Cover-Credits:
DreamLeague has announced that it will cover the three regional Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) leagues of the Western European (WEU) region in 2021-22, while ESL Dota 2 has announced that it will host the North American (NA) leagues. Epic Esports Events, which did not host any divisions last season, will cover the Eastern Europe (EEU) division of the DPC 2021-22.
In line with the leaked schedule from Alliance last month, the three organizers revealed that the first of the three regional leagues in the DPC 2021-22 will be held from 29th Nov 2021 to 23rd Jan 2022. During the next couple of weeks, DreamHack and ESL will hold open and closed qualifiers for the two Lower Division spots of their respective regional leagues.
DreamLeague will continue to cover the WEU division; ESL will move to NA
It was DreamLeague that was the first to announce coverage of the WEU regional leagues.
Following DreamLeague's announcement about the coverage of the WEU region, ESL announced that they would host the NA region. In the previous season, ESL covered the Eastern European region.
The first season runs from 29th Nov 2021 to 23rd Jan 2022, while the second season runs from 14th March to 24th April 2022. The final league of the DPC 2021-22 will take place between 6th June and 7th July 2022.
In the first league, eight teams will be directly invited to the Upper Division based on their ranking in the second regional league of the previous season. Six teams will be invited to the Lower Division based on similar criteria, while two teams will be chosen from the qualifiers.
Both ESL and DreamLeague have different formats in place for these two qualifier spots in the Lower Division.
DreamLeague
Open Qualifiers:
The first open qualifier will take place on 19th Nov 2021.
The second open qualifier will take place on 20th Nov 2021.
Format of the open qualifier:
Single elimination bracket
From each open qualifier, three teams move to the closed qualifier
All series are BO1 until the semifinals (R4)
Semifinals (R4) and finals are BO3
Format of the closed qualifier:
The closed qualifier will take place from 22nd to 24th Nov 2021.
Eight teams - six from the open qualifier and two invited
Double elimination bracket
All series are BO3
The top two teams qualify for the Lower Division
Registration links for the open qualifiers are listed below.
ESL
Open Qualifiers:
The first open qualifier will take place on 19th Nov 2021.
The second open qualifier will take place on 20th Nov 2021.
Format of the open qualifier:
Single elimination bracket
From each open qualifier, four teams move to the closed qualifier
All series are BO1 until the round of 8
Round of 8 is a BO3
Format of the closed qualifier:
The closed qualifier will take place from 22nd to 24th Nov 2021.
Eight teams - four from each open qualifier
Double elimination bracket
All series are BO3
The top two teams qualify for the Lower Division
Registration links for the open qualifiers are listed below.
Epic Esports Events enters DPC 2021-22 with the Eastern European division
Epic Esports Events, which has previously organized Majors and other tournaments under the banner 'EPICENTER' has been selected to host the EEU regional leagues.
"Epic Esports Events with the support of the Russian Esports Federation organizes three Dota Pro Circuit 2021/2022 tournaments stages for the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). The broadcast and commenting will be conducted by RuHub Studio."
In line with Valve guidelines, teams were invited based on their positions in the second regional league of the previous season, however, one team in the Lower Division - EXTREMUM - "refused to participate in the tournaments of the season due to the lack of a squad."
Therefore, the first regional league of the EEU division will welcome three teams from the open qualifiers. The dates and links for the open qualifiers have not yet been announced.
Details concerning the team rosters, talent crews, match schedules, and more about the three Divisions are expected to be announced soon.
