The International 2018 (Dota 2 Championship)

The International 2018, held at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, was the eighth installment of Valve and PGL’s premier Dota 2 esports tournament. With a crowdfunded prize pool of $25.53 million, it set a new record for esports tournaments at the time and featured 18 elite teams battling in group stages and a double-elimination main event. The climax of the event saw OG, a team that had started in open qualifiers, make an incredible Cinderella run to the finals and defeat PSG.LGD in a gripping 3–2 series. In addition to fierce competition and unexpected upsets, The International 2018 included showpiece moments such as the human vs. AI exhibition featuring OpenAI Five, a cosplay contest, and community-led short film events Its legacy includes not only the unforgettable underdog story of OG’s victory but also a significant community milestone unseen in mainstream sports leagues: over 15 million online viewers and nearly 20,000 attendees in the arena.