The International 2019 is currently underway, as its Main Event kicked off today at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China.
The major eSports event – comprising the 16 best Dota 2 teams on the planet – is the world’s richest video game tournament. The purse is currently sitting at over $33.6 million (1.76 billion PHP), and the two Philippine teams to qualify for the event are still alive.
The higher-ranked Philippine team, TNC Predator, was initially given odds of +1500 to win The International, placing it at about the middle of the pack at most eSports betting sites. However, China-based Vici Gaming (+325) defeated them in the first round, winning by a score of two games to one.
That means that TNC Predator now joins its national counterpart Mineski in the elimination bracket.
For its part, Mineski, a true longshot with odds of +20000 to win, survived the first round by beating and eliminating Natus Vincere (+15000).
Mineski’s reward for that upset? They’re going to play either Team Secret (the pre-tournament favorite at +250) or the US-based Evil Geniuses (+750). Whichever club they draw, Mineski is guaranteed to be a massive underdog.
That match will be held on August 22 at 1:00 pm EST, while TNC Predator will play Team Liquid (+6600) in Round 2 on August 21 at 7:00 am.
Because both of the country’s teams are now in the same bracket, it will not be possible for The International to be decided in an all-Philippines Grand Final. Further, neither team is expected to be competitive for long.
Of course, if they are, that just means their payouts will be that much better. And if you bet on them, your payouts will be, too.
At Bovada, the five finalized Round 2 matches already have odds up, with two remaining matches TBA. The following list shows the straight moneylines for these contests, though complete lines are available at the BetOnline Sportsbook:
The International 2019 – Round 2 Betting Odds
- OG -476 vs. Newbee +357
- Team Secret -263 vs. Evil Geniuses +212
- Virtus.pro -345 vs. Royal Never Give Up +271
- TNC Predator -108 vs. Team Liquid -112
- PSG.LGD -156 vs. Vici Gaming +130
You can watch live streams of The International 2019 at the official Dota 2 Steam TV page or at the tournament’s Twitch page. Broadcasts are available in multiple languages, though Tagalog is not supported.
