ESL gets serious for SEA Dota 2 with events and office

Fans in Southeast Asia looking for more to do in Dota 2 are in for a treat this coming year.

ESL, the world’s largest esports events organizer and tournament platform, announced they’re officially expanding their work in the SEA region with dedicated staff and locations. They’re starting with physical offices in Singapore, and they’ve even appointed a new interim regional CEO, Sebastian Radu, who will oversee the expansion and future events.

The company held successful events under their banner in the area already, with ESL One Genting and ESL One Manila under their belts. They also co-hosted the recent and well-celebrated Manila Masters with local production group Mineski Events Team.

In their press release, they emphasized being able to work up local “grassroots” events and tournaments.

“Our new regional office will set us up to bring even more global events and tournaments to the region, but more importantly: to help build the local esports communities through grassroots and local championships, which are fundamental to the growth of esports anywhere in the world,” said Ralf Reichert, the CEO of ESL.

ESL already has the infrastructure to make this a reality. In addition to the online events, ESL holds online circuits for not only Dota 2, but a number of popular titles such as CS:GO, Starcraft II, Clash Royale and more. It’s likely they’ll use their platform and resources to give local events a boost.

It’s a pretty big deal for esports in the area, especially Dota 2. The region is ecstatic about Dota 2, and international tournaments often have a dedicated slot for local teams to compete for. Now, teams and fans may find more chances to give their esports dreams a shot.