Look Sports Media – Gabe Newell, affectionately known as GabeN, made a surprise appearance at The International 2025 opening ceremony in Hamburg’s Barclays Arena, electrifying a crowd of over 100,000 fans and countless more viewers online. The Valve president and co-founder, a known Dota 2 enthusiast and player, delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting on fourteen years of The International.
"Hi, I’m Gabe Newell," he began, his simple introduction met with thunderous applause. He reminisced about the first International in Cologne, Germany, expressing his awe at the players’ skill and the community’s passion. "Before the first International, I really enjoyed the game, but after the International, I loved the game," he confessed, highlighting the event’s impact on his personal Dota 2 journey. He even acknowledged the sometimes less-than-pleasant interactions with the community, humorously relating tales of in-game toxicity, ultimately attributing it to the game’s passionate fanbase. "And that’s why, after all these years, I still play Dota every day," he declared to cheers. His speech concluded with a warm welcome to all attendees, new and old, encapsulating the spirit of The International.
The ceremony concluded with a rousing introduction to the playoffs, beginning with a highly anticipated clash between Xtreme Gaming and Tundra Esports.
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Xtreme Gaming Dominates Tundra in Opening Playoffs Match
Xtreme Gaming continued their undefeated streak, sweeping Tundra Esports 2-0 in the opening series of the TI2025 playoffs. Their flawless 4-0 group stage performance had already established them as betting favorites, threatening to break the EU dominance at TI for the first time since 2016.
Game 1 saw a tense start, with Tundra establishing a significant gold lead. However, Xtreme’s strategic engagements turned the tide, securing a victory against the odds. Game 2 was a more decisive affair, with Xtreme taking control early, despite an initial deficit in kills. Wang "Ame" Chunyu’s exceptional performance on Clinkz (8-5-4 KDA, 837 GPM) was instrumental in securing the 2-0 victory.
Tundra, competing with a stand-in for Matthew "Whitemon" Filemon, faces a challenging road in the lower bracket. The slow-paced meta of Dota 2 favors longer games, potentially exacerbating Tundra’s difficulties. Whether they can overcome their roster issues and challenge Xtreme remains to be seen. The tournament is far from over, and the competition promises to be fierce.
Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor
Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specializing in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.
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