In a bold move that has the Dota 2 community buzzing, ESB (Electronic Sports Broadcasting) and the Qatar Esports Federation (QESF) have teamed up to unveil a new Dota 2 league that promises to shake up the esports landscape.
With a whopping $2.6 million prize pool on the line, this league isn’t just playing games—it’s setting the stage for a high-stakes drama where the world’s top teams will duke it out for Dota 2 supremacy.
The Birth of a New Gaming Colossus
So, what’s the big deal, you ask? Well, in the wake of the Dota Pro Circuit’s discontinuation, there’s been a gaping hole in the esports calendar that gamers worldwide felt in the depths of their button-mashing souls.
This is where ESB and QESF enter the scene, swinging in like esports superheroes to fill that void with not one, not two, but three high-octane tournaments spread throughout 2024.
Each of these tournaments will feature ten of the globe’s most formidable teams battling for a slice of the $2.6 million pie. The series will kick off in Doha, Qatar, then move to Lima, Peru, before circling back to Doha for the grand finale.
CEO’s Gonzalo Valasco Thoughts
Gonzalo Velasco views Qatar as a potential global center due to its location, amazing infrastructure, and experience staging major events such as the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and the Asian Football Cup in 2023.
ESB CEO Gonzalo Velasco said, “There is a big space in the Dota 2 and eSports scene for innovation and doing great things for the community, not only at the top level of competitive eSports, but also at a regional and amateur level.”
What’s on the Menu?
The league is structured around three main events:
- The Opening Act in Doha, Qatar (April 3 – 14): A LAN event that sets the tone for the series.
- Mid-Year Showdown in Lima, Peru (July 22 – August 4): Another LAN event, this time on South American soil.
- The Grand Finale, Back in Doha, Qatar (November 26 – December 6): The concluding Arena LAN event that promises to end the series with a bang.
Each event promises to be a spectacle of top-tier Dota 2 action, with a total of $2.6 million in prize money evenly distributed across the three tournaments. This not only raises the stakes but also ensures that each event is as nail-bitingly intense as the finals.
ESB Plans to Host the LIGA 2024
ESB plans to create a new tournament format, bringing together the best teams in the globe to battle for a total prize fund of $2 million. Their previous experience arranging the 2023 DPC for the South American area will let them present the community with some fantastic Dota 2.
After Valve dropped the hat, some are still skeptical about Dota 2 as an eSport, but ESB’s positive stride has demonstrated that they are here to stay. Hopefully, they can provide the community and gamers with what they are missing.
Here are the dates and prize purses for each of the events.
- Tour 1: April 3rd to April 14th – $500k
- Tour 2: July 24th to August 4th – $500k
- Tour 3: November 27th to December 6th – $1M
Why This Matters
This league is more than simply a series of tournaments; it exemplifies the global character of esports by crossing regional divides and bringing together the top players from all across the world. The partnership between ESB, a seasoned event organizer from Peru, and QESF, representing Qatar’s emerging esports industry, demonstrates esports’ ability to cross geographical and cultural borders.
On top of that, this endeavor comes at a critical time for the Dota 2 community, which is seeking more structured competition following the closure of the Dota Pro Circuit. It’s a big move toward closing that gap and providing a new platform for players and fans to interact with their favorite game.
Issues Down the Road
The Qatar Esports Federation is making every effort to become a worldwide powerhouse for eSports’ future development.
However, there is an underlying issue with Qatar’s laws, which do not encourage free speech. This may be problematic since a lack of safety would prevent certain athletes and viewers from participating.
Additionally, we have the betting grey area, where it is technically illegal to place bets, which is a big part of eSports. Click here to find out more about the markets of eSports betting.
With that said, we had the World Cup 2022 which also faced the same problems, but it was all smooth sailing. Even though they don’t support such things, they cannot and won’t prohibit anyone from entering the country. This means that this won’t limit the popularity of eSports events that Qatar is focused on hosting.
Final Words
It is an exciting time for the eSports industry as new tournaments emerge making it a more vibrant and exciting industry. Hopefully, the creation of new leagues will inspire others to jump on the fast-moving train and create their own.
