Later today, the 1win Dota 2 Series Summer will kick off as eight teams battle it out to claim the lion’s share of its $100,000 (~£78,000) prize pool.
This is the second edition of the 1win Dota 2 Series, operated by bookmaker 1win, with Indian esports organisation Entity crowned the inaugural champion in March. A few months later, 1win’s latest Dota 2 event has a mixture of returning names and new challengers.
In total, eight esports organisations from across Europe are taking part in the tournament, consisting of the following:
- Entity: The reigning 1win Dota 2 Series champion is back to retain its crown. Founded in 2016, the Indian esports organisation has found some impressive momentum following its series win, qualifying for the upcoming Riyadh Masters 2024 and The International 2024.
- Virtus.pro: One of five Riyahd Masters 2024 qualifiers in this event, Virtus.pro returns to the 1win Dota 2 Series after making it to the last edition’s finals. The Armenia-based esports organisation has slightly altered its roster with former 9Pandas player Vladislav ‘Antares’ Kertman a part of the team.
- Team Spirit: Another returning team, The International 2023 winner will be hoping to do better than its fourth-place finish in the last 1win series. Following the event earlier this year the organisation has claimed notable silverware though, winning PGL Wallachia Season 1 and $300,000 (~£237,500) as a result in May.
- Gaimin Gladiators: A new team has entered the 1win Dota 2 Series. Since its entry into Dota 2 in 2022, the organisation has produced consistent results across multiple tier-1 tournaments. This includes finishing second at The International 2023 and DreamLeague Season 23. The organisation has also qualified for this year’s Riyadh Masters 2024 and The International 2024.
- Nigma: The second of 1win Dota Series’ newcomers is Nigma, a MENA-based organisation founded by four out of five The International 2017 champions in 2019. Since its creation, the organisation has secured over $1m (~£780,000) in approximate winnings. However, the organisation did recently fail to qualify for Riyahd Masters 2024 and The International 2024.
- beastcoast: After launching its Dota 2 division in 2019, the North American esports organisation has competed in a variety of tier-1 events, including last year’s The International, BetBoom Dacha, Riyadh Masters and Bali Major. The organisation is also making its debut in the 1win Dota 2 Series.
- PSG Quest: The Qatari esports organisation will be looking for revenge following its Group Stage stage elimination in the last 1win Dota 2 Series. In 2023, Quest Esports teamed up with french football club PSG to create the new brand. However, aside from competing in tier-1 events this year, the organisation has yet to secure a major trophy.
- 1win: Last but not least is 1win’s own esports division. Despite only being created in February 2024, the hosts qualified for The International 2024 earlier this month, a major milestone for the division. The organisation will also be hoping to do better than its Group Stage exit in the last edition.
1Win Dota 2 Series Summer will kick off later today (June 27th) at 1pm CET (12pm BST) with Group A action, featuring the likes of Virtus.pro, Gaimin Gladiators, 1win and PSG.Quest. The event will be broadcast live on Twitch and YouTube.
The winner will walk home with $50,000 (~£39,500) of its $100,000 prize pool. Second place will receive $30,000 while third place will get $15,000 and fourth place will receive $5,000.
