Seismic Shift in 2023: ESL Hosts $1 Million Dota 2 Tournament Before TI12
The months leading up to Dota 2’s The International have typically been dry in terms of content. However, things are changing this year as ESL defies tradition with a $1 million tournament one month prior to TI12.
DreamLeague Season 21 will be the stage for 12 of the best Dota 2 teams in the world, with 10 teams already confirmed.
Gaimin Gladiators, Team Liquid, Tundra Esports, Quest Esports, Team Spirit, 9Pandas, BetBoom Team, Talon Esports, Shopify Rebellion, and Evil Geniuses are among the confirmed participants for the event, as revealed in a recent trailer.
In the past, it would have been unbelievable for top Dota 2 teams to gather for an online tournament before TI. However, a $1 million prize pool has changed that perception, and fans are already ecstatic about Dota 2’s last-minute major tournament.
The announcement of this tournament came as a shock to many fans, especially after the conclusion of the Riyadh Masters in July. After serving as a qualification tournament for Riyadh Masters, fans believed there wouldn’t be another DreamLeague until 2024.
It remains unclear if DreamLeague Season 21 will offer qualification points for another Riyadh Masters tournament. Nonetheless, participating teams, who would already be practicing for TI, can now do so in a million-dollar tournament, which is expected to be a unique experience.
Valve Majors have faced criticism from Dota 2 fans this year due to subpar production quality. However, DreamLeague has been a breath of fresh air for fans as the organizer has significantly improved production quality for Dota 2 tournaments.
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