Welcome, esports and Dota 2 fans! From September 4 to 14, 2025, the main event of the season — The International 2025 — is taking place. Sixteen of the world’s best teams began the battle for the Aegis of Champions and a massive prize pool, but only eight remain in the game. On the eighth matchday, we’ll see a second-round upper bracket clash between
How the bookies view it: Xtreme Gaming favorite
Parivision and Xtreme Gaming. This showdown promises to be spectacular and intense until the very last minute. As the teams prepare to take the stage, let’s try to identify the likely favorite and explore some interesting betting options.
Most analysts and bookmakers see Xtreme Gaming as the favorite in the upper bracket’s second stage of TI 2025 against Parivision. The Chinese squad has consistently showcased a high level of play throughout the season, reinforcing their status as one of the scene’s leaders. According to the odds, Xtreme looks like the safer bet: 1.66 for their victory compared to 2.13 for Parivision.
However, Parivision has repeatedly proven their ability to surprise opponents with an unconventional approach. In this matchup, we can expect unpredictable moves from their position 4, creative picks for the carry role, and an active showing from None-, who often sets the pace for the entire team. On the other side, Xtreme will rely on Ame’s steady carry performances and highly aggressive supports who carve out space for their star cores.
For betting enthusiasts, the odds clearly favor Xtreme Gaming as the safer choice, but a high-risk wager on Parivision could yield big rewards if the team once again surprises with draft creativity and in-game aggression.
Form Xtreme Gaming
Xtreme Gaming entered The International 2025 as one of the top favorites from the Chinese scene. Their journey this season has been a mix of highs and lows, but by the time the biggest tournament of the year arrived, the team had managed to hit peak form. Despite a string of setbacks in the first half of the year, XG now look like one of the most cohesive and balanced squads of the entire championship.
The roster assembled for TI can be called a textbook blend of experience and freshness. The return of Wang “Ame” Chunyu was the biggest event in the Chinese Dota community: one of the world’s strongest carries, a three-time TI finalist, once again ready to fight for the trophy. Alongside him is his longtime partner, Yap “xNova” Jian Wei — a seasoned captain whose shoulders carry the roles of leader and chief coordinator. The support duo of Zhao “XinQ” Zhiqiang and xNova provides an incredible level of map control and tempo, while Guo “Xm” Hongcheng in the midlane and Lin “Xxs” Jing in the offlane add stability and flexibility in drafts. Completing the picture is coach Zhang “xiao8” Ning, the TI2 champion, whose discipline and ability to prepare a team for long tournaments have become a key factor in their success.
Xtreme Gaming roster: Ame, Xm, Xxs, XinQ, xNova
The 2025 season can hardly be called straightforward for Xtreme. Early tournaments brought modest results: DreamLeague Season 25 and events like BLAST Slam II in February ended with middle or even lower table finishes. Many doubted whether XG could live up to expectations and prove themselves internationally. But gradually the team found its rhythm. Their victory at the Asian Champions League 2025 became the turning point: that’s when XG proved they could close out big matches. On the regional stage they almost always reached playoffs, cementing their place among China’s leaders, while international tournaments like Riyadh Masters 2025 showed more modest results — though they only fueled interest in their progress.
At The International 2025 itself, Xtreme Gaming have been in full force. They went undefeated in the group stage, becoming the first team to guarantee an upper bracket playoff spot. Their wins over Aurora Gaming (2-0) and Tidebound (2-0) were confident, but the real statement came in victories against Team Spirit (2-1) and Team Falcons (2-1). Defeating the TI10 champions and one of the season’s strongest teams proved XG could dominate even against tournament favorites. Their style was simple yet effective: Ame secured comfortable picks and farming space, the supports constantly pressured the map, while Xm and Xxs stabilized the midgame and ensured a smooth transition to the late stage.
The first playoff match against Tundra Esports, former world champions, was both a serious test and a showcase of Xtreme’s power. Many expected a tight battle, but the series ended 2:0. Ame once again displayed incredible consistency, expertly converting late-game advantages, while the supports suffocated their opponents and denied them any space. Xm controlled the midlane with confidence, Xxs repeatedly caught Tundra’s key heroes, and overall, the Chinese squad looked like they had the match under full control from start to finish.
Today, Xtreme Gaming are arguably in their best form in years. Their drafts are flexible, their play disciplined, and their execution at the highest level. The mix of experienced players and hunger for victory, combined with xiao8’s guidance, has helped them avoid emotional pitfalls that often undo even the strongest teams. All of this makes Xtreme one of the prime contenders for the Aegis of Champions. Their season was full of challenges, but those very trials have tempered the squad. And now, on the world’s biggest stage, they look like a team ready to go all the way.
Most Popular Xtreme Gaming Heroes
Here are Xtreme Gaming’s most popular heroes over the past six months:
- Shadow Shaman — 29 matches, 79% win rate
- Elder Titan — 26 matches, 65% win rate
- Storm Spirit — 23 matches, 74% win rateTerrorblade — 21 matches, 52% win rate
- Sand King — 20 matches, 65% win rate
- Monkey King — 18 matches, 67% win rate
- Jakiro — 18 matches, 61% win rate
- Warlock — 18 matches, 61% win rate
- Ancient Apparition — 18 matches, 56% win rate
- Morphling — 15 matches, 80% win rate
Xtreme Gaming show a very clearly structured hero pool that allows the team to feel confident at the tournament. Their lineup emphasizes heroes with reliable control and strong teamfight potential, giving them an edge both in prolonged engagements and in quick skirmishes across the map. At the same time, their drafting remains flexible — they have options for stable lanes, powerful initiation, and aggressive play through mobile cores.
