Valve’s Dota 2 has seen major success in recent years as an eSport. With the ongoing International raising Dota 2‘s competitive Twitch views significantly in August, it’s clear the gaming community is interested in seeing more of the game’s eSports scene. Today, Valve is accommodating that request: The Boston Major is coming Dec 7th in Boston.
Presented by PGL and held at Wang Theatre in Boston, Valve notes that 16 teams will “battle through a single-elimination playoff bracket in best-of-three matches, with a best-of-five Grand Finals to determine the winner of the $3,000,000 prize pool.” Beforehand, there will be Open Qualifiers from Oct 23rd to the 26th, Regional Qualifiers from the 27th to the 30th and Group Stage play for seeding on Dec 3rd and 4th. Tickets for the Major will open up Oct 14th.
Introducing a major eSports event on the US East Coast is a smart move for Valve. The International, which currently runs during the middle of the summer, traditionally takes place in Seattle. While the event is a major annual eSports showing during the year, its location on the West Coast makes travel difficult for North American fans living closer to the Atlantic than the Pacific. A Boston Major promises an enjoyable (and much more affordable, travel-wise) alternative for the other half of the continent.
The four month gap between the International and the Boston Major is interesting as well. That leaves Valve with another four month period between events to host a third tournament: Perhaps in Last Vegas, New York City or even Toronto? One can only speculate.
Pricing has yet to be announced for the Main Event, but expect more news to drop in the coming months ahead. Until then, it would be a good idea to start practicing: The Boston Major is approaching fast, with only two months to go!
