The pandemic isn't quite over yet, but we're all looking at some sort of return to normalcy even if that new normal isn't quite the same as we remember. Dota 2's The International is set to return later this summer, but it might not have the same sort of in-person attendance as previous years.
Valve announced today that The International 10 will take place in Stockholm, Sweden from August 5 to August 15. The Group Stage will run from August 5 to August 8, with teams being eliminated before the Main Event starts on August 10. The Grand Finals will then be held on August 15, with the winner of the best-of-five series taking home the bulk of the $40,018,195 prize pool.
As usual, The International has once again broken the record for the largest prize pool of any esports tournament, although this year they shouldn't get too much credit. The crowd-funding period for The International 10 was greatly extended after the tournament was canceled last year, so this $40 million represents almost two years of funding.
As for attendance, competitors will have to get on a plane and head to Sweden, but whether or not there will be an audience is still an open question.
"As we continue to plan the event around the shifting landscape presented by the ongoing global pandemic, our focus remains on finding ways to hold a high-quality tournament in the safest way possible," wrote Valve in its update. "This means we're waiting to release additional details on attendance options as we gather more information on developments heading into summer. We expect to be able to share more with the community during the month of June."
Sweden currently requires a negative COVID-19 test before being allowed into the country. Those that arrive without one will need to self-quarantine for seven days and have a negative COVID test before they can enter the country. There's no telling if these requirements will still be in place by August as vaccines roll out around the world.