North America’s Confusing Dota Pro Circuit Regional League
North America’s participation in the 2021 Dota Pro Circuit has brought some confusion due to the presence of newly-formed teams and those returning from a long break. Despite this, the region is determined to produce two teams that will compete against the world’s top Dota 2 teams in the first Major of the season.
Prize Pool and Format
The eight teams in the upper division will be vying for a $205,000 prize pool and 1,150 Dota Pro Circuit points. The season, which runs from January 18 to February 28, will determine the top two teams for the March Major. On the other hand, the bottom two teams will be relegated to the lower division for season two, without earning any DPC points.
Meanwhile, the lower division consists of eight teams competing for their share of a $75,000 prize pool and the chance to be promoted to the upper division for season two. The top two finishers will replace the lowest-placed teams in the upper division, while the bottom two teams will be eliminated and replaced through an open qualifier.
The matches in both divisions will follow a single round-robin format, with all matches being best-of-three. Unlike other regions, there won’t be any playoffs due to the increased focus on the Major.
Teams to Watch
In terms of overall talent, North America may not be as strong compared to other regions. However, the teams in the region make up for it by forming stacks of players who gel well together, creating a fun and potentially special dynamic to watch.
Evil Geniuses (EG) is the only big-name organization competing in the NA regional league. Although they replaced one of their players during an extended break, EG remains a strong contender. Quincy Crew and 4 Zoomers also deserve attention, as they have been competing for the title of top NA team since the pandemic forced competitions online. Quincy Crew, in particular, has shown consistency and is considered an early favorite to claim the top spot.
Among the other teams, Sadboys, Undying, and Black N Yellow have displayed promising performances in the qualifiers. The playoff spots in the upper division will be fiercely contested by these teams.
Standings
Upper Division:
1. Evil Geniuses – 6-1 series, 13-4 games, 500 DPC Points, Major Playoffs, $30,000 prize
2. Quincy Crew – 6-1 series, 13-4 games, 300 DPC Points, Major Group Stage, $28,000 prize
3. Undying – 6-1 series, 12-4 games, 200 DPC Points, – , $27,000 prize
4. 4 Zoomers – 4-3 series, 10-6 games, 100 DPC Points, – , $26,000 prize
5. Sadboys – 2-5 series, 5-10 games, 50 DPC Points, – , $25,000 prize
6. Black N Yellow – 2-5 series, 5-11 games, – , – , $24,000 prize
7. A-Team – 2-5 series, 4-10 games, – , Demotion to lower division, $23,000 prize
8. 5ManMidas – 0-7 series, 1-14 games, – , Demotion to lower division, $22,000 prize
Lower Division:
1. simply TOOBASED – 7-0 series, 12-3 games, Qualified for upper division, $17,000 prize
2. The Cut – 6-1 series, 10-3 games, Qualified for upper division, $16,000 prize
3. Arkosh Gaming – 5-2 series, 9-5 games, – , $15,000 prize
4. Team DogChamp – 4-3 series, 7-9 games, – , $11,000 prize
5. felt – 3-4 series, 6-9 games, – , $9,000 prize
6. Electronic Boys – 2-5 series, 4-10 games, – , $7,000 prize
7. Byzantine Raiders – 1-6 series, 2-12 games, Eliminated, –
8. Jiang Hu – 0-7 series, DQ games, Eliminated, –
Conclusion
The NA regional league is off to an exciting start. With the unique team compositions and intense competition, fans can expect some thrilling matches. Stay tuned for more updates and results from the league.
North America, Dota Pro Circuit, regional league, teams, prize pool, format, upper division, lower division, standings