Dota 2 The International Prize Pools History
Dota 2 is one of the main esports disciplines, and tournaments in this game carry great significance. Dota 2 The International can be considered among the top 3 major events in esports, and it was first held in 2011 at Gamescom in Cologne. At that time, Valve introduced the world to a new discipline and immediately set high standards. The prize pool of the first tournament amounted to $1,600,000, which at that time was an unprecedented sum for esports, and the legendary Natus Vincere claimed victory, receiving one million dollars for first place. In this blog, we will tell you about the history of Dota 2 The International prize pools once again emphasizing the importance of this tournament.
The International is important not only as the first large-scale tournament with a big prize pool but also as one of the first to introduce crowdfunding into esports. Since 2013, Valve introduced the Compendium, which allowed fans to directly influence the TI prize pool. A portion of the funds from the sale of in-game items goes to the prize pool. This innovation changed the rules of the game, and already in 2014 The International 4 raised over $10 million. For comparison, this amount is still one of the largest prize pools among all esports tournaments in the world.
Thanks to the activity of the community, the Dota 2 TI prize pool grew every year, constantly setting new records. Here are the prize pools of each tournament:
| Tournament | Prize Pool |
| The International 2011 | $1,600,000 |
| The International 2012 | $1,600,000 |
| The International 2013 | $2,874,380 |
| The International 2014 | $10,923,977 |
| The International 2015 | $18,429,613 |
| The International 2016 | $20,770,460 |
| The International 2017 | $24,787,916 |
| The International 2018 | $25,532,177 |
| The International 2019 | $34,330,068 |
| The International 2021 | $40,018,195 |
| The International 2022 | $18,930,775 |
| The International 2023 | $3,380,455 |
| The International 2024 | $2,776,566 |
| The International 2025 | $2,730,309 |
It is worth noting that the prize pool of The International 2025 is still growing and may catch up with last year’s tournament.
The evolution of The International Dota 2 prize pools demonstrates the financial development of esports, as well as the unique role of players and fans. And although in recent years the prize pool has somewhat decreased, with Valve adding new and unique content, the situation may change, and the numbers could rise again.
Ostapchuk Dmytro – writer at EGamersWorld, ESports & Gaming Specialist
Dmytro started working at EGamersWorld in 2024 as a writer and later became a blog editor. His main focus is on esports disciplines Dota 2 and CS2. His tasks include finding topics that interest EGamersWorld readers and covering game updates, their features, and major esports tournaments.
Dmytro has recently begun working in this field, so he is learning a lot and making noticeable progress in this direction.
56Dima Ostapchuk
Dota 2 The International Prize Pools HistoryDiscover history and records of The International prize pools.907Dima OstapchukThe International 2025 Elimination Stage SummaryDiscover which teams won in the TI 2025 Elimination Stage and full list of playoff participants.1060Dima OstapchukThe First Matches of The International 2025 Announced – What to Expect From The Start of Main Dota 2 TournamentDiscover the first matches of The International 2025. Full schedule, Group Stage details, and what to expect from Dota 2’s biggest tournament.1075stawraith
Valve Reveals Detailed Format for The International 2025Valve has shared detailed information about the upcoming The International 2025 Dota 2 tournament on the official game website.1262stawraithWhitemon to Miss TI 2025 — Replaced by TobiAugust 30–31, 2025 — Valve has officially confirmed that Tundra Esports support player Matthew “Whitemon” Philmon will not take part in The International 2025.1085Dima OstapchukYakutou Brothers replace Gaimin Gladiators at The International 2025Yakutou Brothers enter The International 2025 after Gaimin Gladiators withdrawal.98stawraithThe International 14 Prize Pool Surpasses $2.7 MillionThe prize pool for the upcoming The International 14 has already exceeded $2.7 million and continues to grow.124stawraithAme Falls Short Again at The International 2025, Secures Another Second PlaceAme, one of the most celebrated players in Dota 2 history, has once again narrowly missed the top spot at The International.108stawraith18 Heroes Went Unpicked and Unbanned at The International 2025At The International 2025, which concluded on September 14, a total of 18 heroes were neither picked nor banned throughout the tournament. 134stawraithIceFrog Congratulates Team Falcons on Winning The International 2025After The International 2025 ended, Team Falcons celebrated their victory. They received special attention from IceFrog.139stawraithAui_2000 Becomes First Three-Time The International ChampionAui_2000 makes history by winning three The International tournaments with different teams: Evil Geniuses, Tundra Esports, and Team Falcons.223stawraithTeam Falcons Crowned Champions of The International 2025Team Falcons were crowned champions of The International 2025 (TI14) after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Xtreme Gaming in the grand final.
#225
Pipsqueak+4
#227
VP.ProdigyWatch match
