The International 2025 Odds & Picks - Bet on Dota 2 at Stake
The International 2025 - Bet on Dota 2 Esports with Expert Picks & Predictions
Every year, the best Dota 2 teams in the world take part in The International, one of the biggest and longest-standing Esports tournaments. You could head to straight Stake Sportsbook to bet on the event, but before that, read on to get to know more about Dota 2 betting strategies and our picks for The International 2025 right here at Stake.
What is Dota 2's The International Tournament?
The International, often known simply as TI, is an annual tournament for Dota 2, one of the world’s most popular MOBA games. It’s organised by Valve, the developers of Dota 2, and offers a prize pool which is crowdfunded by sales of the game’s battle pass.
In 2025, The International will be held at the Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany. It features over $2 million in available prize money.
Format & Structure
16 teams take part in The International, with 8 invited based on previous performances, while the remaining 8 qualify from regional qualifiers. The tournament is split into a group stage, an elimination stage and the play-offs, which determine the champions. This will be the first edition of The International to use a Swiss-system rather than a round-robin group.
Group Stage - The Road to The International
4-7 September
5 rounds of matches are played.
All matches are best of 3.
The top 3 teams automatically advance to the playoffs.
Teams between 4th and 13th play in the special elimination round.
Elimination Round
10 teams between 4th and 13th enter this round.
Single-elimination best of 3 matches.
Only 5 teams will progress to the playoffs.
Play-Offs - The International
11-14 September
Double-elimination bracket.
Matches are played to the best of 3.
The Grand Final is played to the best of 5.
Predictions & Players and Teams to Watch
Team Spirit - Team Spirit are currently the top favourite to win The International 2025 according to the latest betting odds. They previously won in 2023 and 2021, and this year won the Dota 2 Esports World Cup and DreamLeague Season 25. The talented offlaner, Collapse, is one of the best players for Team Spirit
PARIVISION - In 2025, PARIVISION achieved 1st place finishes at the ESL One Raleigh and DreamLeague Season 26, while coming 2nd at PGL Wallachia Season 4 and 3rd at the Esports World Cup. As a result, they’re joint-3rd favourites to win The International. They also have the current top-ranked player in the world. No[o]ne, alongside DM and Satanic.
Team Falcons - Thanks to their win at FISSURE Universe: Episode 6 and 2nd place finishes at FISSURE Playground 1 and the Esports World Cup in 2025, Team Falcons are currently the joint-3rd favourites to win The International. Mair1ne and Skiter, 2 of the world’s best players, are both on the Team Falcons Roster.
Team Liquid - Team Liquid are the reigning champions, having beaten Gaimin Gladiators in the 2024 Grand Finals. They’re currently joint-3rd favourites to win in 2025 after strong performances saw them win Season 3 and 4 of PGL Wallachia this year. miCKe is the top-ranked player for Team Liquid, and SabeRLight is another important part of the roster.
Types of Bets & How to Bet on Dota 2
Before you start betting on The International, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the sport. If you’re new to Esports betting, check out our Esports betting guide. Here are some steps to follow to place your first bet:
Log in to your Stake.com account and check your balance.
Search for Dota 2 or open the menu and look for Esports > Dota 2 > International > The International 2025.
Look at the outright betting markets or open an upcoming match to see all available markets.
Select a bet to add to your bet slip, then enter your stake.
Check the potential payout and confirm to place your bet.
There are lots of different ways to bet on Dota 2 at Stake Sportsbook. Some of the most popular betting markets include:
Match Winner - Twoway (moneyline bet)
Wins at Least One Map
Map Betting (Map Winner, Total Kills, Kills Handicap, Map Duration, etc.)
Prop Bets (First Blood, First Tower, First Roshan, etc.)
The International Betting Tips & Strategies
Read our guides - Aside from our Esports betting guide, we also have a guide to Dota 2 betting and a complete MOBA betting guide. Reading these will help you understand matches better and offer more insights into the types of betting markets available to you.
Follow the meta - In the build-up to TI, Valve releases a patch that will change the heroes and playstyles that will be most effective for the tournament. Make sure you check the hero picks and ban rates before the tournament to see which are most effective and consider how these will favour certain teams and players.
Pay attention to the draft - The draft is one of the most important parts of any match, with teams that are more flexible in the heroes they use typically having an edge over the competition. Check the line movement after the draft to get an idea of the influence it has on a match.
Make the most of all betting markets - A wide range of betting markets is available on all matches of The International, giving you plenty of betting opportunities. Pay attention to the full range of markets, including main and map-specific betting options, to get the best value.
Free Esports & Dota 2 Online Live Streaming
Both pre-match and live betting options are available on Dota 2 matches at Stake. If you’re checking out the latest live odds, you’ll also be able to enjoy our free live streams. You never have to miss out on the exciting live action, as long as you’re logged in to your account.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Betting on Esports
Deposits
Log in and check your balance.
Choose any of the supported payment methods and local currencies such as CAD, JPY and INR.
It’s also possible to deposit and bet using crypto, with popular cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX, and SOL all accepted at Stake.
Use the provided deposit address as the “send to” location from your wallet or exchange.
You can also deposit crypto using Mesh or buy crypto using MoonPay or Swapped.com before sending it to Stake.
Store your coins in the Stake vault for safety.
Withdrawals
Open your Stake wallet and choose the withdrawal option.
Select your payment method and enter the amount you want to withdraw.
If you’re withdrawing crypto, choose the correct crypto network .
Confirm all the details before completing the withdrawal.
Stake Sportsbook Promotions, VIP Club, & Responsible Betting
While enjoying The International and other Esports at Stake, be sure to make the most of our betting promotions and offers such as our exclusive TI 2025 betting promo! As a member of the sportsbook, you’ll also be able to earn rewards through our exclusive VIP Club. Level up your account to earn regular rakeback, reload bonuses and even your own VIP host. All the details of how it works can be found on the VIP FAQ page.
Always remember to bet responsibly, setting a budget and staying within your limits as you place bets. Follow our Stake Smart guidelines for more advice on how to enjoy betting responsibly.
