- Team Falcons has been crowned the DreamLeague Season 22 powered by Intel® Champions, netting $300,000.
- With their win, Team Falcons also laid claim to 4,200 EPT Points with which they’re a step closer to securing a spot in Riyadh Masters at the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) later this year.
- The fortnight-long online competition began on February 25th as 16 teams vied for the chance to reach the Grand Final.
- Runners-up BetBoom Team take home $175,000, and also confirm their spot at Riyadh Masters at the Esports World Cup, having claimed the top spot on the EPT Leaderboard.
- DreamLeague Season 22 saw well over 25.6 million hours watched, with a peak viewership of more than 310,205.*
New York/Cologne – DreamLeague Season 22 powered by Intel® has come to a thrilling end, as Team Falcons take the crown with a commanding victory over BetBoom Team by 3-0, claiming the mantle of Champions, $300,000 of the $1,000,000 total prize pool, and 4,200 of the 17,885 available ESL Pro Tour (EPT) Points.
Over 310,200* viewers witnessed Team Falcons claim victory, with the overall tournament seeing well over 25.6 million hours watched throughout its two-week-long duration.
With their win, Team Falcons also rise swiftly on the EPT Leaderboard. As the second EPT season draws to a close, the top-ranked teams on the leaderboard will clinch their spot in the Riyadh Masters, a pivotal competition in the Esports World Cup (EWC). With their second place at DreamLeague Season 22, BetBoom Team have now claimed the top spot on the EPT Leaderboard, and with only two more EPT tournaments until the end of the season, they thereby become the first team to qualify for Riyadh Masters at EWC.
Set to unfold in the summer of 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, EWC promises to be an action-packed spectacle, gathering the world’s premier esports athletes as it searches for the first Club World Champion. Spanning across multiple game titles, the festival boasts the largest prize pool in EWC history while simultaneously offering fans an unparalleled experience of esports and gaming excellence.
Group Stage 1 and Group Stage 2
The 22nd iteration of the longest-running Dota 2 league kicked off on February 25 with Group Stage 1 which saw 16 teams divided into two groups of eight. This first phase of the online tournament saw some incredibly even gameplay, with more matches being tied than being won. BetBoom Team and Xtreme Gaming topped their groups without dropping a match, and also Team Falcons, Shopify Rebellion and Aurora all proceeded unbeaten. OG, Gaimin Gladiators, and Team Spirit also eked through to Group Stage 2.
Group Stage 2 saw Team Falcons display incredible form, winning every single match while only dropping one game in the process. BetBoom Team also had a strong showing, being the second to secure a Playoff spot with a 5-2 record. Team Spirit and Xtreme Gaming claimed the remaining spots, both going through with a 4-3 record.
Playoffs
The first day of the Playoffs featured nail-biting battles. First up was Team Spirit against Xtreme Gaming. The reigning DreamLeague Champions fought hard to defend their title but missed out on their chance with Xtreme Gaming bagging the win 2-1.
Later in the day, Team Falcons and BetBoom Team battled it out in the Upper Bracket Final. The match provided fans with a show of true skill, with Team Falcons claiming a 2-1 victory and securing their spot in the Grand Finals.
The final day of the online tournament saw more thrilling Dota 2 action, with BetBoom Team and Xtreme Gaming facing off first in the Lower Bracket Final. BetBoom Team dominated the match, winning 2-0 and going on to face Team Falcons in the Grand Final.
Grand Finals
The Grand Finals was a true clash of the titans, with BetBoom Team going head-to-head against Team Falcons in a best-of-five masterclass.
Team Falcons captured the first round, taking the lead early on. They followed this form into round two, taking the win in a closely contested, hour-long game. Team Falcons continued their domination of the Grand Final in the third round, taking the game and completing the sweep over BetBoom Team.
“We’ve been working really hard to improve as a team [since ESL One Kuala Lumpur],” said Jingjun “Sneyking” Wu from Team Falcons following the win. “All the hard work is finally paying off and showing. I’m very appreciative of what we’ve accomplished, but we can always aspire to do more.”
Continuing their electrifying start to 2024 with this win, the Team Falcons era is well and truly underway, with ESL One Birmingham 2024 powered by Intel® on the horizon in April. Taking place April 22 – 28, ESL One Birmingham will pit Team Falcons and eleven other top-tier Dota 2 teams against each other for a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool and a chance to play live in front of their fans at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, United Kingdom, during the final three days.
For more details about the ESL Pro Tour for Dota 2, head over to the official website, and follow ESL Dota 2 on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
*According to escharts.com.
About ESL FACEIT Group
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
ESL creates a world where everybody can be somebody. For more than two decades, we have been shaping the industry and leading esports and gaming innovation globally across the most popular video games, creating a comprehensive ecosystem with opportunities for players to go from zero to hero and for fans to witness the best stories esports has to offer. The ESL portfolio consists of high-profile products such as the ESL Pro Tour, Intel® Extreme Masters, the Snapdragon Pro Series, and many more, ranging from grassroots to global elite competitions. ESL is part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading esports and video game entertainment company.
About DreamLeague
Founded by DreamHack in 2013, DreamLeague is one of the oldest Dota 2 brands and features the best teams from around the globe. The league is among the longest running Dota 2 leagues, celebrating its 20th season this year. Since 2023, DreamLeague is hosted online as part of the ESL Pro Tour for Dota 2 and has millions of US dollars in prize money up for grabs every year (https://pro.eslgaming.com/dreamleague/).
