The first Dota 2 Valve Major starts soon. Sixteen teams will compete for a share of the $3 million prize pool in Kiev.
With some well-known brands in the esports scene, more teams than ever before will prove themselves at this Valve Major.
What is it?
The fifth $3 million Dota 2 Major takes place from April 24 to April 30 in Kiev. The event features 16 of the world’s top Dota 2 teams, making it one of the biggest events before the International 7.
When is it taking place?
The Kiev Major’s group stage starts on April 24 and ends on April 25. The main event begins on April 27 and concludes on April 30.
What’s the format?
The Kiev Major will use a Swiss format group stage for the first time in Valve Major history. This format, popular in card games and some other esports titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, consists of four rounds. The teams will be seeded before the group stage, ensuring that higher-seeded teams face lower-seeded teams. Matches will be played in a best-of-three format, with similar-record teams competing against each other. Teams that win their first three matches will advance to the playoffs. The results of the group stage will determine the matchups for the opening round of the playoffs, which will be single-elimination.
What teams are taking part?
The 16 teams competing at the Kiev Major include some of the biggest names in competitive Dota 2.
Invited teams:
- OG
- Random Gaming (formerly known as Wings Gaming)
- Mousesports
- Team Liquid
- Thunderbirds (formerly known as Digital Chaos)
- Evil Geniuses
- Newbee
- VG.J
Qualified teams:
- Team Secret
- Digital Chaos
- Invictus Gaming
- Invictus Gaming Vitality
- Team Faceless
- TNC Gaming
Notable teams at the event
Invictus Gaming
Despite having to qualify, Invictus Gaming is currently considered the best team in the world after winning the Dota 2 Asia Championship. The team includes notable players such as carry player Xu “BurNIng” Xhilei, support player Ye “BoBoKa” Zhibiao, and offlaner Lin “Xxs” Jing. Their impressive performance against favorites OG in the Dota 2 Asia Championship grand finals secured their status as one of the favorites at the Kiev Major.
OG
The European squad OG is considered a favorite in Valve Majors, having won three major titles in the past. However, their recent loss to Invictus Gaming in the Dota 2 Asia Championship has given them something to prove at the Kiev Major.
If there’s any team that can exceed expectations, it’s OG.
Newbee
Newbee was once considered China’s top team, but is now behind Invictus Gaming. While they haven’t won an international LAN title, Newbee has achieved notable results in recent months. They came close to reaching the grand finals of the Dota 2 Asia Championship, finishing in third place.
Random Gaming
The reigning champions of the International, Random Gaming, had a disappointing performance at the Dota 2 Asia Championship. The team has undergone changes and is currently dealing with payment disputes. Random Gaming was known for being unpredictable during their rise in 2016, but it remains to be seen if they can reclaim their former glory.
Where will it be broadcast?
The event will be broadcast by PGL and will have four dedicated English livestreams during the group stage. The channels are: Dota Major, Dota Major 2, Dota Major 3, and Dota Major 4.