Dota 2 Berlin Major dates announced for 2023 DPC

The Dota 2 Berlin Major has finally been announced by ESL, and here’s all the juicy info. 

A major is a time of celebration for Dota 2 esports fans, with teams from all over the world meeting just three times a year before The International. Valve has already revealed the major cities for the 2023 Dota Pro Circuit, but details on anything past the Lima major have been scarce. That changes now with new press releases from ESL confirming the dates for the Dota 2 Berlin Major.

Berlin Major dates set for April and May 2023

The Dota 2 Berlin Major will run from April 26 to May 7, 2023.

The event will feature 18 teams from across Dota 2’s six competitive regions fighting for their share of $500,000. The venue of the Berlin Major will be the Velodrome concert hall in Berlin, Germany. The tournament will use a very similar format to the Lima Major, which means round-robin pools of nine teams ending in a double-elimination playoffs bracket.

When will tickets for the Berlin Major go on sale?

Tickets for Berlin Major will go on sale on February 8, 2023, at 3 pm CET.

Tickets for the second DPC major of 2023 are being sold at the official ESL One Berlin website. ESL is only hosting an audience for the playoffs, which will take place on May 5, 6, and 7. Current early bird pricing is 49€ for basic access to the show, but there are two premium levels that include seats closer to the stage and even unlimited beer. More batches of tickets will become available closer to the event, but the early bird pricing is subject to rise at any time.

The Berlin Major may decide which teams go to TI 2023

In addition to being a major in the heart of the strongest region, the Berlin Major will also play a very important role in determining which teams attend The International 2023. 

Dota Pro Circuit point distribution is heavily biased toward international events, with major performance being the most important factor for determining the teams at The International. With 18 teams per major, those points are spread very thin at the bottom placements. Most teams have to attend at least two international events to secure a trip to TI. As the second major of the year, Berlin is the first opportunity for teams to lock themselves in.

In addition to giving Lima Major performers a very good chance to secure TI tickets, the Berlin Major is also the jumping point for teams that perform poorly in Lima or fail to qualify through their regional tours. The event will also almost assuredly take place on patch 7.33, giving Dota 2 fans a look at how different regions interpreted the patch. All the suspense will finally dissipate when the Berlin Major concludes on May 7, 2023.