Just before the start of an international tournament, Valve has the Dota 2 Spectator Client released, so that anyone with a Steam account the matches of the tournament can follow. Also replays are to watch through the Spectator Client.
With the free available Dota 2 Spectator Client, it is possible for the matches to be played during The International 2, the tournament of August 31 to september 2, is being played in Seattle. Not only the matches of the tournament are viewed directly through the client. also matches within the duration of the beta be played or played, it can still be viewed.
The Spectator Client is part of Steam, and who wants to watch must therefore have a Steam account and the free software package of Valve installed. The game however does not have to be installed. Dota 2 is still in beta and Valve wants the game free to offer, but the access to the beta test is now still limited. The test wants to participate, can submit a request to Valve.
To The International 2 do 16 teams, each with five players. China is doing so with five teams strongly represented. With teams from Malaysia and Singapore, provides the Asia even the half of the participants. The other teams come from Europe, North America and Australia. The winning team with 1 million dollar home. The first edition of The International was held during GamesCom 2011.
CGI trailer for Dota 2