ESL UK and Mercedes-Benz have joined forces to announce a new addition to the UK and Ireland tournament. The ESL Premiership Skirmish will be game specific challenger level tournaments within the ESL ecosystem. It will take place alongside the main ESL Premiership competitions. This follows the impressive turnout and incredible feedback from two ESL One Birmingham tournaments for Dota2.
Mercedes-Benz
As ESL’s global mobility partner, Mercedes-Benz has already been supporting Dota 2 at ESL One tournaments since 2017. Starting in the Winter season of 2019 however, the partnership will extend into the ESL Premiership and see an entry of Dota2 into the national tournament for the first time.
“The partnership between Mercedes-Benz and ESL has already proved to be hugely successful and has resulted in two incredible ESL One Birmingham tournaments for Dota2 in 2018 and 2019,” said James Dean, Managing Director of ESL UK. “Having Mercedes-Benz involved with the national tournament will see that same success replicated within the ESL Premiership. It also means a more varied offering for players and fans with even more communities involved.”
Dota2
Since ESL One Birmingham in 2018 was the first valve major in the UK, ESL & Mercedes-Benz are excited about the inclusion of Dota2 into the ESL Premiership. The ESL Premiership Dota 2 Skirmish will feature alongside the ESL Premiership and will help identify emerging new talent and will be a proving ground for UK and Irish talent.
There is also potential for Dota2 to become a full Premiership title in the near future. It is hoped that the inclusion of the game within the ESL Premiership will help to reinvigorate the UK and Ireland Dota2 scene, focusing the tournament around individual players rather than teams.
How to get involved
ESL Premiership Dota2 Skirmish
The top 20 players (top 4 from each role) who have signed-up through esl.im/dota2signup will enter the 4-week online tournament, starting from Tuesday 22nd of October at 7PM, where each week players will be randomly put together into teams. Each player fights for their share of the £2,500 prize pool. Top two players from each role will move on to play in the Live Finals on the Skirmish Stage on the 24th of November, where the ultimate British/Irish Dota2 team will be crowned. The deadline to sign up to qualify for the start of the ESL Premiership Dota2 Skirmish tournaments is the 8th October.
Attending the ESL Premiership Finals
The ESL Premiership Finals will take place in Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester, and the whole weekend is packed to the brim with different esports attractions. From the ESL Premiership CS:GO and Rainbow Six Siege Finals, to the ESL Premiership Dota2 Skirmish Stage, all accompanied by merch and free to play booths, this is the place to be. Tickets can be purchased at esl.im/premwinter.
Following the action online
Unable to attend the event? No worries! You can see all the action online by following the ESL UK social media accounts – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for live updates and highlights from the show. The ESL Premiership Skirmish weekly matches and finals will be broadcast live on the ESL UK Twitch channel.