Day 1 of The International 2025 saw rampages, huge moments, and a glimpse into the meta which we will see for the remainder of the tournament.
The International 2025 opened with a marathon of Dota 2, as all participating teams played two series each on Day 1 of the Group Stage. With 16 matches packed into a single day, we were treated to nonstop action, early storylines, the chance for upsets, big plays, and the shape of things to come in Hamburg, Germany.
Near upsets and rampages on Day 1 at The International 2025
The opening round brought close calls, but no true upsets. BOOM Esports nearly shocked the reigning champions, Team Liquid. Taking a game off the team and pushing them to a decisive game three was not on Liquid's agenda. However, even after closing out the series, Liquid were trounced by Tidebound later in the day. Team Nemesis also came dangerously close to toppling Team Falcons, too. The Southeast Asian team dragged them into a 70-minute slugfest before Falcons clawed their way back for the win.
Team 1 | Team 2 | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Gaming | Xtreme Gaming | 0-2 | Xtreme Gaming |
| Team Spirit | Wildcard | 2-0 | Team Spirit |
| Team Falcons | Team Nemesis | 2-1 | Team Falcons |
| Tundra Esports | Yakutou Brothers | 2-1 | Tundra Esports |
| PARIVISION | HEROIC | 2-0 | PARIVISION |
| Team Liquid | BOOM Esports | 2-1 | Team Liquid |
| BetBoom Team | Nigma Galaxy | 1-2 | Nigma Galaxy |
| Team Tidebound | Natus Vincere | 2-1 | Team Tidebound |
We also got treated to the first Rampage of The International 2025 in one of the first series of the day. Sporting his new hairstyle, Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk looked to reach his “final form” on Shadowfiend as he plowed through Wildcard.
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Chinese Dota 2 is alive and kicking
Nobody believed that the Chinese Dota 2 scene was going to do well, especially not on Day 1 of The International 2025. With Xtreme Gaming, Team Tidebound, and Yakutou Brothers all facing tough opponents, Round 2 was even tougher for some. XG and Tidebound both were matched up against the winners of previous iterations of TI. Although it might still be the Group Stage, both overcame the odds to secure sublime victories.
Team 1 | Team 2 | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Falcons | Tundra Esports | 2-1 | Team Falcons |
| Team Spirit | Xtreme Gaming | 1-2 | Xtreme Gaming |
| PARIVISION | Nigma Galaxy | 2-0 | PARIVISION |
| Team Liquid | Team Tidebound | 0-2 | Team Tidebound |
| Aurora Gaming | Wildcard | 2-0 | Aurora Gaming |
| Yakutou Brothers | Team Nemesis | 2-1 | Yakutou Brothers |
| BOOM Esports | BetBoom Team | 0-2 | BetBoom Team |
| Natus Vincere | HEROIC | 2-0 | Natus Vincere |
Joining them in the unbeaten bracket of Round 3 were Falcons and PARIVISION. Both teams now aim to put a dent on the early CN dominance as they move into Day 2. Unfortunately for some, the pressure is already mounting as they have gone winless on Day 1 of The International 2025. This means that Day 2, with Rounds 3 and 4, could spell the demise of one of these four teams.
- Wildcard
- Team Nemesis
- BOOM Esports
- HEROIC
With Day 1 at The International 2025 wrapped up, it is nearly time for Day 2’s action. With 12 series to be played, there is a greater chance for big plays and new strategies to be seen.
For more information on Dota 2 and The International 2025, stay tuned to esports.gg.
