With eSports revenues expected to reach $696 million this year, the world of competitive gaming has become a huge multi-million dollar industry that not only attracts a large number of fans but also offers gamers the chance to win a share of major prize pools.Although a host of games are played as eSports, from League of Legends to Smite, Valve Corporation's Dota 2 is generally viewed by many as the biggest game in the industry. The multiplayer online battle arena has become one of the mainstays of the scene since its release and has been kept fresh down the years with a host of updates designed to refresh the action for players and fans alike. Its enduring popularity means that tournaments related to the game are major affairs, with The International undoubtedly being the most high profile of them all.

A global phenomenon

First held in Cologne, Germany in 2011 with a prize pool of around $1.6 million, The International has grown in the past six years to become a global phenomenon. Set to be held from August 7 to 12 at the 17,000-capacity Key Arena in Seattle, the event will see the very best Dota 2 teams come together to do battle for major winnings. The prize pool for the event, as of July 22, stood at almost $22 million, making it what is thought to be the biggest in eSports history. The pool tends to be started with a donation from Valve, with 25 per cent of proceeds from the sale of the International Battle Pass being added to the pot. For the uninitiated, the pass gives fans access to a host of special features, including a Battle Point Tribute and Prestige Towers.

Ones to watch

So, with huge sums of prize money to play for, which teams are currently expected to make a splash at this year’s event? As of July 22, eSportsbook Betway had International 2015 winners Evil Geniuses at 4/1 to win the competition outright. The US side are always ones to watch in major events and are thought to be the highest earning Dota 2 team in history, with them securing more than $14 million of prize money through playing the game. Virtus Pro are also well fancied, at odds of 15/4, this year. The biggest names in Dota 2 are also expected to fare well, with the likes of Team OG, Newbee and Team Liquid all having strong chances of success.

However, it is always wrong to rule out the underdogs when a major tournament comes around. Digital Chaos may only have odds of 30/1 this year, but it is worth remembering that the team finished second in last year’s competition. Could that experience of the pressures of a big tournament stand them in good stead? Even longer odds of 79/1 are being offered on the European side Hellraisers, but with shocks fairly common at major events, the chances of them causing an upset should not be ruled out.

The International structure

How have these teams been selected to play in The International 2017? Well, as is the custom, several teams have been invited and others have gone through a series of qualifying rounds in order to secure their spot. The International itself will begin with the final 18 teams being divided into two groups, where they will play best-of-two matches in a round robin format. Following that, the bottom sides in the group are eliminated, while the rest are split into an upper and lower bracket to do battle in a double elimination format. Matches are held until, eventually, an outright winner is crowned champion. While the winner will get almost half of the prize pool in winnings, the rest of the fund will be split between the other competitors based on their final position in the standings.

A big date for your diary

The world of eSports is vast and incredible place, but nothing quite captures the imagination like The International. Fans from across the world will be flocking to Seattle to watch the action, while many more will be following coverage online. With so much at stake, this year’s tournament could well prove to be the most exciting ever.