ESL Dota 2 ecosystem update - new format and more tournaments

Dota 2 remains one of the most dynamic esports disciplines, with constant changes not only in the meta but also in the tournament landscape. ESL, one of the biggest event organizers in the game, is keeping pace with the trends and has announced major updates to its tournament ecosystem.

On July 3rd, ESL published an article on its official website detailing the upcoming changes.

“Our calendar will now center around ESL One Spring as the flagship mid-season event. In turn, we plan to expand ESL One to feature 16 teams (up from 12). Each EPT season will include three DreamLeague events and one revamped ESL One tournament. Every DreamLeague will have its own unique format to diversify the calendar and keep our Dota events exciting for everyone,” the statement reads.

Throughout each season, ESL will collect community feedback and adjust its formats accordingly, aiming to stay true to the spirit of Dota while delivering fresh and innovative experiences to its dedicated audience.

The new ecosystem is designed to provide more teams with the opportunity to reach the professional Dota 2 scene. Open qualifiers will now be part of every tournament.

Introducing DreamLeague Division 2

One of the most notable additions is the introduction of DreamLeague Division 2. This new series will become part of the ESL Pro Tour, offering a pathway to qualify directly for ESL’s million-dollar main events.

DreamLeague Division 2 will be hosted in the EU region, and four tournaments are planned for the upcoming season, featuring a total prize pool of $200,000. More details will be revealed as Season 25/26 approaches.

We’re incredibly excited for what the next year holds for Dota 2 and hope you’re feeling the same,” said the organizers.

Upcoming ESL Pro Tour Tournaments

Season 25/26

Season 26/27

What do you think of ESL’s updated ecosystem?