Everything you need to know as The International stars clash at the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022, starting March 2nd

The broadcast begins on Wednesday at  09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Dubai Time, with the first group matches between Fnatic and Team Spirit, as well as TSM FTX versus Tundra Esports.

Hosted by Galaxy Racer, the largest esports, gaming and lifestyle organization in the world, the tournament stands as the MENA region’s biggest ever Dota 2 competition.

Here is all you need to know about GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022:

Ten of the world’s best Dota 2 teams will be battling it out in an epic LAN Invitational Event in Dubai. The GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 will play host to TI10 winners Team Spirit and back-to-back TI champions OG, as well as ESL One Fall 2021 winners Tundra Esports and powerhouse teams TSM and Fnatic.

Taking place from March 2nd, the best Dota 2 teams from around the world will descend on Dubai Studio City to compete for an AED 1,000,000 prize pool over four intense days. This is the first high-tier Dota 2 tournament to be held in the region this year, and the biggest of its kind in the MENA region, as Dubai continues to grow and thrive as a destination for prestigious esports events.

The competition will kick-off with spectacular opening match-ups in the ground round, including between Fnatic and Team Spirit, OG versus Team Secret and home team Nigma Galaxy taking on Tundra Esports. All five days will be broadcast directly from Dubai Studio City, and live on YouTube and Twitch.

Making the competition even more of a spectacle, Dota 2 star Sheever will be leading a lineup of talented broadcast pros bringing the GAMERS GALAXY experience to life throughout the Invitational Series, including two-time TI Champion N0Tail.

Where to watch:

The LAN competition will be played behind closed doors to ensure a safe environment for competitors, but broadcast live from Studio City Dubai on YouTube and Twitch. Galaxy Racer has also arranged a variety of ‘pubstomp’ viewing parties across Dubai’s best gaming venues. Pubstomps at popular Gaming Cafes including Que Club, Rails Billiards, Geek Station Abu Dhabi, DZZRT ESPORTS, Last Resort Gaming Cafe  as well Dubai Media City Courtyard.

Format

With ten teams in total, the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 will see two groups of five teams compete in a group stage best of one round-robin. The top two teams from each group will proceed to the upper-bracket playoffs’ semifinals. Third and fourth placings of each group will proceed to a best of three play-in and the winners will proceed to the lower-bracket of the playoffs.
Only a total of six teams will advance to the playoffs best of three double-elimination brackets. The grand finals will see the top two teams battle out in a best of five series. The format allows teams to have multiple opportunities to secure a spot in the final, while fans at home will have the chances to witness potential upsets and miracle bracket runs.
Gameplay Patch 7.31 – one of the most long-awaited updates to the game – has now gone live bringing sweeping changes to the game, making the Invitational Series the first major tournament played with the new gameplay patch. One of the biggest patches in recent memory, the update will offer an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament as players and teams tackle the new meta.

Schedule

• Wednesday March 2nd – Group Stage: Broadcast – from 09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Local Time
• Thursday March 3nd – Group Stage, Tiebreakers and Play-In – Broadcast – from 09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Local Time
• Friday March 4th – Playoffs: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time
• Saturday March 5th – Semi-Finals: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time
• Sunday March 6th – Grand Finals: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time

Teams

• Nigma Galaxy
• Fnatic
• Team Spirit
• Virtus.pro
• Team Secret
• Nigma Galaxy SEA
• OG
• Tundra Esports
• TSM FTX
• BOOM Esports