ESL Announces $1 Million Dota 2 Tournament in Kuala Lumpur
The Dota Pro Circuit may be no more, and Valve has yet to reveal any plans for 2024. However, ESL has exciting news for Dota 2 fans as they confirm their upcoming $1 million prize pool tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Just this month, ESL caught the Dota 2 community off guard with DreamLeague Season 21, a $1 million event taking place just before The International 2023. With these recent moves, ESL is clearly determined to establish itself as the leading esports tournament organizer in the Dota 2 world for the upcoming year.
ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 is scheduled to start on December 11, two months after TI12. Traditionally, the final month of the year in Dota 2 is dedicated to roster changes. As a result, this tournament will reduce the available time for top Dota 2 teams to make transfers after The International.
Related: ESL’s Own Dota 2 Circuit to Complement Valve’s DPC System
ESL has made its intentions clear by organizing multiple successful tournaments this year, including the recent Riyadh Masters 2023. With fans uncertain about Valve’s plans after the removal of the DPC, ESL’s actions serve as a reassuring sign for the community.
In addition to the impressive prize pools, ESL has strategically scheduled their events, minimizing downtime between Majors and keeping the competitive scene active.
Professional players and community members have always reminisced about Dota 2’s prime days between 2014 and 2017, when there were numerous major tournaments worldwide without a league structure.
The two-time TI winner, N0tail, expressed on Gorgc’s Twitch stream that the removal of the DPC was “the best thing that happened to Dota since before DPC.”
Moreover, OG’s legendary captain mentioned the potential for Europe to host more events in 2024. Despite being the most competitive region with reputable organizers like ESL, Europe has faced challenges with LAN events. The recent TI held in Europe had no live audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the DPC and Major structure has limited event opportunities for the region.
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