The International

Dota 2 is an online multiplayer game developed by Valve Corporation, the same firm behind the popular video game series, Counter-Strike. The game uses a real-time strategy (RTS) system where players have to control a hero character and fight against other gamers or computer-controlled opponents. Unlike many eSports games with more than one player character, Dota 2 only provides one hero character for each player to use. The game is played using two different availabilities; the Dota 2 item shop, which allows players to buy various items with in-game currency, and the Dota 2 items, which can be used to customize their hero characters.

Dota 2 is a mod of Warcraft 3 and has been popular since it came out in 2013. It keeps players on their toes. The game's goal is to destroy the enemy's base while defending your own.

Why is Dota 2 popular?

Dota 2 has a variety of features that make it enjoyable. Some of these include:

• It is easy to understand, even for those who are not very familiar with video games.
• It brings back memories of long ago at a time when video games had dragons and other creatures for players to fight against.
• Players can choose from various characters with different abilities that can be upgraded.
• The game is good in every aspect; gameplay, graphics, and animations are smooth. The heroes are handsome, and you can find new ones as soon as they come out (sometimes within days or hours following their debut). Therefore, there's always something new to play with.

The International is one of those major esport tournaments that are very competitive; the race for the prize is stiffer than you can imagine. Since the first edition in 2011, only one team has managed to be crowned champions twice. Other winners have only been recognized once. Here are the winners and the most significant moments in the tournament's history.

Natus Vincere

This was the first team to test The International title. Its NaVi won the first edition in 2011. In this final, the team defeated EHOME 3-1 to lift the title. Featuring in this team were Puppey (Clement), a legendary Dota 2 player who has participated in the tournament more than any other individual. Others included XBOCT, Artstyle, and Dendi. Taking home a staggering US$1 million from a $1.6 million grand prize is something the team will never forget; we won't let it go either.

And while the team has not won the title a second time, it has constantly been harassing its opponents, ensuring they have to run for their money. The fact that NaVi went all the way to the final the following year (2012) says it all.

Invictus Gaming

Wrestling the title from the first edition champions was not easy, and that perhaps highlights how strong this team was at the time. During this final, Invictus Gaming defeated Natus Vincere 3-1, taking home a grand prize of US$1 million.

Alliance

This was the tournament's best team in 2013. Like Invictus Gaming, Alliance was given a run for their money by none other than Natus Vincere, and they were the first European team to win the tournament. They defeated their opponents 3-1, and taking home a $1.4 million prize was spectacular. Players here included Akke, Loda, EGM, AdmiralBulldog, and s4. This third edition is what put The International on the global map in terms of popularity.

Newbee

With the tournament's popularity having soared the previous year, Newbee was seeking the crown against a backdrop of a highly publicized competition. And while the tournament was hosted in Washington, an away ground did not stand in the way of Newbee. In this edition (2014), the finalists were entirely new, with Newbee on the one hand and Vici Gaming on the other. The former would beat the latter 3-1, taking a whopping US$5,025,029 and reasserting China's dominance in the competition.

Other winners

2015: Evil Geniuses
2016: Wings Gaming
2017: Team Liquid
2018: OG
2019: OG