ESL Announces Dota 2 Tournament in the US with a $1 Million Prize Pool

Tournament organiser ESL has revealed plans for a new major Dota 2 championship — ESL One Raleigh 2025. The event will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina, marking ESL’s first major competition in North America in a decade, following the ESL One New York 2015.  

The tournament, boasting a total prize pool of $1 million, will feature two stages. The group stage (Round Robin) will determine the top eight teams, who will advance to the playoffs played in a double-elimination bracket. A total of 12 teams will compete, including winners of regional qualifiers. Details on how invitations and regional slots will be allocated have yet to be disclosed.  

A key aspect of the tournament is the distribution of 27,920 ESL Pro Tour (EPT) points, vital for qualification to ESL’s flagship events such as the Riyadh Masters.  

The finals, which will be open to live audiences, are scheduled to take place from 11th to 13th April 2025. Initially planned as a European event, the April tournament’s relocation to North America reflects ESL’s commitment to revitalising the region’s esports scene.  

ESL One Raleigh 2025 is set to become a landmark event, bringing together the world’s top players and reinvigorating the North American Dota 2 stage at the highest level.