97:Valve confirms dates for Dota 2's The International 10 to be held in Sweden's Stockholm
One of the biggest events in Esports calendar, the International 10 Dota 2 championship is set to be back this year. While there were no mega global tournaments conducted (for Dota 2) last year, there were rumours that something big was coming up in 2021. It turned out to be true and the the fans would certainly be delighted as the developer - Valve has officially confirmed the news on game's website.
It stated, "Let it be known -- the Aegis of Champions is in play once more. After a break necessitated by world events, we’re happy to officially announce that The International 10 will take place this August in Stockholm, Sweden." The event is set to kick off with group stages (August 5-8) followed up with the main event (August 10-15). Interestingly, a whopping prize of $40,018,195 has been announced for the much-awaited event.
Other details about the event to be revealed in June
While the dates and venue have been revealed, Valve did not provide any other details about the event. Although there is still no clarity about the format which will be used in this year's championship, there is a possibility that they might use the same format which has been used in previous editions of the tournament. There is also an ambiguity regarding the presence of fans in attendance with the ongoing pandemic.
In an official statement, it said, "As we continue to plan the event around the shifting landscape presented by the ongoing global pandemic, our focus remains on finding ways to hold a high quality tournament in the safest way possible." Hence, the other crucial details are expected to be released by the month of June.
Introduction of Supporters Clubs
Valve has also introduced the concept of Supporters Clubs where the fans will be able to support their favourite teams by purchasing bundles of badges and seasonal equippables. About the same, Valve stated, "Each team has three bundles to choose from, with an increasing amount of content inside. The Bronze Club includes a badge for your favorite team, the Silver Club includes sprays and emoticons, and the Gold Club includes a special in-game HP-bar badge, loading screens, and voice lines."
While the content from 17 teams have already been added, the content from other teams will be added on a regular basis once they are submitted and approved until The International commences in August.