ESB and Qatar Esports Federation launch $2.6m Dota 2 league

Dota 2 League : ESB and the Qatar Esports Federation have announced Quest Esports, a Qatari esports organisation, as the league’s MENA regional partner and marketing firm SPORTFIVE as its media rights partner, in addition to the prize pool.

The first of the three events is scheduled to happen in Doha, Qatar, on April 3. Ten teams will play in all in the competitions, which also include editions in November (Doha, Qatar) and July (Lima, Peru). In addition to the three events, the two entities will collaborate to establish an open circuit and amateur player competitions.

A announcement stated that the MOU to carry out a number of premier events is a component of a three-year plan.

The capital of Qatar will host two of the three events, and ESB will “settle its new international operations” there as well. In the upcoming years, the business also wants to get into more esports games. The new titles’ specifics remained a secret.

The league was established in response to Valve’s announcement that the Dota Pro Circuit, the pinnacle of Dota 2 esports, will no longer exist. The developer claimed in September 2023 that the circuit had a detrimental effect on the ecology. Thus, in running its own circuit (the Dota 2 ESL Pro Tour), ESB and the Qatar Esports Federation join organisations such as the ESL FACEIT Group.

ESB and the Qatar Esports Federation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a Dota 2 league.

Starting in 2024, the league will consist of three events and features a combined prize pool of $2.6m.https://t.co/U8VeOqMxqi
— Esports Insider (@esportsinsider) February 5, 2024

In his remarks regarding the league’s formation, ESB CEO Gonzalo Velasco said, “There is a big space in the Dota 2 and esports scene for innovation and doing great things for the community, not only at a regional and amateur level, but also at the top level of competitive esports.”

“Qatar is an excellent choice for establishing our global hub due to its exceptional infrastructure, strategic location as a transit hub, and history of hosting major international sporting events, such as the Asian Football Cup in 2023 and the FIFA World Cup in 2022.”

Some members of the esports community are still concerned about the rise of organisations with ties to the government. Laws in Qatar now impose limitations on women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of speech.