PGL Bucharest is the first Dota 2 Minor for 2019

PGL will play host to yet another DPC event next year in the form of the PGL Bucharest 2019. The Dota 2 Minor will take place from 9th – 13th of January 2019. PGL also announced details of the qualifiers and the number of teams from each region.

The online qualifiers for PGL Bucharest run in early December 2018. There will be one team each from North America, South America, South East Asia and CIS regions. Europe and China will send two teams via online qualifiers.

The current DPC season will see only five Dota 2 majors and minors each. This lower number of tournaments significantly increases their importance with regards to the Dota 2 Pro Circuit, as each of these tournaments also awards DPC points that help the teams move closer a spot in The International.

https://twitter.com/pglesports/status/1054707821902729217The International tournaments have traditionally been the highest prize pools in esports history. Every year the tournament managed to break new records in prize pool amounts and TI8 saw a cumulative prize pool of $25,532,177.

PGL Bucharest was a Dota 2 Major for last year. This year as the event now just has a Minor status, the prize pool sees a significant dip to $300,000 (compared to $1,000,000 last year).

A lack of ESL events in the DPC season is not a cause for worry

With only 5 Majors and Minors in the current DPC season, every tournament assumes a lot of significance. We have seen Valve wanting to change the Dota 2 esports scene for several years now. They have ensured stability in the Dota 2 esports scene via the Dota Pro Circuit and with the Major and Minor system they have somewhat controlled the highly frequent roster changes.

However, this year we are yet to see any announcements of ESL events included in the DPC circuit. ESL has already announced two events: The ESL One Hamburg, as well as the ESL One Katowice 2019. Both of these events are not a part of the DPC circuit. This might be due to the fact that they will be streamed exclusively on Facebook Gaming and will not be available on Twitch.

Regardless, it is still heartening to see ESL involved in the Dota 2 community outside of the Dota Pro Circuit. ESL One Hamburg is already a huge success with some quality Dota 2 on live display.