The Dota Pro Circuit: A Comprehensive Guide to the Premier Esports Tournament System
What is the Dota Pro Circuit?
The Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) is a professional esports tournament system for the popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Dota 2. The DPC was introduced by Valve Corporation, the developer of Dota 2, in 2017 to provide a more structured and competitive environment for professional Dota 2 players.
Tournament Structure
The DPC consists of two main seasons per year, with each season culminating in a Major tournament. The Majors are the most prestigious events on the DPC circuit, and teams earn points towards qualification for The International, Dota 2's annual world championship tournament. In addition to the Majors, the DPC also features a number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 tournaments. Tier 1 tournaments have lower prize pools and fewer top-tier teams than Majors, while Tier 2 tournaments have the lowest prize pools and the most diverse range of teams.
Teams and Qualifications
The DPC is open to all Dota 2 teams, with teams earning points based on their performance in tournaments. The top teams in the DPC standings qualify for the Majors and The International. There are two ways for teams to qualify for the DPC: *
Direct invites: Valve Corporation directly invites the top teams in the world to the Majors and The International. *
Regional qualifiers: Teams from each region compete in regional qualifiers to earn a spot in the Majors and The International.
Prize Pools
The DPC tournaments feature large prize pools, with The International having the largest prize pool of any esports tournament. The prize pools for the Majors and Tier 1 tournaments are also significant, while Tier 2 tournaments have smaller prize pools.
The International
The International is the concluding tournament of the DPC season and the most prestigious Dota 2 tournament in the world. The International features the top teams from the DPC standings, who compete for a massive prize pool. The International has been held in Seattle, Washington every year since its inception in 2011. The 2022 edition of The International featured a prize pool of over $18 million and was won by Tundra Esports.
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