TL;DR
- The TI14 group stage used a modified Swiss system, the place groups with the identical standing fought one another
- Xtreme Gaming dominated the group stage with an ideal file
- BetBoom and Tidebound went straight to the playoffs
- Nigma Galaxy, HEROIC, PARIVISION, Tundra Esports, and Crew Falcons full the ultimate eight
- Crew Liquid and Crew Spirit had been already eradicated.
The Worldwide 2025 kicked off with maybe one of the best group stage within the historical past of the event. Fan favourites had been eradicated, underdogs had been taking video games off the highest groups, and the varied picks showcased every workforce and participant’s particular person playstyles.
The modified Swiss format turned each collection right into a do-or-die for the playoffs spot, treating followers with a number of hour-long epics match to be grand finals, however added in brief dismantlings for good measure. Drafts grew bolder, pocket picks had been revealed, and a zoo meta has caught on for the contestants.
TI14 is producing world-class Dota 2 video games, and that is the place to make amends for all of the highlights you’ve missed with the stacked occasion.
The Worldwide 2025 group stage outcomes
Chinese language groups are again on high
Earlier than Dota 2 esports was dominated by European and CIS groups, Chinese language superstars had been the highest contenders. Groups like Invictus Gaming, Newbee, Vici Gaming, had been sturdy contenders in The Worldwide. However because the strongest TI-winning workforce of all time, Wings Gaming, gained the event, China has did not carry one other Aegis.
PSG.LGD got here near successful TI twice (2018, 2021), however failed to beat the event’s eventual winners. Nonetheless, it appears just like the sleeping dragon has woken up by taking up the primary section of the occasion.
Xtreme Gaming, composed of former PSG.LDG and Azure Ray members ended the group stage with an ideal 4-0 standing. There have been no simple video games both, and the workforce needed to claw its manner via every collection, taking down Aurora Gaming 2-0, Crew Spirit 2-1, Falcons 2-1, and fellow countrymen, Crew Tidebound 2-0, for its playoff spot. Uncrowned king Ame performed like a beast, typically going deathless in a lot of his video games.
Crew Tidebound is coming scorching off its win from the current Clavision Masters 2025. The workforce is one other mixture of Chinese language legends and former Wings members like Bach (Faith_bian) and y`. Tidebound certified for the playoffs with a 4-1 standing, solely dropping to Xtreme Gaming. They took down NAVI 2-1, Crew Liquid 2-0, PARIVISION 2-0, and Falcons 2-1.
The third Chinese language nationwide workforce, Yakutou Brothers, superior to the fifth spherical within the Swiss stage, then fought an elimination spherical in opposition to HEROIC. Nonetheless, they misplaced 0-2, permitting the South American workforce to run its signature Meepo in each video games of the collection.
Defending TI champions exit early
Right here’s one thing to break everybody’s predictions: Crew Liquid and Crew Spirit will not be going to the primary stage.
Defending TI champions Crew Liquid scored a middling 3-2 standing throughout its group levels. The workforce gained its opening match in opposition to BOOM Esports 2-1, then misplaced to Tidebound 0-2. They picked up one other win in opposition to NIGMA 2-1, however misplaced to Falcons 0-2, then gained its fifth spherical in opposition to Yakutou Brothers 2-1.
This put them up in opposition to Tundra Esports within the elimination spherical. Liquid went up in opposition to its former captain, 33, who helped the organisation win The Worldwide final yr. The primary two matches had been shut, hour-long battles that would go both manner.
On their third and remaining match, Tundra introduced out a Phoenix offlane final decide that helped shut out the sport in half-hour. Tundra certified for the playoffs with a stand-in, as its assist, Whitemon, couldn’t safe a visa in time.
One other fan favorite additionally noticed an early exit. Crew Spirit entered TI14 because the workforce to beat, owing to its excellent run in EWC. Spirit gained its first match in opposition to Wildcard 2-0, misplaced to Xtreme Gaming, then gained a hard-fought 2-1 in opposition to Tundra Esports. However they faltered on the second day, dropping two straight collection in opposition to PARIVISION and Aurora Gaming.
Within the elimination spherical, Spirit confronted off in opposition to Crew Falcons. The primary recreation of the collection went over 76 minutes, stuffed with so many twists and turns that it was worthy of a grand remaining. The second recreation was a one-sided affair closely in favour of the Falcons, crushing them with an enormous hole in kills and internet price.
With Spirit and NAVI out, different CIS groups rose to the event. BetBoom Crew was one of many high three groups that certified straight for the playoffs due to its 4-1 Swiss file. PARIVISION additionally certified for the following section after taking down Wildcard 2-0 in a reasonably well-fought collection.
Two shock groups earn playoff spots
Two shock groups be a part of the playoffs, proving time and time once more that something can occur in The Worldwide.
HEROIC’s final large win was in PGL Wallachia Season 2, successful in opposition to Falcon within the grand finals. Since then, the workforce would generally go so far as the playoffs, however by no means made any deep runs within the event.
However previous outcomes don’t matter so long as you’ll be able to present up when it issues. They misplaced the primary two collection in opposition to PARIVISION and NAVI (0-2 for each), however they didn’t lose any recreation afterwards. Beating BOOM Esports, Wildcard, and Tundra Esports to qualify for the elimination spherical, the place they might beat Gaimin Gladiator’s alternative invite to qualify.
