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The Dota 2 esports scene underwent some massive changes in 2024, and it was a year filled with exciting tournaments, unforgettable moments, and surprising outcomes. Valve shook things up by dropping the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) format, shifting the focus to third-party events. But how did this impact the viewership and success of Dota 2 tournaments this year? Let’s dive in and explore the biggest tournaments, their viewership, and the rise of new events that captivated fans worldwide.
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The Shifting Landscape of Dota 2 in 2024
In 2024, Dota 2 saw its biggest shift in years as Valve moved away from the traditional DPC format. This new (or rather, old) system meant teams no longer had to grind through months of regional DPC leagues and major tournaments to qualify for The International (TI). Instead, they earned invitations to TI by competing in third-party tournaments. This gave more room for fresh tournaments to emerge, and PGL, FISSURE, and BLAST quickly seized the opportunity by launching new, exciting series.
While the number of tournaments with prize pools exceeding $1 million skyrocketed—from six in 2023 to a whopping 13 in 2024—it’s clear that the Dota 2 esports scene is growing and flourishing. In fact, with at least 15 tournaments already planned for 2025, Dota 2 is set for an even brighter future.
Top-Tier Dota 2 Tournaments in 2024
Despite the changes, The International 2024 (TI) remained the centerpiece of the Dota 2 calendar. Even though its average viewership continued to decline for the third consecutive year, TI 2024 still secured the top spot for total hours watched and peak viewership. It’s clear that, despite the drop in prize pool and viewership, TI is still the most iconic event in Dota 2 esports.
Peak Viewership & Hours Watched:
- The International 2024 was watched for over 55 million hours, but it marked a 15.6% decrease compared to the previous year. Still, the final match between Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators drew 1,523,957 peak viewers, making it the highest viewership for a Dota 2 match in two years.
- This year’s Riyadh Masters 2024 took the crown as the highest-paying tournament, surpassing TI’s prize pool for the second year in a row. While it fell slightly short of the previous year in terms of watch time, the Riyadh Masters still delivered thrilling matches and became a standout in the scene.
DreamLeague 2024: Fan Favorite Continues to Dominate DreamLeague has become one of the most beloved tournament series in the Dota 2 community. In 2024, ESL ran three seasons, with a total prize pool of $3,000,000. DreamLeague Season 22 led the way in hours watched, and it became the most popular online tournament of the year. Team Falcons claimed the championship, making it a memorable season for fans.
BetBoom Dacha: The New Challenger 2024 also saw BetBoom Dacha rise as one of the most popular tournament series. After its debut in Armenia, FISSURE expanded the event to Dubai and Belgrade, both of which attracted over 350,000 peak viewers. With its high engagement, the BetBoom Dacha series surpassed the viewership of ESL One Birmingham, ESL One Bangkok, and all DreamLeague seasons, proving it’s a serious contender in the competitive landscape.
The Best of the New Tournament Series
While the traditional heavy-hitters continued to dominate, 2024 was also a year where new tournament series proved their worth.
PGL Wallachia quickly became a fan favorite after its debut season. It ranked second in peak viewership, only behind TI 2024, with an impressive 486,560 peak viewers during the grand final between Team Spirit and Xtreme Gaming. The success of PGL Wallachia suggests that it could become the premier tournament in Eastern Europe, especially with PGL’s plans for three events in Romania in 2025.
Elite League: A New Contender Another standout in 2024 was the launch of the Elite League. The first season was entirely online, but it quickly rose to become one of the top 5 most-watched tournaments of the year, thanks to its Russian-language broadcasts by FISSURE. However, when the second season moved to Peru, the in-person format led to a significant drop in viewership, almost halving the audience numbers.
Conclusion: A Year of Growth and Surprises
2024 was a year of transformation for the Dota 2 esports scene. While the format change might have thrown off some longtime fans, it has paved the way for a surge in third-party tournaments, with prize pools growing and fan engagement reaching new heights. Team Falcons had a spectacular year, taking home over $3.3 million in prize money, but the year wasn’t all about the top dogs—new tournaments like BetBoom Dacha and PGL Wallachia showed that the future of Dota 2 esports is looking brighter than ever.
As we look ahead to 2025, the competition is heating up, and Dota 2 esports has no signs of slowing down. With more tournaments, bigger prize pools, and ever-growing audiences, there’s no doubt that the Dota 2 community will continue to thrive. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest esports tournaments right here on Gaming Reports!
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