A. General

1. SteelSeries is the sponsor of the Cosplay Competition at The International 2025 (“The International”) event in Hamburg, Germany between 11 and 14 September 2025. Contestants must attend The Cosplay judging to be eligible to win. The contestants will be judged based on their DOTA 2 costume and presentation and SteelSeries will award a total prize pool of €18.500 to the winning contestants. The Contest will occur in two phases. 10 “Winners” will be chosen based on the judge’s selection criteria on Thursday September 11th. Six of the 10 winners will be nominated as “runners-up” and Four “Skill Winners” will be chosen from the list of 10 which will then be announced during the Winner Presentation Event on the Main Stage. Winners without The International entrance tickets will be granted admission for the three days of The International.

Organizers reserve the right to change the competition requirements, format, schedule and prize pool distribution according to needs and circumstances. Competition participants will be notified via email whenever these changes are put into effect.

B. Sponsor

SteelSeries / GN Audio A/S Lautrupbjerg 7 DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark and its contractors will manage the Contest.

PGL Esports Corporation, a Bucharest corporation, is the sponsor of the Contest. PGL Esports is located at Bd. Dimitrie Pompei, nr. 9-9A, IRIDE Business Park, Bucharest, Romania. PGL Esports

C. Competition Location

1. The Competition will occur in Hamburg, Germany at the Barclays Arena as part of The International Main Event taking place between 11 to 14 September 2025.

2. The Judging Event will be held on 11 September at a location near the Barclays Arena. Details will be sent to qualifying contestants in early September.

3. The 10 Winners must attend the Winner Presentation Rehearsal on 13 September. Timing subject to change or cancel due to Dota 2 matches.

4. The Winner Presentation event will take place on 14 September.

D. Eligibility

Contestants must:

a. Be 18 years or older as of 1 August 2025

b. Have a registered Steam account with Tax Information forms completed

c. Attend The International in Hamburg, Germany for the Judging Event on Thursday September 11th 2025. Finalists must also attend the Winner Presentation Event on Sunday September 14th.

d. Complete the online submission form which includes contact details, a jpg reference picture of the intended character to be cosplayed, work in progress materials. Incomplete or illegible documentation or distorted pictures will not be accepted as a valid submission.

E. Consent to the use of their likeness and other information relating to their costume or presence at the event and in event-related marketing and promotional activities.

2. Submission of all materials must be complete by 11 August 2025. Participants are required to provide Work in Progress and Reference pictures via the registration form or email. If no such materials are provided until 11 August, then the participant may be disqualified. Shortlisted contestants will be notified via email by 14 of August.

3. Valid submissions must contain a character or likeness to a character from the DOTA 2 game and be appropriate for all audiences.

4. No nudity or graphic content.

5. Employees of SteelSeries or other companies associated with the Contest, immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each are not eligible to enter the Contest.

6. Organizers reserve the right to reject the registration of individuals that have broken the rules and guidelines of a previous edition of the competition or behaved inappropriately/ in a belligerent manner to their fellow cosplayers.

E. Costumes

1. Costumes must represent a DOTA 2 character.

2. The Contest focuses on craftsmanship and only costumes that are handcrafted or mostly (i.e. 80%) handcrafted will be eligible to participate. Store purchased accessories and components are allowed insofar as they represent 20% or less of the finished look.

3. Costumes can include props with edged weapons and bows; however, weapons and accompanying props may NOT be capable of bodily harm. This includes (1) sharp edged weapons; (2) projectile weapons; (3) props made of metal; or (4) bows or crossbows with strings able to shoot projectiles. SteelSeries / PGL Esports reserves the right to remove props that it deems unsafe or inappropriate.

4. No open flame, liquid, powder or “flash” paper is allowed.

5. Due to venue fire regulations, no cosplayer can move around the venue without being accompanied by a handler who can help them exit the venue in or with the costume in an expedient manner. No multi-person costumes are permitted to move around the venue except for being escorted to the stage for the final judging.

6. No laser pointers allowed.

7. No liquids, gels, or any slippery or messy substance allowed.

8. Costumes must be less than 1 meter long or wide. They must also be maneuverable enough to enter and exit the presentation area.

9. Contestants are free to use any DOTA 2 Intellectual Property owned by Valve in the creation of their costume, but if using any non-Valve IP, the contestant must be the copyright owner of the copyrighted work or have explicit permission from the owner.