Tournament organizers have officially announced the initial eight squads that have successfully navigated the regional closed qualifiers, securing their slots in the prestigious DreamLeague Season 27. These teams represent a diverse geographical spread, from the tactical battlegrounds of Western Europe to the burgeoning scenes of North and South America, giving fans a glimpse into the global talent pool vying for Dota 2 supremacy.
The Vanguard: First Qualified Teams
The first wave of contenders offers a mix of established titans and promising regional powerhouses. Here are the teams that have earned their direct invitation through the qualifiers:
- Natus Vincere – Western Europe
- Virtus.pro – Western Europe
- AVULUS – Western Europe
- Runa Team – Eastern Europe
- Yakult Brothers – China
- BOOM Esports – Southeast Asia
- Wildcard – North America
- Chimpanzi Bananini – South America
For some, like the Yakult Brothers, qualification is a familiar feat, having previously made an appearance in DreamLeague Season 26. This consistency speaks volumes in an esport known for its volatile team rosters and meta shifts. Meanwhile, North America`s Wildcard arrives with a notable pedigree, having placed 9th at The International 2025, outperforming several other prominent teams, including Natus Vincere and BOOM Esports, in that particular major outing. Their presence signals a potential for significant upsets and a strong regional showing.
The Path to Digital Glory: Completing the Roster
These eight teams are merely the vanguard. DreamLeague Season 27 is slated to host 24 teams in total. The remaining spots will be filled through a combination of direct invites (11 rosters) and a gauntlet through the Division 2 Stage 1 qualifiers (six rosters). This multi-layered qualification system ensures that only the most resilient and strategically sound teams make it to the main event, creating a truly competitive field.
DreamLeague Season 27: What`s on the Line?
Scheduled as an online spectacle from December 10th to 21st, DreamLeague Season 27 is more than just a tournament; it`s a foundational event for the entire 2025/2026 EPT season. The stakes are substantial:
- A formidable $1,000,000 prize pool, ensuring that financial incentives are well in place for peak performance.
- An additional $250,000 in club rewards, a welcome bonus for organizations supporting their players.
- A coveted 19,500 EPT Points, crucial for establishing early season dominance.
For those unfamiliar with the ESL Pro Tour ecosystem, EPT Points are the golden tickets of competitive Dota 2. Awarded based on a team`s performance across EPT events, these points dictate a team`s standing on the EPT leaderboards. Accumulating sufficient points is paramount, as it directly influences invitations to future, even more prestigious tournaments within the EPT circuit, including subsequent DreamLeague seasons and ESL One events.
Tournament Structure: A Battle of Endurance
The tournament is designed to thoroughly test each team`s mettle. It commences with a Swiss system Group Stage, featuring best-of-three (Bo3) matches, a format notorious for separating the consistently strong from the merely lucky. Following this, the action intensifies with a double-elimination Playoffs bracket, culminating in a grand, best-of-five (Bo5) Grand Final. While a detailed schedule is still pending, the structure alone suggests a grueling, yet thrilling, path to the championship.
A New Chapter for Dota 2 Esports
DreamLeague Season 27 is not just the opening act for the 2025/2026 EPT season; it introduces a revamped format for the entire circuit. As the first major event, it sets the precedent for the year ahead, promising renewed strategic depth and exciting narratives. Fans can look forward to all matches being broadcast live on ESL’s dedicated Dota 2 Twitch and YouTube channels, ensuring no moment of high-stakes play is missed.
After the dust settles in December, the competitive calendar quickly marches on, with DreamLeague Season 28 and ESL One Birmingham slated to take place next year. This packed schedule underscores ESL`s commitment to a robust and engaging Dota 2 esports scene, providing continuous high-level competition for both players and fans. The perennial question, “Who will lift the trophy?” remains, but with the first eight teams now locked in, the journey to finding that answer has officially begun.
