Home Gaming Are Valve going to run the Dota 2 Major Championships themselves?

Are Valve going to run the Dota 2 Major Championships themselves?

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A slice of the pie or the whole pie... HMMMM

The International, Valve’s flagship event, exists to showcase the best Dota 2 teams as they battle for millions of dollars in prize money. It’s a huge spectacle, one I look forward to each year. Last month, much to my delight, Valve announced that The International would be supplemented by another three tournaments – The Dota Major Championships. More high-stake Dota 2? Heck yeah! In this announcement, Valve stated that they would sponsor the events, but they would be hosted by third-party organisers.That may have changed – Valve could be looking to run everything themselves.

Here’s the announcement made last month to bring you up to speed:

The Dota Major Championships, starting this Fall, will be an annual series of four marquee tournaments, one being The International. The three additional tournaments will be Valve-sponsored events hosted by third-party organizers at different locations around the world. Teams that participate in these events will be required to adhere to limited roster trade periods during the year.

Now, according to Daily Dot writer Richard Lewis, Valve have gone back on what they said. They wish to operate the events in-house:

Sources within several esports organizations, however, say they were informed today that Valve will be running all Dota majors in the same way it runs The International: It will control all aspects of organizing the tournaments and will only collaborate with other tournament organizers from a broadcast production standpoint.

While it’s shady for Valve to go back on their word (unless the initial announcement was misunderstood by everybody in the first place), the article from Lewis doesn’t offer any concrete proof that such a thing will happen. Who are these eSports organisations? Where are comments from any of them? I was ready to brush this whole story off until I read another article from Gosu Gamers, where a tweet from Byran Herren, a Statsman for BeyondTheSummit was quoted:

Granted, it isn’t an official confirmation, but it is a little worrying to think that there is any sort of chance that Lewis is right – that Valve wish to have a control of everything. Why is it bad thing you ask? Well, why should third-party organisers even bother with their own events if their competition is Valve? That would mean scheduling around 4 major events every year. Furthermore, if you were a professional player, you’d want to be at the likes of the International where there are millions up for grab, not a smaller tournament which has a significantly smaller prize pool.

Still, take this all with a few kilograms of salt. There is no official comment from Valve, or anybody for that matter. It may not be so bad if they do run the events themselves in all honesty. It would (hopefully) ensure a premium, consistent environment for players to compete.

My biggest concern really is for the third-party folk. While I think there is more than enough space in the year for everybody to host whatever tournament they want, I was under the impression that Valve would be working with the third-party organizers, helping them run better events overall. I really hope that’s the case, and that Valve don’t end up indirectly monopolising everything.

That’s just my opinion though. What are your thoughts?

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Last Updated: May 27, 2015

54 Comments

  1. Has anyone considered that Valve may have made the original announcement while speaking to several third-parties and were receiving positive feedback only for the third-parties to back out after the announcement had been made and that no one else has been willing and able to offer quality support for these tournaments?

    Reply

    • hairyknees

      May 27, 2015 at 12:22

      But that’s the thing, Valve would sponsor the events from what I could understand. Why would third-parties back out?

      Reply

      • Matthew Holliday

        May 27, 2015 at 12:58

        because 3rd party in the dota scene often means running off with the money, not hiring translators, delays and unfair decision making.
        3rd party in the dota scene is still pretty unreliable.

        Reply

    • Admiral Chief's Adventure

      May 27, 2015 at 12:48

      I have not considered that Valve may have made the original announcement while speaking to several third-parties and were receiving positive feedback only for the third-parties to back out after the announcement had been made and that no one else has been willing and able to offer quality support for these tournaments

      Reply

      • Kensei Seraph - Terran Ghost

        May 28, 2015 at 10:11

        Well now you have.

        Reply

  2. HairyEwok

    May 27, 2015 at 12:16

    Soooo steam stream? Try saying that fast.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      May 27, 2015 at 12:22

      I can do that fast on a cold day.

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief's Adventure

      May 27, 2015 at 12:24

      Nope, no issues saying that here

      Reply

      • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

        May 27, 2015 at 12:26

        Show off

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief's Adventure

          May 27, 2015 at 12:26

          That is what she said yes

          Reply

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 27, 2015 at 12:33

            I thought it was “sod off”. ;P

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 27, 2015 at 12:34

            lol

          • Hammersteyn

            May 27, 2015 at 12:34

            That’s what happens when you send girls a Please call me

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 27, 2015 at 12:35

            I never even managed to get the number when I was still single.

          • Admiral Chief's Adventure

            May 27, 2015 at 12:36

            How did you meet your wife then? Did your parents hook you up?

