The world of cybersports gained its worldwide popularity in the first half of the 2010s and one of the reasons was the game Dota 2, which already had a good fan base from past editions. The huge number of competitions brings not only fun and enjoyable excitement to the fans but also money to the people who bet. The biggest tournament for this game is the International, which attracts tens of millions of viewers. In addition, the prize fund is millions of dollars, which makes players nervous and keeps fans frozen.
You can learn more about this tournament and its important aspects for betting below. All this will allow you not only to follow your favorite teams, but also to make money on their victories.
Structure of the Tournament
Of course, such a huge world tournament does not take place in one day or week. Since it consists of several stages, which you will learn about very soon, let’s start with the main points. International is a competition of 16 teams, already 18, which not everyone comes to. It is important not only for fans and players to understand the component parts of the event, but also for bettors. You will learn about the features of the following parts:
- Qualifying stage;
- Group stage;
- Winners Grid;
- Losers Grid;
- Grand Final.
It is worth dealing with everything in order, so you will understand it and will not have questions.
Qualifying Stage and its Specifics
This is the most extensive stage in the entire International, which includes the competition of unknown teams and favorites. It starts with the elimination stage, where a lot of fans take part. And although there are a huge number of such matches, it is quite risky to bet on them, because no one can assess the real level of unknown teams. Even against the favorites in these moments the chances are not so small, you should think about the risks rationally and save your money for further competitions.
In the qualifying stage, you should bet only on the semifinals and finals, as there are often strong teams playing against weak ones. But the odds in such games will be quite small. That is why only the following two points are really worth your analysis and money:
- The main stage of qualification – if you see a strong team on it, you can safely bet, especially if they got into this section because of the change of one player;
- Playoffs – the elimination games force teams to play to their limits, so the favorites do often win over the amateurs.
Group Stage International
Even at this point the tension starts to rise, but it is not critical yet. There is not much on the line, and many teams are confident. At this stage, many make the recommendation to bet on a draw. This is explained simply by the fact that the teams are still studying each other, and not rushing to the limit of their strength and abilities. Betting on a “draw” you are likely to win, in addition, the prize will be very good, as the odds are high on this outcome.
In order for you to understand what this stage is, you must learn about what happens in it and where it leads to:
- Teams compete against each other and in the end only two of them are eliminated;
- The top four are determined into the winner’s grid;
- The remaining teams go to the losers’ grid.
Another small feature for this stage is that you will see a lot of tie-breaks. These are additional duels when the teams have the same number of points at the end of the competition. You should bet in these games on the team that won the group stage or has already beaten this opponent.
Winners and Losers Grid
After the group stage, two grids are formed, which compete in turn – first winners, then losers. This is because the teams that lose in the winners fall into the losers grid and compete there. The specifics, or even tips, for bettors in these tournaments are as follows:
- In winnings, bet on the strongest team in the first round – a total of 2.5 cards – as the first match goes to the strongest and weakest team, and, accordingly, rarely when the game takes more than 2 cards;
- Hold off on picking a winner, as strong teams can easily surprise you and yourself at the end, so the risks are high;
- When betting on the loser’s grid matches, avoid the first match as it is played in bo-1 format. Next, bet on the teams that fell from the losers grid, as they are quite strong and have good odds.
Watching the International, you will be able to make similar conclusions yourself.
International Grand Final
At this stage it is so difficult to predict the winner and the outcome of an individual match that even the most experienced bettors are unsure of their wagers. However, there are a couple of points, the regularity of which gives good chances. Among them, the following will be relevant for betting:
- Do not bet on less than 3.5 cards, as there have been only two teams in the entire history of the International that have not won a single card;
- If the teams have faced each other before, the past victor is most likely to win.
There is nothing else to focus on at this stage, so bet wisely.