The International 2023, it does seem that the Gaimin Gladiators have earned their place on the big stage so far, and it cannot be denied that the team has managed to come up with impressive performances when it mattered most. This year, so far has given fans hope as the team has impressed well with impressive victories as of late. The team managed to claim a promising win in the 2024 Riyadh Masters, and perhaps the biggest of them all, the recent Esports World Cup, where they emerged victorious against the top teams in the game.

Team Spirit

Let’s not forget the defending champions themselves. The team has managed to win two of the last three TIs, which just means that they are not backing down from the challenge of trying to claim their third title on the big stage. Even after coming up with a roster change on the middle lane this year, it does seem that Team Spirit remains composed with their goal of winning when it matters most. So far, this year has been impressive for the team, landing a total of four championships, including the PGL Wallachia Season 1, while earning a total of seven finishes in the top five across multiple tournaments.

Team Spirit image

Team Liquid

Team Liquid image

As one of the expected mainstays in the history of The International, Team Liquid has definitely done a great job of proving its worth on the big stage time after time. Their victory back in 2017 is a long way gone, but the team has often found itself in the shadows of the many rising teams in the game right now. However, this tournament may be the chance for the team to break its curse of always finishing second in many competitions this year. Still, Team Liquid is bringing a promising pace heading into The International after winning Elite League Season 2.

Xtreme Gaming

As the best reigning team in Asia, it cannot be denied that Xtreme Gaming deserves a lot of praise for showing off strong performances over the past few months. There have been some lowly finishes in the recent tournaments, but it cannot be denied that their impressive showing in the Clavision: Snow Ruyi and PGL Wallachia Season 1 have made them confident enough to make a deep push to be even considered as contenders in the coming games. This recent win at the Snow Ruyi will definitely help them set the tone in the competition as they won over one of the favorites in the game – Team Spirit. On top of all that, Xtreme Gaming has won a total of three competitions this time, including two tier 1 tournaments so far.

Xtreme Gaming image

Team Falcons

Team Falcons image

Highly regarded as one of the best breakout teams of 2024, not just in Dota 2, but in other known esports titles as well, Team Falcons has made their name well in the game so far. Falcons have secured a total of eight 1st-place finishes in the season so far, and all of their played tournaments have ended up with them being in the top three at the very least. This says a lot about how the team has turned up their level of play and has continued to impress at almost every single turn. So far, they may just end up capping off a highly promising year should they finish with a win at The International.

Gear Up for The International 2024!

It is no secret that The International 2024 is expected to be one of the swashbuckling tournaments that will be full of action heading into the closing months of the year. Each of these top teams has become a contender in their own right, but only one will reign supreme on the big stage to lift the Aegis of Champions. The time is now for all these teams to shine bright, but as we all know it, there can only be one king of Dota 2 for this year.

Team	Odds to win
Gaimin Gladiators	+300
Team Spirit	+300
Team Falcons	+325
Tundra Esports	+800
Xtreme Gaming	+800

*odds updated as of September 4, 2024

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