Is ESL working on its own Dota 2 circuit?

Based on recent reports, it seems that ESL seeks to completely overhaul its Dota 2 activities. However, instead of building a competitor to Valve, they just want to support and grow the scene.

ESL has long been closely associated with Valve’s larger Dota 2 competitive ambitions, but just a year after running two regional tours, ESL has not been assigned another in the 2023 DPC season. The organizer will host the Berlin Major to close out the Spring Tour, but that’s probably all ESL will do in Dota 2 esports this year in the lead-up to The International.

Because ESL’s role in Valve’s direct tournaments is diminishing, the TO appears to be returning to a pre-DPC regional tour model of running multiple major events alongside other tournaments Valve is involved in. The company will reportedly transform its current event structure into a new three-part circuit.

ESL wants to build its own Dota 2 Circuit

According to reports by esports journalist Richard Lewis, ESL is in the process of internally revising its Dota 2 event plans to support the Riyadh Masters tournament series, which was first launched by Saudi Arabia last year. With this plan, ESL would transform its previous DreamLeague series into a major online qualifying tournament that would serve as the “main qualifier” for the Riyadh Masters.

The tournament would be broadcast in Stockholm, with 16 teams will compete for $1 million in prize money over a two-week period from a location of their choice in Europe. After that, ESL One will return to being a face-to-face event, with the usual qualifying and invitational format that Dota 2 fans are used to. According to reports, the next event will be held in Thailand and will also feature a $1 million prize purse.

These two events will kick off ESL’s new circuit. Allegedly, here will also be some additional “financial incentives for participation,” but there is no more specific info. As for the Riyadh Masters, we already know that Gamers8 is integrating it in some way with its Land of Heroes festival, which will start in July and last for 2 months.

Mega prize pool of 45 million

The expanded event will have a record-breaking $45 million prize pool, the largest in Esports history overall, though it will be split between all tournaments. Last year’s Riyadh Masters had the highest prize money for Dota 2 at $4 million, which will likely increase this year as both the ESL and the other organizers will be putting out feelers and testing the waters.

This all sounds like ESL wants to compete with Valve, but that’s not the case. ESL seems to be aimed at “complementing” DPC, rather than fighting it. This announcement will likely excite Dota 2 players, but it will also draw attention to Saudi Arabia’s continued growing influence in esports and gaming.

Header: Adela Sznajder / ESL