After a decade-long absence, ESL One returns to the United States with a landmark Dota 2 event in Raleigh, North Carolina. ESL One Raleigh 2025 marks a major milestone for the ESL Pro Tour, bringing top-tier international competition, regional rivalries, and a dramatic prelude to the Esports World Cup 2025.
With a $1,000,000 prize pool, global representation, and controversy already in the books, this is more than just another tournament—it’s a key battleground in Dota’s evolving 2025 narrative.
Format, Schedule, and What’s at Stake
Tournament Format
The event is structured in two phases:
Group Stage (April 7–9, 2025)
- Two single round-robin groups of six teams
- All matches are best-of-two (Bo2)
- Top 2 teams from each group advance to the upper bracket of playoffs
- 3rd–4th place move to the lower bracket
- Bottom 2 teams are eliminated
Playoffs (April 10–13, 2025)
- Double-elimination bracket
- All matches Bo3, except Grand Final (Bo5)
- Final three days will be played in front of a live audience in Raleigh
Prize Pool & EPT Points
- Total: $1,000,000 USD
- $750,000 asPlayer Prize Money
- $250,000 as Club Rewards
- 27,920 EPT Points up for grabs, impacting World Cup qualification
| Placement | Prize | EPT Points | Club Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250,000 | 6,400 | $40,000 |
| 2nd | $130,000 | 4,800 | $35,000 |
| 3rd | $100,000 | 4,000 | $27,500 |
| 4th | $70,000 | 3,200 | $22,500 |
Invited Teams and Regional Breakdown
EPT Leaderboard Invites
- PARIVISION (Russia, Ukraine)
- BetBoom Team (Russia, Moldova)
- Team Falcons (EU, Middle East)
- Team Liquid (Sweden, Canada, Czechia)
Regional Qualifiers
- Western Europe: Tundra Esports, AVULUS
- Eastern Europe: Team Spirit
- MESWA: Nigma Galaxy
- China: Team Tidebound
- Southeast Asia: Talon Esports
- North America: Shopify Rebellion
- South America: HEROIC
Notably, Tundra Esports’ Crystallis replaced dyrachyo, who stepped down post-Wallachia S3. Shopify brought in Pakazs after parting ways with mangekyou.
Controversy: The Smoke of Deceit Exploit
No tournament preview would be complete without acknowledging the exploit scandal that marred the qualifiers.
During the Western Europe qualifier, NAVI Junior defeated AVULUS to secure a Raleigh spot. But after accusations surfaced that NAVI’s Riddys exploited a Smoke of Deceit bug to track enemy movement and item usage, ESL launched an investigation.
They concluded:
- NAVI Junior was disqualified, and AVULUS was awarded the Raleigh slot.
- Other teams were sanctioned based on exploit frequency.
This situation prompted ESL to publicly ban the exploit, and tighten match protest policies going forward.
Groups, Schedule & Must-Watch Matches
Group A Teams
- PARIVISION
- Nigma Galaxy
- Team Spirit
- Talon Esports
- Shopify Rebellion
- Team Liquid
Group B Teams
- BetBoom Team
- Tundra Esports
- HEROIC
- Team Falcons
- AVULUS
- Team Tidebound
Highlighted Matches (April 7–9):
- Team Spirit vs. Team Liquid (April 7)
- Talon vs. Shopify Rebellion (April 8)
- BetBoom vs. Tundra Esports (April 8)
- PARIVISION vs. Nigma Galaxy (April 9)
Fans can expect cross-regional clashes, grudge matches, and high stakes from day one.
ESL One Raleigh 2025 is more than just a return to American soil—it’s a proving ground for teams fighting for their World Cup fate. With controversy behind us, attention turns to epic group stage battles, HEROIC lower bracket runs, and the roar of the Raleigh crowd.
Get ready: The path to the Aegis runs through North Carolina.
FAQs
Q: When is ESL One Raleigh 2025?
A: April 7–13, 2025. Group Stage runs April 7–9; Playoffs run April 10–13.
Q: Where is the event held?
A: Raleigh Convention Center, North Carolina, USA.
Q: What’s the format?
A: Two round-robin groups (Bo2), followed by double-elim playoffs (Bo3/Bo5).
Q: What’s at stake?
A: $1 million in prize money, 27,920 EPT points, and World Cup qualification stakes.
Q: Why was NAVI Junior disqualified?
A: For abusing a Smoke of Deceit exploit. ESL confirmed rule violations and reassigned their qualifier slot.
Q: Will the event have a live audience?
A: Yes—the final three playoff days will be played live in front of fans.
