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My, how the time goes by. The second to last Major in the Dota Pro Circuit is here, and like any other major, there’s a lot at stake. It’s the last tournament with the standard Major payout, with $1 million in the purse and 1500 Qualifying Points awaiting the teams.
While the cash prize is once again large enough to turn heads, for pro teams, it’s the points for a top four finish that count. After all, it’s the final stretch in the road to The International 8, and all of these teams are hoping to get a slice of a growing prize pool that has already reached over $10 million.
And with only twelve teams, this sprint appears easy — but with two of the TI8-qualified teams and five of the eight still in the clear, it’s going to be an intense race.
If you don’t want to miss the action, we’ve got a schedule so you know when to tune in.
Format
Official Stream: ESL One stream hub — http://live.esl-one.com/birmingham
Prizes: The prize pool will be $1 million USD with 1500 Qualifying Points at stake, in proportion to the cash prize. Point distribution and cash prizes for teams that earn points will be as follows:
- 1st Place — 750 Qualifying Points/player; $500,000 team prize
- 2nd Place — 450 QP/player; $200,000 team prize
- 3rd Place — 225 QP/player; $100,000 team prize
- 4th Place — 75 QP/player; $60,000 team prize
If you’re still a bit confused about how the Pro Circuit will work, check out our primer about the Valve-sanctioned tournament series.
Competition Format: This event’s group stages will be “GSL,” a double-elimination format, followed by a single-elimination playoff stage.
- In the Group Stages, there will be three groups of four.
- Each team will play another in their group.
- The winners of the initial match play each other for first seed, while the losers of the initial match meet for an elimination match.
- After the second set of games, the two remaining teams meet for a second-seed match. The winner of this match is second seed of the group, and the loser is eliminated.
- The top seed of each group meets for a best-of-one to determine seeding in the bracket. The top two advance to Semi-Finals, and the last drops to Quarter-Finals.
- Playoffs continue in a best-of-three single-elimination bracket, including a Third Place Decider match, until a best-of-five Grand Finals.
On Sunday, there will be the Third Place Decider match, followed by the Grand Finals, so it’ll certainly be the day to catch.
Teams/Groups:
Group A:
- Evil Geniuses (North America, Qualifiers)
- Fnatic (Southeast Asia, Qualifiers; replacing Happy Feet due to visa issues)
- Team Spirit (Commonwealth of Independent States, Qualifiers*
- Virtus.Pro (Commonwealth of Independent States, Qualifiers)
Group B:
- OG Dota (Europe, Qualifiers)
- paiN Gaming (South America, Direct Invite)
- Team Liquid (Europe, Direct Invite)
- Vici Gaming (China, Direct Invite)
Group C:
- LGD.Forever Young (China, Qualifier)
- Mineski (Southeast Asia, Direct Invite)
- Newbee (China, Direct Invite)
- OpTic Gaming (North America, Qualifier)
*Replacement for Natus Vincere, which could not attend due to a team shuffle
Schedule:
Note: Times are approximate and are subject to change as games run longer or shorter.
Wednesday, May 23 — Group Stages Day 1
- 10:30 AM BST (5:30 AM ET) — Pre-Show
-
11:00 AM BST (6:00 AM ET) — Group A Initial Matches [Bo1]
Virtus.Pro vs Team Spirit
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses -
12:10 PM BST (7:10 AM ET) — Group B Initial Matches [Bo1]
Team Liquid vs Pain Gaming
OG Dota vs Vici Gaming -
1:10 PM BST (8:10 AM ET) — Group C Initial Matches [Bo1]
Mineski vs LGD.FY
OpTic Gaming vs Newbee -
2:30 PM BST (9:30 AM ET) — Group A Continued [Bo3]
Winner Match
Elimination Match -
6:00 PM BST (1:00 PM ET) — Group B Continued [Bo3]
Winner Match
Elimination Match -
9:30 PM BST (4:30 PM ET) — Group B Continued [Bo3]
Winner Match
Elimination Match
Thursday, May 24 — Group Stages Day 2
-
10:30 AM BST (5:30 AM ET)
Preshow
Playoffs Decider Match 1 -
2:30 PM BST (9:30 AM ET)
Playoffs Decider Match 2 -
6:30 PM BST (1:30 PM ET)
Playoffs Decider Match 3
Friday, May 25 — Playoffs Day 1
-
1:25 PM BST (7:25 AM ET)
Stream starts (Preshow) -
2:00 PM BST (8:00 AM ET)
Quarterfinal #1 -
5:50 PM BST (12:50 PM ET)
Quarterfinal #2
Saturday, May 26 — Playoffs Day 2
-
1:25 PM BST (7:25 AM ET)
Stream starts (Preshow) -
2:00 PM BST (8:00 AM ET)
Semifinal #1 -
5:50 PM BST (12:50 PM ET)
Semifinal #2
Sunday, May 23 — Playoffs Day 3
-
10:30 AM BST (5:30 AM ET)
Stream starts (Preshow) -
11:05 PM BST
Third place decider match -
3:00 PM BST (10:00 AM ET)
Grand Finals [best of five]