1win Essence III Play-In: Schedule, Standings, Results

1win Essence III is the third season of BASED Esports' online Dota 2 tournament, taking place from November 12 to 18, 2026. The event features 12 teams competing for a $200,000 prize pool. Eight teams receive direct invitations, while four more qualify through the Play-In stage.

The tournament opens with a group stage consisting of four round-robin groups of three teams each. All matches are played as Bo3 series, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the playoffs. The remaining teams are eliminated.

The playoffs follow a Double Elimination format. All matches are played as Bo3, except for the Grand Final, which is contested in a Bo5 series. With a $200,000 prize pool and a lineup featuring several top-tier Dota 2 teams, 1win Essence III promises competitive action throughout the tournament.

1win Essence III: Play-In Format

• Two single round-robin groups of five teams each

• All matches are Bo3

• Top two teams from each group qualifies to the main tournament

• Remaining teams are eliminated

Participants

1win Essence III Play-In: Group Stage Standings

1win Essence III Play-In: Group Stage Schedule and Results

November 7, 2026

November 8, 2026

November 9, 2026

November 10, 2026

November 11, 2026