All you need to know about the new format of Dota 2 The International 2018 – TI 8

THE ROAD TO THE INTERNATIONAL
The 2017 - 2018 competitive season takes the new shape, as teams face off in tournaments around the globe on the Dota Pro Circuit, featuring 11 Majors and 16 Minors that all offer Qualifying Points to determine the eight direct invites to The International. Check the FAQ below for more information on the Qualifying Points system.
Also new for this season, Coaches are now allowed to remain with their players for the duration of the pre-game draft phase. Coaches are welcome to participate during the in-draft discussions with their teams, but they are required to depart once the draft is complete.

• How are points earned?
Points are earned by all the players on teams that place in the top four positions at any of the official Major or Minor tournaments.

• How are a tournament's points distributed?
For tournaments that don't differentiate between third and fourth place, the point distribution is as follows:
1st: 50%
2nd: 30%
3rd/4th: 10% each
For tournaments that do differentiate between third and fourth place, the point distribution is as follows:
1st: 50%
2nd: 30%
3rd: 15%
4th: 5%

• Do teams earn points, or do players?
All points are earned by players.
If a player changes teams, do those players' points go with them?
Yes.

• Are the tournament's points split among the players?
No, all players receive the full amount. For example, if a team wins 75 points in a tournament, each player on the team earns 75 points.

• How is the overall point total for a team calculated?
The players with the top three points on a team contribute their points towards the team's total.
How many teams receive direct invites to The International 2018 from points?
The top eight teams with the highest point totals receive direct invites to The International 2018. The other invited teams will be determined by Regional Qualifiers.

• Do points determine invites to the Regional Qualifiers?
Not directly, though they may be considered as a factor when deciding invites to Regional Qualifiers.

• Do points determine invites to the Majors or Minors?
No, the organization running the Major or Minor is responsible for determining that tournament's invites.

• How is the number of points that a tournament is worth determined?
Points are proportional to the prize pool of the tournament, with Majors having a 1.5x multiplier.

• Can a team play with subs?
Yes, though it may incur a penalty on points earned. It works as follows:
If you play with at least 4 of your registered players in the Qualifier and all 5 of your registered players in the LAN portion of the event, there is no penalty.
If you play with at least 4 of your registered players in the Qualifier and use a sub for the LAN portion of the event, the main players will earn 75% points and the sub will earn 50% points.
In all other cases, all players earn 25% points.