The International 2025 group stage preview: Predictions, odds, and best picks

Luke Warr Published September 4, 2025

➡️ LATEST: Go to The International 2025 playoffs preview 

The International always kicks off with a group stage, known as The Road to the International. TI14 will see things work differently from what fans have seen previously at the event, so it’s a wise move to check in with our predictions and odds guidance ahead of time.

It’s been an odd year for Dota 2 esports and Valve isn’t content in letting any tradition stand. That includes the publisher introducing a brand new format for The International. While Dota 2’s championship event has been shaken up on more than a few occasions over the years, this year’s tournament format is effectively brand new.

Event overview

TI14 group stage format

• The TI14 group stage uses the Swiss-style format similar to Counter-Strike tournaments and Dota 2’s PGL Wallachia events
• Teams play up to five best-of-three matches and are ranked based on their record, win rate, and strength of competition
• Teams that win four matches advance directly to the playoffs
• Teams that lose four matches are eliminated
• The remaining 10 teams are sent to the elimination stage

The TI14 group stage is unique, for better or worse. Instead of a round robin situation, teams will play five opponents to determine their rank. Three of the teams will be eliminated, while three will advance directly to the playoffs.

Then, instead of taking part in the tradition of a terrifying best-of-one lower bracket match at The International, the majority of group stage teams head off to the elimination stage. This will see five teams sent home based on their performance in a single best-of-three match.

The Road to the International dates and schedule

The International 2025’s group stage begins on September 4 and will run through September 7. Matches begin at 4 am ET / 10 am CET.

The group stage will be staggered across five rounds. Rounds one and two will take place on September 4.

Round 1

• Aurora Gaming (1.58) vs Xtreme Gaming (2.27)
• Team Spirit (1.02) vs Wildcard (10.27)
• Team Falcons (1.05) vs Team Nemesis (7.99)
• Tundra Esports (1.20) vs Yakutou Brothers (4.23)
• Parivision (1.18) vs Heroic (4.42)
• Team Liquid (1.07) vs BOOM Esports (7.28)
• BetBoom Team (1.4) vs Nigma Galaxy (2.78)
• Team Tidebound (1.33) vs NAVI (3.13)

Which teams are worth betting on?

• View the TI14 outright odds 

BetBoom Team and Team Tidebound are two of the only teams worth betting on in the opening round of the TI14 group stage.

Dota 2 betting is extremely top-heavy right now, and that’s reflected in the odds on the opening matches. Most of them have prohibitively large favorites, which offer so small a return that it’s not worth bothering.

BetBoom and Team Tidebound are the exceptions. These teams are decided favorites but offer enough of a return on a bet that they’re worth considering. A moneyline pick is a low-risk, low-reward option, but side markets are there for those who want to up the ante.

Which teams will earn TI14 playoff spots?

Three teams will earn spots in the playoffs, if they can win four matches. There are a few different candidates for this.

• Team Spirit are the favorites to win The International 2025, and are naturally the best candidate to advance straight to the playoffs
• Team Falcons have been very strong in the tournaments leading up to TI14, which could foretell a strong showing at the event
• Parivision has been very good throughout 2025, and has proven itself capable of beating all the contenders at TI14
• A forced substitution for Tundra Esports hurts its chances of winning The International for a second time, but a good group stage run is still very possible

Beyond those four teams, Team Tidebound, Team Liquid, and BetBoom Team are all worth keeping an eye on.

Team Liquid has been able to pull off surprise championships a few times this year, and is the reigning TI champion. BetBoom Team is very good and historically performs well against Team Spirit, opening the door to skip the elimination stage with the right draws. Team Tidebound is a dark horse contender after winning Clavision Masters 2025: Snow-Ruyi, and its veteran roster could surprise the world.