On assignment for Reuters this Sunday I covered “The International,” which is an annual Dota 2 video game competition that was held at Benaroya Hall in Seattle this year. Dota 2 is a massively popular game that I had not even heard of until last week. Benaroya was a packed house and got pretty intense at times since the winning team took home, oh, you know, just a mere $1.4 million. No big deal. Actually, second place ain’t too shabby either – they took home over $600,000.

I came in knowing nothing about the game of Dota 2 or its massive worldwide community, but everyone I met was really friendly. Also, it’s always nice being surrounded by so many different languages and accents.

See the Dota 2 pictures below. Thanks for looking.

 

A packed Benaroya Hall is pictured during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Fans Ian Odom, left, and Moss Pholchalernchit, right, cheer during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Spectator Schuyler Wireman cheers as “The Alliance” wins first place during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Spectator Denis Artyukhov of Ukraine cheers during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Fans, including Brad Jensen, in blue face paint, and Eli Parzen, in yellow face paint, cheer during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Supporters of “The Alliance,” including team manager Kelly Ong Xiao Wei, left, watch their team during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Fans watch a game on a screen in the lobby of Benaroya Hall during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Spectator Nick Wirth holds a poster featuring a distorted face of “Natus Vincere” team member Alexander Dashkevich while watching him during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

From left, spectators Mike Walker, Tim Wireman, and Joe Vestri watch during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Competitor Jonathan Berg of “The Alliance” reacts while playing during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Competitor Henrik Ahnberg of “The Alliance” shouts to the crowd after winning game two in a best of five series during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Competitor Kuro Salehi Takhasomi of “Natus Vincere” shouts while battling “The Alliance” during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Kelly Ong Xiao Wei, center, manager of “The Alliance,” and Alex Garfield, left, a sponsor of “The Alliance,” cry tears of joy after their team won first place during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Competitor Jonathan Berg of “The Alliance” holds the champion’s shield backstage after his team won first place during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Fans wait in line for giveaways near art from the Dota 2 game during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Fans Brad Jensen, left, and Eli Parzen, center, came together dressed as Dota 2 character Ogre Magi, while Luke Alger, right, came dressed as Dota 2 character Zharvakko the Witch Doctor during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Spectator Andrew Obertas gets an autograph from popular Dota 2 personality “Pyrion Flax” during “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Fans sit covered in confetti at the end of “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Fans leave the confetti-filled aisles of Benaroya Hall at the end of “The International” Dota 2 video game competition in Seattle, Washington August 11, 2013. Sixteen teams from 12 countries battled for some $2.9 million in prize money, with Swedish team “The Alliance” claiming the top prize of $1.4 million after defeating Ukraine’s “Natus Vincere” in a final watched by an audience of 1,700 at Benaroya Hall and streamed live on the Internet.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)