12 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to battle it out in Kuala Lumpur across December 11-17, 2023, with the final three days taking place live at MITEC
| Press Release Summary –ESL One powered by Intel® returns to Malaysia as it heads to Kuala Lumpur this December 11-17. –12 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to compete for one of six spots in the live Playoffs at MITEC (Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre). |
Cologne/New York/Kuala Lumpur, 19 September – ESL, an ESL FACEIT Group brand, announced the return of ESL One powered by Intel® to Malaysia, this December 11-17. The world-class Dota 2 tournament will feature 12 of the best Dota 2 teams from around the globe, competing for a prize pool of US$1,000,000 (over 4.6M Ringgit Malaysia). After three previous iterations of ESL One powered by Intel® hosted in Genting, this year’s tournament will take place in Kuala Lumpur, with playoffs matches on December 15-17 live at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
Format
ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 will begin with a three-day Group Stage, taking place from December 11-13 and consisting of two groups of six teams competing in a single round-robin format. The top six teams from the Group Stage will proceed to the live Playoffs which will take place across December 15-17, and feature a double elimination format. Stay tuned as the competing teams will be announced at a later date.
“We know Dota fans across South-East Asia have been eagerly waiting for the return of ESL One for over a year now. This December, we’re bringing back ESL One, bigger & more accessible than ever before, as we move the tournament from Genting to Kuala Lumpur for the first time,” said Shane Clarke, Director, Game Ecosystems – Dota 2 at ESL FACEIT Group. “We’re ready to put on a world-class tournament at MITEC, and look forward to return to the region soon with more incredible live Dota 2 action and experiences.”
Tickets
Wave 1 tickets to ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 will go on sale on September 21 at 15:00 MYT (09:00 CEST), with prices starting from RM149. Full details can be found below:
| Ticket Type | Price | Inclusions |
| Premium 3-Day | RM549 | -Access to all Playoffs matches on December 15, 16 & 17 -Premium Bounty Bag -Seating in the front of the infield, closest to the players -Access to Signing Sessions -Premium attendee badge |
| Plus 3-Day | RM349 | -Access to all Playoffs matches on December 15, 16 & 17-Bounty Bag -Access to Signing Sessions |
| 3-Day General Admission | RM149 | -Access to all Playoffs matches on December 15, 16 & 17 -Access to Signing Sessions |
To purchase tickets, fans can visit esl.gg/eslonemytickets
Rise Above Fate
Throughout all stages of the tournament, fans can expect to see artwork and references inspired by the tournament’s new theme: Rise Above Fate. Carolin Linden, Senior Marketing Creative at ESL FACEIT Group, had this to say about the new approach:
“Our theme draws inspiration from Kuala Lumpur’s mystic charm and rich folklore, inviting players and fans alike on a transformative journey. A journey led by none other than Nerif, the Oracle and great foreseer. His prophecies don’t merely predict the future – they shape it. As courses collide in the grand battle for the crown, we’ll have to wait and see if fate is something to be conquered. Knowing Oracle … it could go either way.”
ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 will be broadcast live on the ESL Dota 2 Twitch and YouTube channels, and via dedicated broadcast partners. For more information, head to the official website, and follow ESL Dota 2 on X (Twitter), Instagram, or Facebook.
You can download ESL One Kuala Lumpur imagery from the press kit here.
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About EFG
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is the leading esports and video game entertainment company dedicated to creating worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. EFG is built on a legacy of world-renowned brands including ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack and DreamHack Sports Games, providing innovative ecosystems for global communities of players, fans and creators around the games they love. Working alongside leading partners, brands and global IPs, EFG operates an unmatched portfolio of live events, digital platforms and developer tools that reach and engage millions of gamers worldwide. For more information visit www.eslfaceitgroup.com
About ESL One
In ESL One, teams and players from all over the world compete in an esports tournament unlike any other. Featuring Dota 2, 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).
Press contacts
Alex Blaikie, Elke Zweers, Katarzyna Maleckapress@efg.gg