ESL One Katowice: A Preview of the Dota 2 Tournament
In the absence of a major Dota Pro Circuit event this month, fans are eagerly anticipating the ESL One Katowice tournament. This event will feature some of the world’s top Dota 2 teams competing for a share of the $300,000 prize pool.
Twelve teams have either qualified or been invited to this tournament, which is the first of three scheduled ESL One events for 2019. However, only four teams will advance from the group stage to the playoffs.
The twelve competitors have been divided into two groups of six, where they will battle it out over the course of three days. The top two teams from each group will move on to the playoffs.
Group A: The Battle of the Titans
Group A is set to be the more competitive of the two groups. It includes Team Secret, currently the number one ranked team in the Dota Pro Circuit. Gambit Esports and OG are also part of this group, with OG showing recent signs of returning to their championship-winning form from The International 2018.
In addition to these top contenders, the group is rounded out by the solid Forward Gaming, the revamped roster of Mineski, and the unknown For The Dream team. It promises to be a fiercely competitive battle for the top spot in Group A.
Group B: Surprises Await
Group B may not appear as competitive initially, but the mixture of teams in this group could lead to some unexpected upsets. Fnatic, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and compLexity Gaming are likely to be the favorites for the top two spots in this group. However, Alliance, Chaos Esports Club, and the new Team Aster roster will not make it easy for them.
With exciting opening matches like Secret versus OG and NiP against Alliance, the action will be intense right from the start.
Key Dates and Venue
The ESL One Katowice 2019 tournament kicks off with the group stage from February 19 to February 21. The playoffs will be held at the Spodek Arena from February 22 to February 24 in front of a live audience. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit the ESL website.
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