Valve has at present confirmed sweeping adjustments to the format for this yr’s model of The Worldwide, with a give attention to enhancing the event for a “broader vary of followers”, in addition to boosting viewer accessibility in-person in addition to on-line.
The principle change to the format, which was introduced in an Aug. 4 Valve blog post, will see the occasion damaged into three phases held over weekends. Earlier variations of The Worldwide noticed the group stage and a part of the playoffs happen all through the week main as much as the grand finals on the finish of week two—a fortnight’s value of continuous Dota motion.
On reflection, Valve believes this to be a limitation of the event’s accessibility, opting as a substitute for a League of Legends Worlds-like format with matches solely occurring over the weekend. Valve had begun testing a model of this schedule at TI11 in Singapore final yr, which noticed the highest three groups battle for the Aegis of Champions every week after the remainder of the playoffs.
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TI12’s group stage in Seattle, U.S., will probably be set for Oct. 12 to fifteen, then every week off earlier than motion returns for the playoffs on Oct. 20 to 22. Valve will class these two weekends as “The Street to The Worldwide”, with solely the highest eight progressing to “The Worldwide” playoff finals on Oct. 27 to 29.
The event as an entire will nonetheless be thought of The Worldwide, however Valve hopes by splitting broadcast days over a number of weekends versus all through weekdays will permit viewers to catch the motion.
Additionally altering would be the group stage format itself. Beforehand, 20 groups have been break up into two teams of 10, with every enjoying a full round-robin stage—18 matches of Dota—earlier than qualifying for playoffs. The downside to this was a number of lifeless rubber matches; with standings typically locked and confirmed effectively earlier than the ultimate day, it meant little to play for because the group stage went on.
Valve is chopping this right down to 4 teams of 5. The highest 4 will progress to the second spherical of the group stage, whereas the fifth place will probably be eradicated. Spherical two for the group stage sees every workforce reseeded into head-to-head matches, with winners beginning the playoffs within the higher bracket.
The playoffs will see the 16 qualifiers whittled right down to eight by way of a double elimination bracket, with 4 beginning the finals within the higher bracket and 4 beginning in elimination. The ultimate eight will survive The Street to The Worldwide and make it to the Local weather Pledge Enviornment in late October to play for the Aegis.
At this stage, each rounds of the group stage is not going to be open to the general public. The playoffs will happen on the Seattle Conference Heart’s Summit earlier than TI strikes to the refurbished residence of Dota at KeyArena—now the Local weather Pledge Enviornment—in late October.
Tickets for The International are but to be launched, however Valve hinted at “late August” as to once we might see ticket gross sales open.
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