The Elite League Dota 2 is set to happen from March 31 to April 14, 2024. While the event is not directly associated with the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) and, thus, there are no EPT points to gain, it still has a whopping $1 million on the line.
This year’s Elite League, the first of its kind, has seasoned veterans such as the winners of the BetBoom Dacha Winter 2024 and recent DreamLeague Season 22. Additionally, we have fresh faces, making their Dota 2 debut in 2024, which adds an exciting layer of unpredictability.
Image credit: FISSURE
The entire tournament will be livestreamed on the BetBoom Twitch channel.
The Elite League introduces an interesting tournament structure for this edition, consisting of two distinct Group Stages leading up to the Playoffs. The initial group stage, or Group Stage 1, features sixteen teams competing in a modified Swiss-system format, with each match played as a best-of-three.
The top eight teams from this stage will advance to Group Stage 2, transitioning into a round-robin format with two groups of eight. This stage incorporates the victorious teams from the first stage and eight additional invited teams.
The Playoff phase then follows, employing a double-elimination bracket with matches being best-of-three, except for the grand final, which will be a best-of-five.
Although the Elite League may not be a part of EPT circuit and would not contribute to the teams’ qualification for the Riyadh Masters, it might impact the participating teams’ overall standing for when Valve invites teams for the International Championship this year.
The Elite League boasts an impressive and diverse roster of teams. The first stage sees sixteen teams which are as follows:
The subsequent round-robin stage seed welcomes eight additional top-tier teams:
Analyzing the team dynamics and overwhelming dominance since their last major appearances, Team Falcons, BetBoom Team and Xtreme Gaming as the fan favorites, given their recent performances. These teams have consistently demonstrated their capability to contend at the highest levels, placing top three in ascending order, making them prime candidates for this championship.
Particularly, Team Falcons has won two consecutive tournaments since their debut this year.
The Elite League also welcomes titans such as Team Spirit, Gaimin Gladiators, and Azure Ray, aiming to reassert their dominance in the Dota 2 esports scene. They were still relatively strong contenders in late 2023 but have fallen off slightly to the new players in town. Fans can expect these teams to give even the top dogs a run for their money at Elite League.
Meanwhile, teams like Team Secret, Nigma Galaxy, and Tundra Esports are positioned as underdogs, hopefully having the potential to upset the big players and showcase their capabilities. Even teams such as Southeast Asia’s Aurora or the timeless Team OG squad could be great teams to keep an eye out for.
With all competitors returning refreshed and ready to battle, the Elite League promises intense competition and unforgettable Dota 2 moments.
EN Global 
JP 日本語
BR Português