Dota 2 international courier stages

The International 8 groups, format and schedule for group stage

Two teams must go — don’t miss out on the action with our full schedule.

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It’s the start of The International 8, the biggest event in Dota 2 — and possibly the world (at least financially). Eighteen teams have come together to fight it out for a massive prize and the glory of being known as the best Dota 2 team in the world.

But first, they need to make the cut in the group stages.

While group stages aren’t played out in front of an audience, it doesn’t make them any less important, as it sets up the bracket for the main event that will take place in Rogers Arena. Dota 2 international courier stages More importantly for some of these teams, it’ll crop down the 18 to 16, with two teams being eliminated in order to make room for the bracket.

Fans, meanwhile, will get the first taste of what’s to come. Which teams have been practicing and studying up? What heroes will emerge as this event’s meta?

Don’t miss the action — we’ve got everything you need to know right here.

Groups

GROUP A

• Evil Geniuses [NA, Qualifiers]
• Fnatic [SEA, Qualifiers]
• Invictus Gaming [China, Qualifiers]
• Mineski Pro Team [SEA, Direct Invite]
• OG Dota [EU, Qualifiers]
• PSG. LGD [China, Qualifiers]
• Team Liqu >(Note: Actual start times may vary based on match lengths and other factors, and are subject to change. Times listed in PT (Vancouver local) then ET.)

Official English casts:

Wednesday, August 15th

9 AM PT (12 PM ET) — Group A — Series 1

• IG vs Mineski
• PSG. LGD vs OG
• EG vs VGJ. Thunder
• Liqu >11:30 AM PT — Group B — Series 1

• Vici vs VGJ. S
• Newbee vs TNC
• Secret vs Serenity
• VP vs OpTic

2 PM PT (5 PM PT) — Group A — Series 2

• IG vs EG
• PSG. LGD vs VGJ. T
• Liqu >4:30 PM PT (7:30 PM ET) — Group B — Series 2

• paiN vs Newbee
• VG vs TNC
• Secret vs VGJ. Storm
• VP vs Serenity

7 PM PT (10 PM ET) — Group A — Series 3

• IG vs Winstrike
• PSG. LGD vs Liqu >9 AM PT (12 PM ET) — Group B — Series 3

• paiN vs TNC
• Vici vs Newbee
• Secret vs VP
• OpTic vs VGJ. Storm

11:30 AM PT — Group A — Series 4

IG vs Liqu >2 PM PT (5 PM PT) — Group B — Series 4

• paiN vs Secret
• Vici vs Serenity
• Newbee vs OpTic
• VP vs TNC

4:30 PM PT (7:30 PM ET) — Group A — Series 5

• IG vs Fnatic
• PSG. LGD vs EG
• Mineski vs OG
• VGJ. Thunder vs Winstrike

7 PM PT (10 PM ET) — Group B — Series 5

• paiN vs VGJ. S
• VG vs Secret
• Newbee vs Serenity
• TNC vs OpTic

Fr >9 AM PT (12 PM ET) — Group A — Series 6

• IG vs VGJ. Thunder
• EG vs Winstrike
• Liqu >11:30 AM PT — Group B — Series 6

• paiN vs Vici
• Newbee vs VP
• TNC vs VGJ. Storm
• OpTic vs Serenity

2 PM PT (5 PM PT) — Group A — Series 7

• IG vs OG
• PSG. LGD vs Fnatic
• Liqu >4:30 PM PT (7:30 PM ET) — Group B — Series 8

• paiN vs VP
• Newbee vs VGJ. Storm
• Secret vs OpTic
• TNC vs Serenity

7 PM PT (10 PM ET) — Group B — Series 8