From 19 May to 1 June , the prestigious Tier 1 Dota 2 tournament was held online, boasting a solid prize pool of US$1 million. It was also the last ESL event before the start of the 2025 Esports World Cup, offering teams a final opportunity to earn crucial EPT points needed for qualification. Here’s a breakdown of the tournament’s key events in the 1xBet esports review.
DreamLeague Season 26 format
The event was organized by leading tournament operator ESL with support from the international betting brand 1xBet.
DreamLeague Season 26 welcomed 16 participants: four invited based on the EPT Leaderboard rankings, 10 earned their spots through regional qualifiers and two advanced as the ACL X ESL Challenger China finalists.
Team Spirit and Tundra Esports declined to take part and were replaced by Team Liquid and NAVI Junior, respectively. This resulted in the following team lineup:
- EPT Leaderboard: PARIVISION, BetBoom Team, Team Falcons, Team Liquid
- Europe: NAVI Junior, Gaimin Gladiators, AVULUS, Aurora Gaming
- Asia: BOOM Esports, Talon Esports, Nigma Galaxy, Xtreme Gaming, Yakult Brothers
- America: Shopify Rebellion, OG.LATAM, Edge
The tournament had three stages. In the first, all participants were divided into two groups of eight, with each team playing a single match against every other in its group. The top four progressed, while the bottom four were eliminated.
The second group stage used the same structure: the best four in each group moved on to the playoffs, and the others were knocked out. The top two began the playoffs in the upper bracket, while the third- and fourth-placed contenders started from the lower bracket. The champion was determined in the grand final, played in a Bo5 format.
DreamLeague Season 26 Results
The first group stage saw its biggest upset with the elimination of Team Falcons. Despite qualifying via the elite EPT Leaderboard quota, they posted a lackluster 2-3-2 result and exited DreamLeague Season 26 with just $30,000 in prize money and 500 EPT points. In Group A, the top performers were, as expected, Aurora Gaming, Nigma Galaxy, BetBoom Team, and Team Liquid. Group B saw PARIVISION, Yakult Brothers, Talon Esports, and Gaimin Gladiators advance. Notably, only two teams emerged from this stage unbeaten: Aurora Gaming (3-4-0) and PARIVISION (5-2-0).
The second group stage turned into a showcase for one dominant force: PARIVISION. The roster, assembled at the end of 2024 and bolstered this season by 17-year-old talent Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov, delivered a sensational performance. PARIVISION finished the stage with a flawless 7-0 record. BetBoom Team and Talon Esports followed with identical 5-2 results, while Aurora Gaming completed the list of finalists with a 3-4 score.
The playoffs confirmed this competitive hierarchy. Talon Esports swept Aurora Gaming, while PARIVISION convincingly defeated BetBoom, who redeemed themselves in the very next match with a 2-1 victory over Talon Esports, but the grand final confirmed the pecking order.
After triumphs at ESL One Bangkok 2024 and ESL One Raleigh 2025, PARIVISION secured yet another victory at DreamLeague Season 26 with little difficulty, defeating BetBoom in the grand final 3-0. This marked their third win out of five events in ESL Pro Tour Season 3, equaling Team Falcons’ record from Season 2. Meanwhile, BetBoom solidified their status as the tour’s perennial runner-up. Over the past three seasons, they have reached five grand finals but have yet to claim a single title.
Playoff participants distributed the prizes as follows:
- 1st place – PARIVISION: $250,000 Prize Money + $40,000 Club Reward + 7,200 EPT Points
- 2nd place – BetBoom Team: $100,000 Prize Money + $30,000 Club Reward + 5,150 EPT Points
- 3rd place – Talon Esports: $80,000 Prize Money + $25,000 Club Reward + 4,150 EPT Points
- 4th place – Aurora Gaming: $60,000 Prize Money + $20,000 Club Reward + 3,800 EPT Points
For Aurora Gaming, whose title sponsor is the 1xBet brand, the 3,800 EPT Points earned at the tournament were the first in ESL Pro Tour Season 3, but they were enough to secure qualification for the Esports World Cup 2025, taking the final eighth spot on the EPT Leaderboard. Be reminded that this large-scale esports festival will be held in Riyadh, and the Dota 2 tournament alone, from 8 to 19 July, will feature a prize pool of US$3 million!
With a total prize pool of US$70 million, the Esports World Cup 2025 promises a high-stakes summer, not only for professional players but also for fans, betting enthusiasts and anyone eager to earn in this dynamic industry. One of the most effective ways to do so is by joining the 1xPartners affiliate program. With over nine years of global success, it offers lifetime commissions of up to 50% for referred players, more than 250 payment methods, and exclusive benefits for VIP partners. Join over 300,000 participants worldwide and tap into unique opportunities for maximum earnings in sports and esports.