The high win rates highlight how well the team has adapted to the meta and how effectively they tailor their drafts to specific opponents, reflecting top-level preparation. Xtreme Gaming manage to combine aggression with reliability, and their hero pool covers all roles without leaving glaring weaknesses. Ultimately, it’s this balance and deliberate drafting approach that keeps them consistent and allows them to deliver strong results throughout the tournament.
Form Parivision
Parivision entered The International 2025 as a team many expected to have only a modest showing, but in reality they proved capable of fighting the top contenders on equal footing. Formed at the end of 2024, the squad climbed from newcomers to top-8 challengers of the year’s biggest tournament in a very short time. Their seasonal win rate held above 60% — an impressive achievement for such a young team.
The roster is built around star midlaner Vladimir “None-” Minenko, who once again demonstrated his ability to dictate the pace of the game even against a younger, aggressive generation. His midlane play often sets the rhythm for the entire squad: he can pick heroes for early pressure or fall back on classic late-game choices that keep comeback potential alive. The second pillar is carry Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov, unafraid to draft unconventional heroes and surprise opponents with unusual strategies. Parivision frequently use his carry pool to disrupt enemy preparation and force adaptation in the draft. On the offlane, Dmitry “DM” Dorokhin provides stability and strong initiation, serving as a cornerstone in teamfights and transitions into macro play. Position four belongs to Edgar “9Class” Naltakyan, known for risky, creative picks and plays that either carve out space for the cores or completely derail the enemy’s game plan. Completing the lineup is support Andrey “Dukalis” Kuropatkin, the defensive brain of the team, who shores up weaknesses and ensures map control. Outside the server, coach Filipe “Astini” Ribeiro contributes the strategic vision that has been crucial to Parivision’s success at TI 2025.
Parivision roster: Satanic, None-, DM, 9Class, Dukalis
Their season wasn’t without challenges, but it showcased growth. They didn’t always reach finals of major events, but consistently delivered in qualifiers and repeatedly proved in regional competitions that they could stand toe-to-toe with more experienced squads. Early in the year, their struggles with closing out games and late-stage discipline were evident, but by summer they had grown more confident in macro play, resource distribution, and finishing matches when ahead.
At The International 2025, Parivision demonstrated readiness for the big stage. They opened groups with a convincing win over Heroic, followed by a stunning upset against Team Spirit — a victory that shocked the scene and showed Parivision could dictate play rather than just defend. They finished groups with a (3-2) record, enough to move forward. In the Elimination Stage, they impressed again: a (2-0) over Wildcard and another win against Heroic secured them a top-8 finish — already a massive achievement.
Their form at TI looks confident. Drafts are disciplined, adaptations sharp, and they often surprise with unorthodox choices. None- plays aggressively, moving across the map to apply pressure on every lane. Their carry frequently picks unexpected heroes that break opponent prep. Position four takes bold risks that sometimes backfire but more often pay off by creating space for the cores.
Parivision are not flawless — they can stumble in the early game, occasionally lose control around Roshan, or misstep in positioning. But overall their mindset and form allow them to keep advancing. The very fact they’ve reached the upper bracket and secured a top-8 spot proves Parivision have found their identity and are ready to challenge even the giants.
Today, Parivision are no longer just underdogs — they’re a team capable of surprising anyone. They’ve shown they don’t fear favorites, can handle long series, and thrive on creative solutions in critical moments. If Satanic continues to deliver with his hero pool and None- maintains his form, Parivision could push even further and rewrite the expectations of analysts who once saw them only as rookies.
Most Popular Parivision Heroes
Here are Parivision’s most popular heroes over the past six months:
- Terrorblade — 27 matches, 74% win rate
- Ember Spirit — 25 matches, 72% win rate
- Slark — 23 matches, 78% win rate
- Sand King — 22 matches, 86% win rate
- Ringmaster — 22 matches, 82% win rate
- Medusa — 21 matches, 62% win rate
- Ancient Apparition — 21 matches, 62% win rate
- Beastmaster — 21 matches, 62% win rate
- Jakiro — 20 matches, 70% win rate
- Monkey King — 19 matches, 63% win rate
The statistics clearly show that Parivision approach drafting with confidence and precision. The team relies on a broad hero pool that includes both aggressive picks for early pressure and stable options for the late game. Their high win rates suggest that these choices are far from random — they’re tailored to specific situations and opponents, reflecting thorough preparation.
What stands out most is balance: Parivision’s lineup has enough initiators to control teamfights, as well as cores capable of closing out games in the late stage. There’s no overcommitment to a single playstyle — the squad looks equally comfortable in fast-paced, high-tempo matches and in drawn-out battles.
Overall, Parivision demonstrate that their drafting philosophy is built on flexibility and adaptation to the meta, with results confirming the effectiveness of this approach. This blend of stability and variety makes them one of the tournament’s standout teams.
Head-to-Head History
The head-to-head history between Parivision and Xtreme Gaming tilts in favor of the European squad. Out of six matches, Parivision have won four, with one draw and only a single victory going to the Chinese side. Their most recent clash at the Esports World Cup 2025 ended in a convincing 2-0 for Parivision, further cementing their status as the favorites. However, Xtreme Gaming have already shown they can put up a fight, and The International 2025 will give them the chance to turn the statistics around.
Predicted Match Analysis: Xtreme Gaming vs Parivision
Predicting the outcome of the Parivision vs. Xtreme Gaming matchup at The International 2025 is no easy task. The European squad holds the edge in head-to-head results, but the discipline and composure of the Chinese team could prove decisive in the key moments of the series. Both lineups have already demonstrated their strength at the tournament by defeating serious opponents, which makes this clash all the more intense. Most likely, the battle will go the distance and be decided on the final map.
Betting prediction: Total maps over 2.5.