The International 2022 Betting Guide

The International 2022 is undoubtedly one of the biggest esports events of the calendar year, and with our official betting guide, we aim to break down every single detail that might come in handy in your gambling endeavors. Apart from drawing some of the biggest crowds in esports, The International also draws in numerous punters who try their hand at Dota 2 Betting.

This year’s edition of the annual event will be its eleventh in total. With over a decade of history, record-breaking prize pools, and unrivaled prestige, it is safe to say that The International is THE pinnacle of every competitive Dota 2 season.

While the road to TI has drastically changed over time, the core of the event has always stayed the same. Participating teams begin their journey in the tournament’s group stage, fighting for their spot and seed at The International main event. The group stage’s single round-robin format has made this part of the event notorious due to the frequent number of upsets that tend to occur. The overall stakes make TI’s group stage quite a high-intensity environment, seeing as teams battle it out not just for a chance at a higher seed, but for their tournament lives as well.

Although it’s quite clear that only the world’s very best teams have a chance to fight for the Aegis of the Immortal, it’s the way they prepare for the event that sticks out. Teams will prepare their strategies for the event a year in advance and conceal them until the event as if they were a state secret. Considering the high level of competition, every possible advantage, no matter how big or small could prove to be crucial to a team’s success.

The International 2022 Schedule & Venue

If we take into account The International 2022 Last Chance Qualifiers (October 8th – October 12th) and Main Event (October 15th – October 30th), it’s pretty clear that we are in store for nearly a full month of high-level competitive Dota 2. The International 2022 will be played in Singapore, with the whole event taking place in a LAN environment. For the two inaugural parts (LCQ and Group Stage), teams will be competing without a live audience. Ultimately, the atmosphere is bound to pick up as the tournament progresses further, as the addition of a live crowd always gives TI its special flair. The Playoffs will be played at SunTec Singapore while the Grand Finals will be held at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The International 2022 Last Chance Qualifiers (October 8th – October 12th)

The International 2022 LCQ features a total of twelve teams, with two participants from each of Dota 2’s six major regions that will battle it out for the last two spots at the main event. All of the competing teams finished either 2nd or 3rd in their respective Regional Qualifier.

The LCQ is separated into two different phases:

• Group Stage (October 8th – October 9th)
  • Teams are divided into two separate groups
  • All matches are best-of-twos
  • The top four teams are seeded into the Upper Bracket of the Playoffs
  • The remaining teams are seeded into the Lower Bracket of the Playoffs
• Playoffs (October 10th – October 12th)
  • Double-elimination bracket
  • All matches are best-of-threes
  • Two teams will advance to The International 2022 Group Stage

The International 2022 Group Stage (October 15th – October 18th)

With a total of sixteen teams participating, The International 2022 Group Stage is nothing short of a punters fantasy. The number of daily matches is so high that it’s borderline impossible to follow every series in-depth. Participating teams are not just fighting for higher seeding in the main event playoffs, but for their tournament lives considering the bottom two teams from each respective group are eliminated from the event. The best-of-two format in which the group stage is played also leaves room for good returns on your wagers if you know what you’re doing.

• Group Stage (October 15th- October 18th)
  • Teams are divided into two separate groups with ten teams teach
  • All matches are best-of-twos
  • The top four teams advance to the Upper Bracket of the Main Event
  • Teams ranked 5th-8th advance to the Lower Bracket of the Main Event
  • The bottom two teams from each group are eliminated

The International 2022 Main Event (October 20th – October 30th)

The International 2022 Main Event/Playoffs is also the final phase of the tournament. The sixteen teams remaining will battle it out for the Aegis of Champions in a Double-Elimination bracket. In this part of the event, the gloves finally come off as every series is of vital importance. Teams will get their first real taste of The International’s atmosphere as they play in front of a live audience. While some teams have buckled under the pressure, others have thrived in such an atmosphere.

• Main Event/Playoffs
  • Sixteen teams have been seeded based on their Group Stage standings
  • Double-elimination Bracket
  • Lower Bracket Round 1 Matches are all played as best-of-ones
  • Grand Finals are played as a best-of-five
  • All other matches are best-of-threes

The International 2022 Betting

Dota 2’s popularity as a mainstay of the competitive scene has translated into Dota 2 betting becoming one of the largest markets for esport betting as a whole. Operators can offer up to three different betting options:

1. Pre-Match Betting
2. Live/In-Play Betting
3. Tournament/Outright Betting

Because of the nature of the game, a lot of punters have begun favoring Dota 2 Live Betting. Due to different strategies that make the core of Dota 2’s gameplay, live betting can be very profitable for punters with adequate game knowledge. Other bettors tend to bet on match outcomes before the matches themselves even start, taking much bigger risks for even bigger returns. Last but not least, certain bettors enjoy placing money on their favorite team in hopes of them lifting the trophy, which is possible through outright/tournament betting.

