European Elite Prepare for The International Playoffs as Chinese Teams Suffer Disappointing Home Event
The International 2026 begins its eight-team double-elimination playoffs Thursday at Shanghai’s Oriental Sports Center, marking a historic low point for Chinese Dota 2 representation in the tournament’s history. No Chinese teams qualified for the playoff stage following disappointing performances in both the Swiss and Play-ins rounds, making this the first time that China—traditionally one of the strongest regions in professional Dota 2—failed to send any team to the playoffs.
The confirmed playoff bracket features matchups across the double-elimination format: Iron Wing versus Team Spirit, Team Vision versus BoomBoys, Team Liquid versus Yandex, and Team Falcons versus Nigma Galaxy. All matches will follow a Best of 3 format, with the exception of the Grand Final, which will be contested in a Best of 5 series. The condensed playoff schedule means significant Dota 2 action will be compressed into just a few days of competition.
The elimination of all Chinese teams represents a significant shift in the competitive landscape, as teams from Europe, the CIS region, and Southeast Asia dominate the playoff field instead. The tournament will proceed from Shanghai’s venue despite the absence of local representation from the region hosting the event.