The win can be marred by controversy due to organiser PGL’s inconsistent guidelines. If following the official rulebook, Heroic ought to have been matched in opposition to Spirit, and Falcons ought to’ve gone up in opposition to Yakutou.
If this had been true, followers have a proper to be pissed off with the unfairness, particularly as a result of two high groups didn’t make it to the following stage due to this last-minute determination. It’s all as much as HEROIC now to show they deserve the slot.
One other workforce to qualify has probably the most strong and dependable supporters: Nigma Galaxy. The organisation was initially based with 4 of the 5 members of Liquid’s Worldwide 2017 successful squad. Whereas the organisation is a constant presence in Dota 2 esports, that is the primary time they’ve made it to the playoffs at TI.
Nigma Galaxy began sturdy in its opening collection in opposition to BetBoom, beating them 2-1 with a hilarious match from Lone Druid’s Bear, protecting its opponents caught to the bottom. Nigma wasn’t capable of finding success in its three collection, dropping to PARIVISION 0-2, Crew Liquid 1-2, and Yakutou Brothers 1-2. They had been in a position to pull off two decisive video games to win in opposition to NAVI 2-1.
The elimination spherical should be a hectic occasion for followers of each Aurora Gaming and Nigma Galaxy, two groups identified for blowing successful video games. The collection was definitely entertaining, particularly the second recreation, however Nigma got here out on high within the final recreation to maneuver to the following section.
Most contested heroes in TI14 teams
Our early predictions for the meta heroes for TI14 had been shut sufficient, however the event was various, with many heroes represented throughout the event. Out of all of the 125 heroes (minus Kez as he isn’t in Captain’s Mode but), solely 21 heroes went unpicked and unbanned within the event.
Essentially the most picked hero of the TI14 up to now is Disruptor with 42 appearances and Earthshaker with 30, regardless of his excessive ban fee. Bane, Pugna, Snapfire, and Mars are different heroes with greater than 30 showings in all of the matches.
Going into the event, nobody might’ve predicted how prevalent Helm of the Dominator can be. Carries, offlaners, and the occasional midlaner would all the time have this merchandise early.
First popularised by Yatoro when he purchased it on Faceless Void as a greater farming merchandise than Hand of Midas, it has taken over the event. Tundra even showcased a match with three characters carrying the merchandise at one level.
This merchandise displays on probably the most contested heroes of TI14. Beastmaster is at a 96% contest fee due to how he can empower a zoo comp. Marci (90%) is one other hero who takes full benefit of the additional creep together with her talents. Naga Siren (94% cr, largely bans) and Nature’s Prophet (92% cr) be a part of these two as probably the most sought heroes within the event.
Who will win TI14?
Now for the massive query: which of the remaining eight groups will win all of it?
All eyes are on Xtreme Gaming and whether or not its scorching streak will proceed into the playoffs.
The Chinese language roster solely misplaced two video games throughout the teams, in opposition to Spirit and Falcons. Since Spirit is out, the Falcons want to beat Tidebound, who has already crushed them within the first section, after which struggle the winner of BetBoom vs Nigma Galaxy. In the meantime, Xtreme Gaming’s first match is in opposition to a weakened Tundra and most certainly PARIVISION.
Talking of which, PARIVISION is in high type, maybe sufficient to take house the Aegis. The workforce’s deciding collection in opposition to Wildcard confirmed the 2 stage two unbelievable comebacks off Satanic’s dangerous performs. The final time these two groups met, Xtreme Gaming swept PARIVISION 2-0.
Falcons and BetBoom workforce are different sturdy contenders for the grand finals. Each groups have proven constant top-level performances and wins all through this season, and BetBoom was one of many three groups to skip the elimination spherical. Nonetheless, the Falcons have showcased an unbreakable psychological recreation with a number of hour-long matches.
For this grand remaining, we’ll most certainly see a Chinese language workforce go up in opposition to a CIS workforce (PARIVISION, BetBoom), except the Falcons have one thing to say about it.
Conclusion
The group stage of The Worldwide 2025 gave us every part a fan would wish to see: surprising eliminations, unattainable comebacks, new methods, and the conclusion of year-long storylines.
Outdated champions have left, and new champions will probably be on the primary stage. Can the Chinese language groups sustain their efficiency within the final leg of the event? Or will Europe and CIS areas proceed to dominate the sport? Keep tuned as a result of if the group stage was this wild, the primary occasion guarantees to be an unforgettable esports occasion.
FAQs
What’s the format of the TI14 group levels?
The group levels used a modified Swiss system, the place groups go up in opposition to different groups with the identical standing in best-of-three matches. High three qualify, backside three eradicated, and the remaining struggle for the final 5 spots.
When do The Worldwide 2025 playoffs begin?
The Worldwide 2025 playoffs will begin on September 11 to 14, 2025. All of it goes down in Barclays Area in Hamburg, Germany.
What was the most important shock of the TI14 group stage?
The most important shock was that defending champions Crew Liquid and two-time TI winners Crew Spirit didn’t make it via the elimination spherical.
Who’re the favourites to win TI14?
Xtreme Gaming is poised to win the event. Nonetheless, this efficiency is unique to this event. BetBoom, Falcons, and PARIVISION confirmed constant top-level efficiency and wins all through the season.