Pre-match Betting

Like in betting on traditional sports, pre-match betting is the most popular form of gambling when it comes to Dota 2 betting. Betting on matches before they even begin has been the norm for betting in modern times, and Dota 2 is no different.

How does it work? To put it simply, Dota 2 betting sites offer odds on different matches. Not too long ago, betting on the outright winner of the match was the only form of gambling available to would-be punters. Nowadays, punters can choose from more than 30 different types of bets when it comes to Dota 2, a topic we will touch upon later in this piece. To summarize, Dota 2 pre-match betting is a term used for placing bets before the match even starts.

Live/In-play Betting

Due to the nature of the game, live betting has slowly become a staple of Dota 2 gambling. With a big number of different strategies teams can employ, live betting can be quite profitable if the punter knows what he’s actually doing. The game features a variety of different playstyles, a seemingly endless amount of unique drafts, certain strength spikes during which one team has a specific edge, and even a solid comeback mechanic. A bettor who has a deep understanding of the game can see through even the highest of odds and make the right choice, no matter how big of a longshot it may seem at that moment.

While almost all of the top professional players are fairly even mechanically, Dota 2 at its core is a game of momentum. The best teams have a way of either imposing that momentum on their opponents or adjusting to their opponent’s tempo and reacting accordingly.

Outright/Tournament Betting

Although not the most popular method of wagering on the game, Tournament Betting is yet another staple when it comes to gambling on Dota 2. Whether you are just following your heart and betting on your favorite team, have a deep understanding of the game’s meta and picked your favorites correspondingly, or are just looking for that next Cinderella story, betting on outright tournament winners could net you a decent chunk of change.

The potential odds in this type of betting can give huge returns more often than not, making tournament betting a worthy addition to the Dota 2 gambling portfolio.

Dota 2 Special Bets

With such a wide array of things happening at any moment of the game, special types of bets have also become abundant in the betting market. Be aware, some of these are only familiar to punters who follow or play the actual game. Some of the most popular types of special bets available are:

• Total Maps Played(Over/Under) – Whenever teams are playing Bo3 or Bo5 matches, this type of special bet determines how many maps in the series will be played. Due to the draft order in Dota 2 that allows for a specific number of bans apart from the hero picks, teams have a way of neutralizing their opponents’ best strategies, thereby giving them a chance even if they get defeated during the first map played. This type of bet is good if you know that a team will completely dominate the other side, or if the matchup itself will go its full length. For example, if a particular match is played in a best-of-3 format, and you feel like one side will completely sweep the other, you can place a bet on “Under 2.5 maps to be played”.
• Race to Kills – Another type of special bet for all the Dota 2 connoisseurs among you. With some teams employing a very aggressive playstyle that focuses on heroes that have an edge during the early parts of the match, you can bet on whether the team will get to a specified number of kills first.
• First Blood – First Blood is a term commonly found throughout MOBA’s esports that determines whether a team is going to get the first kill in the match. This typically occurs during the very start of the match, or the very early game. If you see a hero line-up that has a lot of potential to quickly dispose of an opponent during the start of the match, betting on first blood can seem as easy as a walk in the park.
• First Roshan – Roshan is a valuable objective in the game that offers teams a big advantage if taken. While the First Roshan bet largely depends on the tempo of the match, there are certain teams and heroes that specialize in taking it. One of Dota 2’s most popular heroes Ursa is quite adept at taking Roshan by himself, and teams can have a hard time at stopping him from doing just that.

The International 2022 Outright Winner Odds

Looking at the Outright Winner Odds, it’s no secret that PSG.LGD is the absolute favorite to claim the Aegis, for the second year in a row. The Chinese team has had one of the most dominant DPC seasons in recent memory. Coming in as close second we’ve got the defending champions Team Spirit as well as the chaotic fan-favorites OG.

All eyes are evidently on the European and Chinese teams, as almost all of the teams in the upper half of the odds (save for Evil Geniuses) come from those two regions. The lower half is mostly populated by South American or SEA teams, whose chances are looking slim to none.