A Reddit user built an infographic mapping power shifts across Tundra Esports, Team Spirit, and global regions in Tier-1 Dota 2 tournaments. The period between 2011 and 2013 stood out as the most balanced era in the professional scene.
China and Western Europe drove the global meta from 2011 to 2021, though China dropped off sharply in recent years. North America faded from top-tier contention entirely over the last three years. Meanwhile, South America carved out a consistent space since 2017 despite ongoing 322 match-fixing issues.
Western Europe remained the most stable region with a peak in 2022 when Tundra Esports claimed The International. Eastern Europe scaled up steadily from 2016 onward, fueled by Team Spirit taking The International in 2021 and eventually overtaking Western Europe in top-tier results between 2024 and 2026.
Tournament ecosystems evolved significantly alongside these regional shifts. The 2017-2018 circuit hosted 24 top-tier events worth $39 million, while the 2018-2019 season featured 16 tournaments totaling $42 million. The 2019-2023 span reached $47 million due to pandemic boosts and massive International prize pools, though early years featured far more live LAN events.
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