Longest running pro European Dota event ESL One Germany transitions to online for 2020

Top 6 World Ranking teams – OG, Team Secret, Nigma, Team Liquid, Virtus.pro and Alliance – will all participate

The tournament will be the first Dota event that ESL produce from a virtual studio

Cologne, September 15th 2020: ESL, the world’s largest esports company, has today announced ESL One Germany 2020 Online powered by Intel®. Continuing the tradition of the longest running professional European Dota event, the tournament will commence on October 5th and finish November 1st featuring 16 teams from the European and CIS regions.

For the first time in its history, the tournament will be produced from a virtual studio as it transitions entirely to an online format due to disruptions caused by the ongoing global pandemic. Each of the Top 6 World Ranking outfits – OG, Team Secret, Nigma, Team Liquid, Alliance and Virtus.pro – will feature as competitors to battle it out for an increased prize pot of US$400,000. They will be joined by FlyToMoon, Vikin.gg, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Natus Vincere, HellRaisers, and one more to be confirmed invite.

Qualifiers will take place across late September with four of the final 16 tournament spaces up for grabs. The final 16 teams will then compete in a SWISS format running from October 5th until November 1st, with the top eight progressing to double elimination playoffs and best-of-five finals. The format of the competition was drafted together with the Top 5 Dota 2 teams.

Ulrich Schulze, Senior Vice President Product at ESL, said: “Despite the challenges that face events across our industry currently, ESL One Germany 2020 Online is still set to be a landmark moment in the esports calendar. We are proud and excited to bring together the world’s best teams and to work closely with them to deliver some new and exciting Dota format to our fans.”

For more information and to keep up to date with ESL One Germany 2020 Online updates, head to the official website, Twitter and Instagram.

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About ESL

ESL is the world’s largest esports company. Founded in 2000, ESL has been shaping the industry across the most popular video games with numerous online and offline esports competitions. The company operates high profile, branded international leagues and tournaments under the ESL Pro Tour including ESL One, Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL Pro League, and other premier stadium-size tournaments, to more clearly define the path from zero to hero. ESL also produces the ESL National Championships, grassroots amateur cups, and matchmaking systems, creating a world where everybody can be somebody. With offices all over the world, ESL is leading esports innovation on a global scale through the combination of global ESL competitions, amateur leagues, publisher activations, and more. ESL is a part of MTG, the leading international digital entertainment group. eslfaceitgroup.com

About ESL One

ESL One – In ESL One, teams and players from all over the world compete in an esports tournament unlike any other. Featuring the games Dota 2 and Counter-Strike Global Offensive, ESL One gives out hundreds of thousands in prize money every year. With events taking place in stadiums all over the world, it puts the players in front of enthusiastic audiences, cheering them on in their attempt to secure the one trophy and the glory that comes with it. www.esl-one.com

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