Valve Reveals Next Dota 2 Championship Location
Valve surprised fans by announcing the location for the next International Dota 2 world championship. In an unconventional move, Shanghai, China was chosen as the host city for The International 9. This is a significant departure from Valve’s usual secretive approach to revealing tournament locations.
China is a logical choice for the championship, given its status as a global hub for competitive Dota 2. The country has produced some of the best players and teams in the game over the past decade. Shanghai, in particular, has emerged as a major esports hub in recent years, hosting multiple events annually.
It’s worth noting that the previous six editions of The International were held in Seattle, Valve’s hometown, with the exception of the inaugural event at the 2011 Gamescom expo. This is the first time in six years that the championship is moving outside of the United States.
Valve had been discussing the possibility of relocating The International since February 10, 2017. While citing concerns about the proposed U.S. travel ban against certain countries, the decision to move the championship also takes into account the ongoing visa issues faced by teams from Southeast Asia and CIS.
Although no dates have been announced yet for The International 9, fans can look forward to another thrilling tournament in the esports calendar.
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