ESL One Kuala Lumpur marks the beginning of a new era in competitive Dota 2. With Valve’s recent decision to abolish the Dota Pro Circuit, third-party tournaments like ESL One are set to take center stage. This tournament, scheduled from December 11 to December 17, not only offers a substantial $1 million prize pool but also provides teams with an opportunity to establish their relevance and prestige before potential invites to The International in 2024.
Teams Qualified for ESL One Kuala Lumpur
The following teams have secured their spots in ESL One Kuala Lumpur:
| Team | Region |
|---|---|
| Gaimin Gladiators | Invited |
| LGD Gaming | Invited |
| Azure Ray | Invited |
| Team Liquid | Western Europe |
| Team Secret | Western Europe |
| BetBoom Team | Eastern Europe |
| 9Pandas | Eastern Europe |
| Team Falcons | MENA |
| Invictus Gaming | China |
| Blacklist International | Southeast Asia |
| TSM | North America |
| Wawitas Sagazes | South America |
Three teams received direct invitations to the tournament, all of which were among the top four at The International 2023. The remaining teams qualified through regional qualifiers, with Western and Eastern Europe having two slots each, while other regions had one slot each.
It is worth noting that Team Spirit, the winner of TI12, initially received an invitation but had to withdraw due to health issues. As a result, Team Secret qualified through the Western Europe closed qualifiers to fill the vacant slot.
ESL One Kuala Lumpur sets the stage for an exciting future in Dota 2 tournaments, where third-party events will play a crucial role in determining teams’ success and recognition.
Source: ONEESPORTS
