Bet on Dota Major Championships 2026
Fancy a flutter on the Dota Major Championships? This betting guide is your ace in the hole! We'll break down the game's basics, explore why the Majors are so popular with UK esports fans, and delve into the Dota 2 betting markets and odds. Discover top teams and get expert tips to boost your chances of landing a winning bet on Dota Major Championships tournaments.
The Dota Major Championships are a highlight of the Dota 2 calendar. Held annually since 2015 (with a pause in 2020), this championship series showcases the best Dota 2 action. Get ready to place your bets!
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Everything UK Players Need to Know About the Dota Major Championships
The Major Championships consist of four prestigious tournaments, including The International, a highly anticipated summer event. The other three events are held during Autumn, Winter, and Spring seasons. Valve sponsors these tournaments, but they are hosted in various venues by different third-party eSports organisers. Importantly, to be part of the Major Championships, a tournament must boast a minimum prize pool of £400,000.
To date, the Majors have been hosted across a number of vibrant cities, including Stockholm, Kyiv, Moscow, Singapore, Katowice, Jönköping, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Birmingham, and Chengdu.
The Dota Major Championships are known for attracting substantial prize pools, with The Internationals typically leading the way. Historically, the other three tournaments offered a prize pool of £800,000, but following the global pandemic, this was adjusted to £400,000.
A Deep Dive into Dota 2
Dota 2 is a hugely popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game that first launched in 2013. Since its release, Valve Corporation's strategic masterpiece has captured the hearts of countless MOBA enthusiasts and become a dominant force in the eSports scene. Dota 2 is readily available across Windows, Linux, and OS X platforms, making it accessible to a broad audience.
In Dota 2, two teams of five players each engage in a fierce battle, striving to demolish the opposing team's base while simultaneously defending their own. The ten players command unique heroes, each possessing distinct abilities and strengths, who are broadly categorised into two roles: Support and Core.
Cores typically begin the game in a weaker state but grow considerably more powerful as the match progresses. Supports, conversely, don't possess overpowering offensive capabilities. Instead, they are equipped with enhanced utility and crucial functionalities designed to assist and empower the Cores.
Dota 2 has firmly established itself as one of the premier titles in the eSports and online betting arena. Leading eSports organisations, including Team Secret, Team Liquid, Fnatic, Natus Vincere, Team Spirit, OG, and Tundra Esports, all maintain dedicated Dota 2 rosters, showcasing the game's immense competitive draw for players and fans alike.
Betting on the Dota Major Championships
Before diving into betting on the Dota Major Championships, it's essential for UK players to grasp the available markets and how odds work. Simply put, markets refer to the various potential outcomes of a match or tournament, while odds indicate the likelihood of each outcome occurring.
Popular Betting Markets for UK Bettors
Numerous eSports betting sites offer a wide range of betting options for Dota Major Championships online tournaments. A primary market is the 'Tournament Winner', where punters predict the ultimate champion. Another highly popular choice is 'Match Winner', allowing players to bet on the outcome of individual matches.
You'll also find 'Map Winner' bets, where you wager on which team will secure a specific map. Other exciting betting avenues include predicting which team will achieve a certain in-game objective first or betting on the occurrence of specific game events.
Understanding Dota 2 Betting Odds for UK Players
When it comes to betting odds, online eSports betting platforms typically offer three popular formats familiar to UK bettors: decimal (European) odds, Moneyline (American) odds, and fractional (British) odds. Understanding these formats is key to making informed wagers.
Punters must understand how odds formats works, and importantly, remember the rule of thumb; the lower the odds, the higher the chance of winning and vice versa. It's also a clever idea to find betting sites with the highest Dota 2 betting odds.
Why are Dota Major Championships Tournaments Popular to bet on
There is no doubt that Dota Major Championships championships are popular in the eSports gaming and eSports betting scene. This section highlights three reasons why this tournament is popular.
Dota 2's Popularity
Dota Major Championships are popular because of the game's popularity. Dota 2 ranks as one of the best MOBA games of all time, and even though League of Legends overshadows it in some respects, Dota 2 still has its fair share of fans.
