Dota 2’s The International 2023: A Recap of the Event
Dota 2’s most prestigious tournament, The International 2023, introduced a new format with breaks between stages. Despite these pauses, the event was the shortest in history, according to statsman Ben “Noxville” Steenhuisen.
With most main event matches resulting in 2-0 sweeps, TI 2023 had the second-lowest match count since its inception, with just 15 matches post-TI1. However, the average match length told a different story.
TI 2023 was the second longest tournament after TI1 in terms of match lengths, with most matches averaging 42 minutes and 40 seconds. Considering the players were new to Dota 2 during the first-ever TI, this was quite normal.
However, some teams, like the Gaimin Gladiators, tried to bring down these averages. The runner-ups of the event had five of the seven fastest wins at TI 2023. Unfortunately, their efforts were nullified by Quest Esports, the WEU representative, who had the longest average game length at 56 minutes and 12 seconds.
There were discussions before the event regarding the pace of the meta, and TI 2023 showcased the multiple play styles allowed in the current iteration of Dota 2. Some teams, like Gaimin, used deathball push strategies during the main event, while others opted for slow drafts that took advantage of the new larger map.
Patch 7.34 increased the map’s size, preventing teams from being entirely forced out and allowing them to maintain their net worth even in challenging situations. This led to supports and non-carry heroes picking up the Hand of Midas during TI 2023, as teams wanted to scale into the late game instead of risking an early finish.
Now that TI 2023 is over, players are eagerly awaiting the next update, which is expected to introduce a new event and balance changes ahead of the 2024 season.
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