Photo via Valve

With The International 2025 only weeks away, Dota 2 fans are facing an unusual level of uncertainty for the first time in the tournament’s history. Instead of focusing on the final countdown to the biggest event of the year, fans and analysts alike are stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for clarity on the tournament lineup.

The biggest question mark is the last remaining slot at TI14, which has sparked endless speculation and conflicting reports. What should have been a smooth lead-up to the event has instead turned into a source of frustration, leaving the community eager for answers before the action officially begins.

The controversy erupted when Gaimin Gladiators announced their withdrawal from TI14 on Aug. 22, barely two weeks before the tournament was set to begin. What first looked like a routine organizational call quickly unraveled into a messy dispute between management and players, leaving fans, analysts, and the wider Dota 2 scene demanding answers.

Quinn was quick to debunk the narrative set by GG’s management. Photo via ESL

Amid the legal complications lies a far more painful reality for the players themselves. Support player Arman “Malady” Orazbayev was preparing for his very first International, only to see that dream collapse due to factors outside his control.

For a roster that finished second at both TI12 and TI13, earning close to $800,000 in prize winnings, missing TI14 underscores the ongoing issues around esports contracts and player rights, a problem the community can no longer ignore.

Gaimin Gladiators’ withdrawal has caused a serious challenge for Valve. They now face the difficult task of naming a replacement just weeks before The International 2025 begins, and the timing couldn’t be worse.

Logistics like securing visas and finalizing travel usually take far longer than the time remaining, adding another layer of complexity to an already tense situation. The team most frequently mentioned as a replacement is OG, the highest-ranked Western European squad that narrowly missed out on TI by finishing third in the regional qualifiers.

On paper, they’re the logical choice to fill a European slot, but their recent form has sparked debate. While some fans believe the N0tail-coached roster has the pedigree to compete at TI, others argue that squads like Edge or Yakult Brother could bring stronger competitive performances to the tournament stage.

Fans wait eagerly to find out the last team that will compete at TI14. Image via Valve

With the group stage of The International 2025 set to kick off on Sept. 4, the clock is ticking for Valve to resolve the vacant team slot. This year’s edition will bring 16 teams to Hamburg, Germany, where they’ll battle through a Swiss system group stage before moving on to elimination rounds and playoffs running until Sept. 14.

Top contenders like Team Spirit, Team Liquid, and Team Falcons are already locked into their final preparations. However, the challenge will be immense for whichever squad steps in as the late replacement. With so little time to practice, they’ll be thrown straight into the intensity of TI14, the most prestigious stage in all of Dota 2 esports.