The top 12 teams from around the world will gather at ESL One Birmingham as the event returns for its third installment in Arena Birmingham between May 29 and May 31, 2020.
The biggest tournament in the UK
ESL One made its debut in 2018 when the event was announced for the first time. Never before had the UK hosted a tournament of this scale. The 2018 edition was also a Major part of the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) and featured $1 million in prize money. After the success it reaped, the event returned for another year in 2019, but no longer being part of the DPC and its prize pool dropping to $300,000. This was probably due to the fact that ESL and Dota 2 had some issues previously and their business relationship was affected.
With 2020 the case is very similar as ESL One Birmingham offers $300,000 and will most likely remain outside of the pro circuit just like last year since ESL Los Angeles already has the status of Major and it’s coming this March. The tournament is much more than mere money or DPC points, though, as it’s a meeting point for fans from all over Europe. It will also include a dedicated merch shop, signing sessions, airbrush tattoos, different partner boots, and much more. Chances are we’ll also see cosplay in the months to follow.
ESL CEO James Dean commented:
“We’re extremely proud of what ESL One Birmingham means to the Dota 2 community. With the support of players, partners and fans, Birmingham is a truly unique tournament and atmosphere which will no doubt deliver yet more unforgettable moments again this year. We’re hugely thankful to each and everyone involved and would like to show our gratitude not only by providing a world-class final at the highest production level, but also by bringing even more excitement, features, and catchy chants to the Birmingham Arena.”
Tickets for the event are already available, and you can purchase them on the official ESL website. The prices range greatly, with £39 as the starting point. Fans will also have the chance to witness the finals of the ESL Academy, a young talent league for Dota 2 players, which began in October last year.
The teams
As mentioned above, ESL One Birmingham will feature 12 of the best teams from around the globe. Eight of those will receive a direct invitation to the tournament while the remaining four will be determined by regional qualifiers. Out of the six regions South America seems left out, while Europe and CIS will have a mixed qualifier meaning only one team will make it through.
It's BACK!#ESLOne Birmingham returns for its third consecutive year this May, from the 29th to 31st!So gather up your stack, pack those umbrellas (it is the UK after all) and get ready for a tournament like no other!GB https://t.co/AB5MZc7QuC pic.twitter.com/mCKQt1U3L5
— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) January 20, 2020
Much like previous years, the direct invitations will most likely be revealed one by one in the months to follow. The eight teams in question will no doubt be the ones standing higher in the Dota Pro Circuit standings which will change after the conclusion of DreamLeague Season 13 this Sunday. We can expect that ESL will invite a team from South America due to the lack of qualifiers for the region.
ESL One Birmingham is forming out to be a good tradition among Dota 2 fans, especially in the UK. With DreamLeague hosting events in the Netherlands and Germany, while The International 2020 makes a return to Sweden for its anniversary, it’s the best time for Europe in recent years.
