Back in November, rumors about the location of the next DOTA2 The International started circulating. According to the sources, the big Dota tournament will return to the US, to Seattle in 2023. Although there has been no confirmation from Valve yet, but one of the most popular voice actors in the Dota scene has now leaked the next location of The International.
This would mark the first time the tournament has returned to North America since 2018. After The International was held in Singapore last year and TI9 was also held in Shanghai, Valve is bringing the big Dota event back to the Western Hemisphere. We have the info for you here!
The International 2023 will be held in Seattle
Since the end of TI11, hints have been circulating about a possible return to Seattle. If that is indeed the case, it would be the first TI in North America since 2018 and the first in the U.S. since 2017. But apparently the sources are trustworthy, because now the popular Voice Actor for Dota, John Patrick Lowrie, has also revealed the location for the next International. Lowrie is the man who brought Earthshaker, Storm Spirit, Pudge and The International to life with his voice.
Ellen and I will be traveling to Lima, Peru at the end of February to take part in the first ever South American DotA Major!
Viva, Peru! Viva, America del Sud! Viva, DotA!!! @EllenMcLain pic.twitter.com/Tzpfzp0GP5— John Lowrie (@johnpatricklowr) February 9, 2023
He has now spoken on his Facebook page about the upcoming Dota 2 events he will be attending this year. Is this Valve’s way of trying to make Dota more popular again in the US? Interest in the Esport title is said to have dwindled in the region, and perhaps this is how they want to rekindle fans’ interest.
Location wasn’t leaked for the first time
This isn’t the first time this information has been leaked, as there were already hints of a possible return to Seattle after TI11 ended last October. But because Lowrie has now shared the info publicly and not deleted the post, it feels like these leaks are true. TI first took place at Gamescom 2011 in Germany before moving and staying in Seattle from 2012 to 2017.
It's getting real at Dota 2's The International 6 at Seattle's KeyArena. #TI6 pic.twitter.com/MWCJWw0qwh
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 10, 2016
If it is indeed true, the finals of the tournament will return to the Climate Pledge Arena, formerly KeyArena. Lowrie’s post is also the first “confirmation” that Valve will likely host the International in October again, after TI11 also returned to October for the second year in a row. We don’t have dates yet, but if the current DPC season follows the same model as the one from last year, the event should run from October 15-30, depending on the format of the tournament.