DreamLeague Season 21: Schedule, Standings, Results

DreamLeague Season 21 is all set to kick off on September 18, 2023, and will run until September 24, 2023. The tournament will feature 12 teams competing for glory. Organized by ESL, the event boasts an impressive lineup of sponsors, including Intel, Predator, DHL, Monster Energy, and SAP. This competition promises to be an unmissable spectacle, especially considering its substantial prize pool of $1,000,000. For all participants, this will serve as the final major tournament leading up to The International 2023.

DreamLeague Season 21 will be an entirely online event, focusing on Europe West servers.

The event kicks off with a round-robin group stage from September 18-20, where 12 elite teams are divided into two groups for Best-of-2 matches. The top two teams from each group ascend to the upper bracket of the playoffs, while the 3rd and 4th place finishers enter the lower bracket. The playoffs, running from September 21-24, adopt a double-elimination format. All matches, except for the Grand Final, are Best-of-3, with the Grand Final being a thrilling Best-of-5 showdown.

For DreamLeague S21, team selection is a well-considered affair, relying on ESL's EPT Ranking System. Each global region is assured representation, with at least one team guaranteed a slot. This season, the lineup includes six teams from Western Europe, three from Eastern Europe, and one each from North America, South America, and Southeast Asia. Efforts to include a Chinese team fell through due to scheduling conflicts.

During the group stage of the event, fans can tune into three concurrent series, broadcast across three distinct networks:

However, when the action heats up in the playoff stage, all matches will consolidate into a single channel: ESL Dota 2.

As the anticipation for DreamLeague 21 continues to grow, the Dota 2 community has been buzzing with speculation and predictions. A recent poll conducted among Reddit users delved into one of the most debated topics: Will teams go all out during the tournament, showcasing their full strength and strategies, or will they play it safe, keeping their best tactics under wraps in anticipation of The International? The results of this poll could provide a glimpse into the collective mindset of the community and perhaps even hint at the strategies teams might adopt in the upcoming matches.

In my opinion, many top teams such as Gaiming Gladiators and Team Liquid will conserve their energy, given that they have already won enough tournaments in 2023. A prize pool of $1,000,000 isn't particularly significant for these teams. They will likely play at half-strength, saving their best for The International. On the other hand, teams like OG and EG will be highly motivated to win and will showcase the best of their abilities.