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Gabe Newell Celebrates Dota 2 Community Ahead of $2.6M Finals

9/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Gabe Newell, founder of Valve, shared his appreciation for Dota 2 and its community ahead of The International 2025.
He reflected on the inaugural tournament in Cologne, Germany, 14 years ago, highlighting player skill and community enthusiasm.
Newell acknowledged online criticism as a sign of gamers' passion and confirmed he plays Dota 2 daily.
The International 2025 finals commenced today in Hamburg, Germany, featuring a $2.6 million prize pool.
The tournament continues until September 14, with updates at dota2.com.

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Story summary

Gabe Newell, founder of Valve, shared his appreciation for Dota 2 and its community ahead of The International 2025.
He reflected on the inaugural tournament in Cologne, Germany, 14 years ago, highlighting player skill and community enthusiasm.
Newell acknowledged online criticism as a sign of gamers' passion and confirmed he plays Dota 2 daily.
The International 2025 finals commenced today in Hamburg, Germany, featuring a $2.6 million prize pool.
The tournament continues until September 14, with updates at dota2.com.