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 27, 2015 at 12:38

            I trapped her. Then one thing led to the other, and with some Stockholm Syndrome to help me out, after eight years she decided to marry me.

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 27, 2015 at 12:39

            Teach me master!

          • Hammersteyn

            May 27, 2015 at 12:42

            LOL don’t be modest

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 27, 2015 at 12:43

            Rince always forgets to feed his prisoners. That’s the problem.

          • Admiral Chief's Adventure

            May 27, 2015 at 12:44

            I thought he ate them?

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 27, 2015 at 12:46

            Damn it. He only imprisons and lets innocent people starve to death. He’s not a monster.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            May 27, 2015 at 12:47

            JJ seems to be suffering from early-onset dementia.

          • Admiral Chief's Adventure

            May 27, 2015 at 12:48

            Reverse Stockholm Osmosis Psychosis?

          • Admiral Chief's Adventure

            May 27, 2015 at 12:42

            Gotta appreciate a man with a plan, well done!

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            May 27, 2015 at 12:45

            That’s why you send it to random numbers. According to a friend.

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 27, 2015 at 12:46

            LOL!!!

          • Admiral Chief's Adventure

            May 27, 2015 at 12:35

            She said that to her current boyfriend after meeting me

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 27, 2015 at 12:35

            Fair enough

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 27, 2015 at 12:36

            CURRENT? What are you? The President of SA?

          • Admiral Chief's Adventure

            May 27, 2015 at 12:36

            One hundred and fourteen thousand and million and fifty eighty of hundred percent sure I am not

  3. Hammersteyn

    May 27, 2015 at 12:22

    Thought it was a Ryanza article for a second after reading the previous one.

    Reply

  4. RinceTheElfRoot

    May 27, 2015 at 12:23

    Noobs! Am I doing this right?

    Reply

    • hairyknees

      May 27, 2015 at 12:25

      10/10 gr8 b8 m8

      Reply

      • RinceTheElfRoot

        May 27, 2015 at 12:27

        ??????? ??? ? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????!!!!

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          May 27, 2015 at 12:31

          ^Dota pro right here

          Reply

        • hairyknees

          May 27, 2015 at 12:35

          Holy shit you learnt how to Dota lingo! Are you playing behind my back? 😛

          Reply

        • hairyknees

          May 27, 2015 at 12:37

          Also… SIS!

          Reply

        • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

          May 27, 2015 at 12:40

          Official Google Translation is not friendly.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            May 27, 2015 at 12:41

            Like I said, pro

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 27, 2015 at 12:42

            I considered posting it here, but it makes me feel dirty

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 27, 2015 at 12:46

            My job is done.

    • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

      May 27, 2015 at 12:26

      You failed when you asked. Dota players are always doing it right. ;P

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      May 27, 2015 at 12:56

      cyka
      axaxax o)))))

      Reply

      • hairyknees

        May 27, 2015 at 13:11

        suka

        Reply

  5. Blood Emperor Trevor

    May 27, 2015 at 12:27

    If Valve are putting up the prize money, they can do it however they want to.

    Reply

    • RinceTheElfRoot

      May 27, 2015 at 12:28

      That’s right, let off some steam…

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      May 27, 2015 at 12:32

      It’s not like they are planning new games anyway.

      Reply

    • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

      May 27, 2015 at 12:32

      It’s Valve, there’s probably going to be huge discounts on the prize money. 75% off!

      Reply

      • RinceTheElfRoot

        May 27, 2015 at 12:33

        HAHAHAHAHAHAH!

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        May 27, 2015 at 12:34

        LOL and hats!

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief's Adventure

        May 27, 2015 at 12:35

        ^This!

        Reply

    • hairyknees

      May 27, 2015 at 12:35

      They don’t though, well not the entirety of it 😛 they put up a default amount and the rest is added via crowd funding.

      Reply

  6. Matthew Holliday

    May 27, 2015 at 12:55

    it would be a shame, for such a community driven game, to have more top tier events introduced, but being monopolised by valve.
    would have preferred to have these outsourced to the casting studios and other event hosters etc.

    Reply

  7. Teddypig

    May 27, 2015 at 15:38

    BUT on the other hand… The only Dota event I even bother watching is Valve’s The International because it is run well and easily accessible to just about everybody. It shows off the game play well and the rules are understandable. Other third party events lack that kind of “easy to access for everyone” deal probably because of lack of money or a event host who really does not have an interest in Dota to begin with and just wants the money it attracts.

    I think Valve extending it’s reach keeps other third parties “in line” and more honest.

    Reply

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