Dota 2 Playoffs Ignite: Eight-Team Double Elimination Battles in Shanghai

This year’s premier Dota 2 event is gearing up as the eight-team playoff bracket has been finalized, with matches beginning on August 20. The tournament, one of the biggest on the calendar, is drawing near its conclusion later this week after a full week of intense play in Shanghai, China.

The group stage has now ended, and all attention is focused on the playoff rounds. Eight teams have advanced into a double-elimination setup, meaning each organization has only one opportunity to recover before facing permanent exit. The Upper Bracket Quarterfinals fixtures for this stage have now been confirmed.

• International 2026 Playoffs – Upper Bracket Quarterfinals (scheduled for August 20))

The continuously evolving prize pool—boosted by a crowdfunding element—has reached $3.138 million currently, with approximately $1.333 million earmarked for the champion at the time this information was recorded.