According to the latest reports, there are between 540,000 and 840,000 Dota 2 players daily. Furthermore, the video game is the second most popular game on Steam and ranks 15th on Twitch.
The Competitiveness
Another reason Dota Championships tournaments have plenty of fans is the competitive nature of the tournament. The tournament attracts the best teams in the game, each battling for glory. Interestingly, The International, the most prestigious Dota 2 tournament, is part of the series.
The icing on the cake is the lucrative prize pools, with the least being a whopping $500,000 while the highest so far has been $40 million (The International).
Schedule
The Major Championships schedule also contributes to the tournament's popularity. There is a tournament in each of the four seasons, so players get treated to some action all year round.
Dota Major Championships Winning Teams and Biggest Moments
Since the Dota Major Championships were introduced, several teams and players have dominated the competition. Fans have also been treated to thrilling and adrenaline-filled action. This section highlights some of the biggest stars in this tournament and relives memorable moments in some of the biggest Dota Major Championships tournaments.
Most Successful Teams
Dota 2 is one of the biggest eSports and attracts top talent from across the globe. Today, over a dozen top-flight eSports teams have Dota 2 rosters and compete in Dota 2 Major Championships.
Among the most successful Dota 2 teams in the Major Championships is the Russian professional esports organization Virtus.pro, aka VP. Even though Virtus.pro has not been prominent in the last few years. It has so far won 5 Major titles. Another European eSports organization, Team Secret, has also been a force to reckon with in Major Championships, raking in 5 titles. The other successful team is OG which also has 5 Major titles.
Best Dota 2 Teams to Bet On
As a bettor, the focus should be on the teams in the best form currently. At the moment, OG seems to be the dominant force in Dota 2 eSports. The ESL One Stockholm Major 2022 champion has a formidable squad that will terrorize opponents in the upcoming Major Championships tournaments.
PSG.LGD also has a solid roster that will give OG a run for its money. Other top Dota 2 teams to bet on in the Major Championships include Team Liquid, iG, Team Secret, Tundra Esports, BOOM Esports, Team Spirit, and Virtus.pro.
Memorable Moments
All of the major competitions have been action-packed, to say the least. However, a few tournaments were a cut above the rest and deserve a spot in the list of the most memorable moments.
The ESL One Stockholm Major 2022 has been one of the best Dota Major Championships tournaments. Despite playing with a stand-in, OG won the tournament, overcoming powerhouses including BOOM Esports, Fnatic, Tundra Esports, and TSM. It's worth noting that in the tournament, OG lost to TSM 2-0 but got its revenge in the finals, winning 3-1.
Other major Dota Major Championships tournaments with memorable moments include The Frankfurt Major 2015, MDL Disneyland® Paris Major, WePlay AniMajor, ONE Esports Singapore Major 2021, The Kyiv Major 2017, and The Kuala Lumpur Major.
Where and How to Bet on Dota Major Championships?
Dota 2 betting is today as popular as ever before. The MOBA game attracts both Dota 2 enthusiasts as well as the typical bettors looking for an eSports betting adventure. But before betting on Dota Major Championships leagues, there are two things to be aware of.
Finding the Right Bookie
There are many eSports bookmakers nowadays, so finding the best eGaming betting site can be challenging. So, what makes a good Dota 2 sportsbook? Well, the first thing to ascertain is whether it has a valid license from a renowned regulatory authority.
Next, check whether there are vast betting markets, including live betting, alongside high odds. Another consideration is the betting bonuses and promotions. Last, be on the lookout for exclusive features such as live streaming to catch all the action without toggling between tabs.
How to Bet Like a Pro
One important tip when betting on the Major Championships is understanding the current form of the participating teams. Just because OG were the winners of the last series doesn't mean they are automatically the favorites.
For those who might find it hard to research the current form of the players and teams, focus on the odds while remembering that the higher the odds, the higher the risk, and vice versa.
