Best Credit Cards To Buy Tickets For Dota 2’s The International 2022

The biggest Dota 2 tournament, The International (TI), will be held in Singapore this year. Tickets will be released for sale on 13 August 2022 and will start from S$88 for the playoffs and $498 for the finals.

Are you looking forward to catching your favourite Dota 2 team competing in the biggest esports tournament right here in Singapore?

Yes, that is right! Dota 2’s The International 2022 will be held in Singapore for the first time, which means local fans can get right in the action as the best Dota 2 teams from around the world compete for the Aegis of Immortal.

Currently in its 11th year, The International (TI) is widely known as the largest esports event of the year. This is the first time the competition is being held in the South East Asian region, as previous iterations were held in North America, Europe, and China.

Besides claiming the Aegis of Immortal, teams will also be competing for tens of millions of dollars, thanks to its crowd-funded prize pool. 

Raised through the sale of digital battle passes, last year’s tournament in Bucharest, Romania saw a record US$40 million (approx. S$55 million) prize pool. 

The champions of The International 2021, Team Spirit, won US$18 million (approx. S$24 million), while the remaining pool was split among the other competing teams.

The qualifying teams for The International 2022 have yet to be finalised, but fans should expect favourites such as OG, EG, Team Liquid, PSG.LGD, and current champion Team Spirit to attend.

The playoffs will be held at the Suntec Convention Centre from 20 to 23 October 2022, while the finals will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 29 to 30 October 2022.

Tickets will be released for sale at 10am SGT time on 13 August 2022. They are priced at S$88 each for the playoffs (sold separately for the four days), while a ticket for the finals will be available at a whopping S$498 (for entrance for both days).

💡 Important note: Tickets are sold in a SINGLE WAVE and each customer can only purchase 5 tickets for each date. More details can be found here.

Yup, you read that right. You’d have to pay at least S$850 to catch the entire tournament in person. Props if you’ve saved/farmed enough for the year to attend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

But just like a game of Dota 2, you’d have to be efficient with your spending. This is why you should consider making your purchase with a credit card.

Besides earning cashback, miles, or rewards points, you’d also have the opportunity to snag awesome rewards along the way – think Dyson appliances, an Ergo Tune Classic (for better comfort while defending your Ancient), a Xiaomi robot vacuum, or a Samsonite luggage.

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Best Credit Cards for Buying Tickets for Dota 2’s The International

Cashback Credit Cards

Depending on which credit card you use, you could earn up to S$8.50 to S$14.45 in cashback on your ticket purchase (if you attend the entire tournament). Sure, it doesn't seem like much, but every dollar counts, considering the current inflation rate in Singapore.

If you prefer a fuss-free cashback credit card for everyday use, consider the UOB Absolute Cashback Card or the Standard Chartered Unlimited. Both come with no minimum spend and no cashback cap, which means you never have to worry about hitting any spending criteria for a specific category or merchant.

Miles Credit Cards 

Prefer playing the miles game? Then consider any of the UOB PRVI Miles cards, thanks to their 1.4mpd on local spend. 

As highlighted before, Mastercard, Visa and American Express all have good acceptance rates, offers and benefits, and consumer protection, locally. But if you are planning on using your credit card overseas, then having a Mastercard or Visa card should be a better bet.

Considerations should also be made for the Citi PremierMiles Card and the DBS Altitude Cards as they are beginner-friendly to those new to the miles game. Plus, you’ll also gain 2 free airport lounge visits per year.

Rewards credit cards 

Those who prefer farming stacks of rewards points have two cards to pick from: HSBC Revolution Credit Card and the Citi Rewards Card.

Both offer similar rewards points for online spending, however, the Citi Rewards Card has a slight edge thanks to 10X rewards points on offline fashion shopping and department stores, whereas the HSBC Revolution Credit Card only offers 1x reward points for all other types of spending.

However, the HSBC Revolution Credit Card does come with complimentary access to ENTERTAINER via the HSBC app. If you are planning to utilise over 1,000 1-for-1 dining, lifestyle and travel deals, then this card should definitely be your pick.

At the end of the day, both are solid cards to have in your inventory.

Your Credit Card Strategy Should Be Like A Game Of Dota 2

Your decision is key when planning your credit card strategy. In fact, it’s almost similar to a game of Dota 2.

Do you wish to conquer the early game and see your results instantaneously? If so, consider cashback credit cards. In most cases, you’ll see the returns of using cashback credit cards within the first to third months, depending on the credit card that you choose.

Prefer mid-game dominance? Choose rewards credit cards, as they offer you the opportunity to claim vouchers, merchandise, appliances, and more. This depends on the number of points you’ve accumulated from the start. In fact, you can even convert your rewards points into cashback and miles if you so desire.

Looking to crush the late game? Then miles credit cards should be your card of choice. With miles, you can choose to upgrade your seating on flights or purchase tickets overseas without the need to spend a single cent. Of course, you’ll need to farm for miles points for a considerable amount of time before you get to spend them.

Regardless of your choice, each card holds its own benefit, so decide the type of credit card game you wish to play. 

There are after all no wrong choices. Just don’t throw the game by being reckless, like delaying credit card payments and blowing your monthly budget. 

Remember, unlike Dota 2, you can’t type “GG end mid” if you find yourself in credit card debt.

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