Dota 2 The International 2015: Bracket, schedule, format and scores

The International 5 won’t just be the biggest in Dota 2 history, it’s poised to be the largest eSports event ever. A record-breaking $18 million prize pool awaits, with the winning team taking over $6 million of the pot. The last year has been tumultuous with numerous teams changing members, while fan favorites fell off the map in the competitive scene. This makes it one of the most fascinating events ever.

The group stage was finalized after a week of play from July 27-30, and now we’re left with the main event. 16 teams remain in contention with a wide variety of nations represented. There’s no need to feel left out if you’re new to Dota 2 and The International. Here’s an explanation on how the game works, and once again Valve will be broadcasting a special stream for people new to the game. The commentary will be less in-depth and instead focus on basic concepts over high-level tactics.

This week of competition will break down like this: It is a double-elimination format, meaning teams that earned spots in the Upper Bracket out of the group stage have ample chances to redeem themselves before being eliminated. All games in the Upper Bracket are best-of-three, while the Lower Bracket is a best-of-one, with the grand final being played in a best-of-five series. Selection priority in each series will be determined by coin toss, with a separate coin toss for any winner-take-all final game.

The pool looks very different to last year’s. The main event bracket has been expanded to 16 teams from the eight we had a year ago, and of the eight teams that made the main event last year, seven are returning to the main stage. It’s after those top eight that things get interesting. Only one team from the lower eight returns in 2015, giving us seven news teams vying for the title.

Last year’s International was rather anti-climactic. Newbee were so far ahead of the meta that they had a very easy road through the main stage. Couple this with problems behind the scenes for Alliance and Na’Vi and it was clear the pool wasn’t as strong as it had been in past years. Everything has changed now. Newbee are on the outside looking in, locked in the lower bracket, while LGD gaming were dominant and look like the team to beat.

Everyone is talking about Team Secret, and rightfully so. A new team formed in the last year, Secret is made up of players who felt they’d gone as far as they could with their prior squads, breaking apart to form an All-Star team of sorts. Arteezy and zai joined from Evil Geniuses, KuroKy and Puppey came from Na’Vi and their captain is s4, who left Alliance following their International 2013 win when the team began to flounder. In many ways they are still gelling as a unit, which is terrifying for their competitors given how well they played in the group stage.

Games will run from Mon., Aug. 3 through Sat. Aug. 8. Broadcasts will begin at 1 p.m. ET, and conclude after the final game.

CDEC Gaming (China)

Player to watch: Agressif

Here’s a tip to teams playing against CDEC: Ban Gyrocopter. In the hands of Agressif he becomes an absolute monster. Ask MVP HOT6ix, who learned the hard way when they went 37/6/25 in two games against them in group.

Cloud9 (International) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: BigDaddy

The player formerly known as “N0Tail” is one of the most underrated supports in TI:5. Cloud9 are skilled at all five positions, but he really makes the team tick. He’s arguably the best Io player in the world right now, and you should expect to see him play his signature hero whenever it’s available.

compLexity Gaming (International) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: swindlemelonzz

One of the best professional Dota players to hail from the USA, Kyle “swindlemelonzz” Freedman has found a home with compLexity Gaming in the last year. He played very well with Shadow Fiend in group, but is known to play a wide array of hard carries. That alone will make him interesting.

EHOME (China) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: rOtK

rOtK is one of the most fun offlane players to watch in TI:5. From his precision Clockwerk play to outstanding Batrider skill he always finds a fight -- which is a good thing as EHOME’s primary initiator. If they have a chance in the main event it will be because of him.

Evil Geniuses (USA)

Player to watch: SumaiL

The newest member of EG has also become the player to watch. Losing two members to Team Secret felt like it was going to be a devastating blow, but the team retooled and look more dangerous than ever. This is USA’s best chance to win TI:5. This is your team.

Fnatic (Malaysia) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: Mushi

“MUUUUUUSHII!!!!!” If you’ve watched any competitive Dota then you’re hearing TobiWan yell this in your head while reading this. There is nobody who can single-handedly change a game like Mushi can. There’s nothing else to say. Just watch him.

Invictus Gaming (China) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: BurNIng

The big bad carry everyone should fear. BurNIng might not be the best player at adjusting mid-game, but if you give him an inch to farm he will destroy your entire team in a heartbeat. That’s what makes him fun to watch.

LGD Gaming (China)

Player to watch: xiao8

Let’s be real here: xiao8 is a Dota 2 mercenary, and a darn good one at that. He has moved between teams numerous times, and wherever he lands that team tends to win. He already has an International victory with Newbee from a year ago, and now he’s returned to LGD where his skills as a hard carry are sorely needed.

MVP HOT6ix (South Korea) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: Forev

This is pretty simple: MVP HOT6ix play well when Forev does, and they lose when he doesn’t. This can be said for many teams when it comes to their carries, but none are quite as hot-and-cold as Forev can be.

MVP Phoenix (South Korea) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: March

Primarily an offlaner, March is known to be a swing player who can easily transition to carry should the need arise. He plays a wide variety of heroes and that makes it hard to lock down his style. March isn’t the kind of player who will shine every game, but he’s a rock.

Natus Vincere (Ukraine) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: Dendi

Na’Vi has gone through a lot of ups and downs over the last two years, but there’s always Dendi. He’s a big-game player whose seemingly meek attitude turns into one of a stone-cold killer behind the keyboard. If there’s been a big moment in Dota, Dendi has been at the middle of it. It’s unclear if he can take that mantle one more time, but if Na’Vi have a chance it will be on Dendi’s back.

Newbee (China) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: Who knows?

This isn’t an indictment of Newbee, just a testament to how inconsistent this team has become since the shakeups following TI:4. Last year xiao8 was far and away their best player, now we’re waiting for someone on Newbee to step up and assume his mantle.

Team Empire (Russia/ Ukraine) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: Silent

A swing carry/support player, Silent has been the heart of Team Empire for the better part of two years. Now his loyalty to the team is paying off with a trip to the main event. Empire are routinely the team that falls just short, but with some luck and solid play this could be their year.

Team Secret (International) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: All of them

How can you pick a player to watch on an All-Star team that has everyone? Arteezy has been carrying like a fiend in group, and s4 is the best mid player in the world. Talking about the two of them means ignoring KuroKy and Puppey, which is a crime. This team is stacked. They’re ridiculous. Try to watch them all.

Vici Gaming (China) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: Hao or Super

Both Vici’s prime carries are worthy of attention and on any day they trade off for the team’s most valuable player. It comes down to preference. Hao is the less flashy but more consistent player, while Super makes plays almost nobody else can -- but sometimes he falters. If these two stars can work in lockstep this could be their tournament.

Virtus.pro (Russia) -- ELIMINATED --

Player to watch: Illidan

This is a brand-new Virtus.pro squad and it seems making the monumental shift to its roster has paid dividends. Illidan has proven to be the strong carry Virtus always seemed to lack, but this could be a difficult TI:5 for the Russian team, especially considering they meet Fnatic in Round 1.