Greetings to all Dota 2 fans! From September 4 to 14, 2025, the most prestigious tournament of the year — The International 2025 — takes place, bringing together the best teams from around the world to compete for the Aegis of Champions and a massive prize pool. Among the group stage matchups, the clash between Team Falcons and Tidebound draws particular attention. Falcons enter the tournament with ambition and a determination to prove their consistency, while Tidebound aims to impress with bold strategies and disciplined play. As both teams prepare for this crucial encounter, we will analyze their strengths, review their recent form, and consider who might have the upper hand in this showdown.
How the bookies view it: Team Falcons favorite
Most bookmakers consider Team Falcons the favorite in the match against Tidebound at The International 2025. Despite their favored status, the odds are not too far apart, with bookmakers on average offering 1.73 for Falcons and 2.03 for the Chinese team Tidebound.
Team Falcons Form
Let's start our review of Team Falcons’ form, one of the strongest Dota 2 teams from Saudi Arabia.
Team Falcons roster: Skiter, Malr1ne, ATF, Cr1t-, Sneyking
Since their debut on November 17, 2023, the team has rapidly climbed the ranks, showing impressive statistics: around a 64% win rate (150 wins out of 234 matches) and an incredible 20-game winning streak in 2024. Team Falcons consistently place highly in major tournaments, including a 3rd place finish at Riyadh Masters 2024, as well as several tournament victories that marked the team’s rise. So far, they have participated in approximately 33 tournaments, receiving direct invitations to about half of them, which confirms their consistency and high level of play.
The 2024 season ended on a high note for the team, as they won DreamLeague Season 24, defeating their opponents 3-1 and earning $300,000 in prize money. In 2025, Team Falcons continued their successful streak: at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 1, they took 2nd place, narrowly losing 2-3 and earning $170,000. At the Esports World Cup 2025, the team also performed at a high level, reaching the final and finishing 2nd with $500,000 in prize money, despite a 0-3 loss in the deciding match. Their most recent achievement was winning FISSURE Universe: Episode 6 on August 24, 2025, with a flawless 3-0 victory and $125,000 in prize money, reaffirming their status as one of the top teams on the international stage.
At The International 2025, Team Falcons showed strong performance during the Road to The International 2025 stage. In the group stage, they started with wins over Tundra Esports (2-1) and Nem (2-1), then lost to XG (1-2), but convincingly defeated Team Liquid (2-0). In the playoff stage, they were defeated by Tidebound (1-2), but in the lower bracket they were able to bounce back. In the Elimination Match, Team Falcons beat Team Spirit 2-0, confirming their status as one of the tournament’s strongest teams.
Team Falcons are known not only for their consistent results but also for their impressive gameplay throughout tournaments. Their strategic flexibility, team synergy, and ability to adapt to opponents make them serious contenders for titles at major international competitions. Their experience, winning streak, and strong performance at TI 2025 solidified their status as favorites and a team capable of competing for the season’s most prestigious titles.
Most popular Team Falcons heroes
Here are the most picked and highest winrate heroes for Team Falcons over the last 6 months:
- Pangolier – 122 games – 59.84% winrate
- Hoodwink – 113 games – 64.60% winrate
- Dragon Knight – 104 games – 67.31% winrate
- Mars – 90 games – 72.22% winrate
- Enchantress – 87 games – 70.11% winrate
- Bristleback – 84 games – 61.90% winrate
- Doom – 77 games – 74.03% winrate
Team Falcons has a strong and versatile hero pool, performing well across multiple roles and strategies.
Team Tidebound Form
Team Tidebound (Tb) is a Chinese Dota 2 team that has demonstrated steady growth since their debut on January 3, 2025. In just over eight months, the team has played 87 matches, winning approximately 59% of them, and at one point recorded an impressive 7-game winning streak.
Team Tidebound roster: Shiro, NothingToSay, Bach, y`, plAnet
Tb has already achieved notable results in several tournaments. Their standout victory came at Clavision Masters 2025: Snow-Ruyi on August 3, 2025, where they narrowly defeated their opponents 3-2 and earned $213,500 in prize money. Earlier, they finished 4th at PGL Wallachia Season 4 (April 26, 2025) with a 1-2 scoreline and $80,000 in earnings, and 3rd at FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 (March 30, 2025) with $60,000. Other notable finishes include 2nd place at the Asian Champions League 2025 (May 16, 2025, 2-3, $30,000), 5th-6th at BLAST Slam III (May 9, 2025, 0-2, $35,000), and 9th-11th at PGL Wallachia Season 5 (June 25, 2025, 1-2, $20,000). They also participated in FISSURE Universe: Episode 5 (July 3, 2025) finishing 5th-6th ($10,000) and ACL X ESL Challenger China (May 2, 2025) finishing 4th ($10,000).
At The International 2025, Tidebound directly advanced to the playoffs with a strong 4-1 record in the group stage. They started by defeating NAVI 2-1 and Team Liquid 2-0, then beat PARIVISION 2-0, but suffered a loss to XG 0-2. In the playoffs, Tidebound overcame Team Falcons 2-1, demonstrating their tactical skill and ability to perform under pressure.
Led by standout player NothingToSay, Tidebound are known for their strategic flexibility, team synergy, and resilience in high-stakes matches. Despite being a relatively young team, their consistent performances at top-tier tournaments and strong showing at TI 2025 position them as serious contenders on the international stage.
Most popular Tidebound heroes
Here are the most picked and highest winrate heroes for Tidebound over the last 6 months:
Gyrocopter — 40 matches, 75.00% winrateJakiro — 32 matches, 62.50% winrateBeastmaster — 30 matches, 60.00% winrateTerrorblade — 25 matches, 64.00% winratePangolier — 22 matches, 59.09% winrateTiny — 22 matches, 45.45% winrateDisruptor — 21 matches, 61.90% winrateNature's Prophet — 19 matches, 68.42% winrateHowever, in this tournament, Tidebound often picks carry Faceless Void and Shadow Fiend, and they could also surprise with a mid Tinker, as NothingToSay is one of the best Tinker players in Dota 2.
Team Falcons vs Tidebound Head-to-Head History
The match history between Falcons and Tidebound shows a clear advantage for the Chinese team. Over the last six encounters, Tidebound won five times, including a recent 2:1 victory at The International 2025 during the Road to The International 2025 stage. In April, at ESL One Raleigh 2025, the teams drew 1:1, while at FISSURE Universe Ep 4 and PGL Wallachia S3, Tidebound consistently defeated Falcons with scores of 2:0 or 2:1. These results highlight Tidebound's consistency and their ability to dominate Falcons in important matches.
Predicted result of the match Team Falcons vs Tidebound at The International 2025
Based on the information we have, although bookmakers favor Team Falcons more, the real favorite—considering recent results and head-to-head history—is actually the Chinese team, Tidebound. However, since this is the playoff stage, Falcons are feeling somewhat more confident. In our opinion, the safest bet would be on a total of over 2.5 maps played. Alternatively, the most reliable strategy would be to bet during the picks phase: if Tidebound bans Malr1ne’s signature heroes, their chances of winning will increase even further. Additionally, the Tinker factor in the hands of NothingToSay should not be underestimated, whereas Falcons do not play this very strong hero; it simply isn’t in their pool.
Betting Prediction: Total Over 2.5.
