ESL, an ESL FACEIT Group brand, announced the return of ESL One powered by Intel® to Malaysia, this December 11-17. The world-class Dota 2 tournament will feature 12 of the best Dota 2 teams from around the globe, competing for a prize pool of US$1,000,000 (over 4.6M Ringgit Malaysia). After three previous iterations of ESL One powered by Intel® hosted in Genting, this year’s tournament will take place in Kuala Lumpur, with playoffs matches on December 15-17 live at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
Format
ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 will begin with a three-day Group Stage, taking place from December 11-13 and consisting of two groups of six teams competing in a single round-robin format. The top six teams from the Group Stage will proceed to the live Playoffs which will take place across December 15-17, and feature a double elimination format. Stay tuned as the competing teams will be announced at a later date.
“We know Dota fans across South-East Asia have been eagerly waiting for the return of ESL One for over a year now. This December, we’re bringing back ESL One, bigger & more accessible than ever before, as we move the tournament from Genting to Kuala Lumpur for the first time,” said Shane Clarke, Director, Game Ecosystems – Dota 2 at ESL FACEIT Group. “We’re ready to put on a world-class tournament at MITEC, and look forward to return to the region soon with more incredible live Dota 2 action and experiences.”
Tickets
Wave 1 tickets to ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 will go on sale on September 21 at 15:00 MYT (09:00 CEST), with prices starting from RM149. Full details can be found below:
| Ticket Type | Price | Inclusions |
| Premium 3-Day | RM549 | -Access to all Playoffs matches on December 15, 16 & 17 -Premium Bounty Bag -Seating in the front of the infield, closest to the players -Access to Signing Sessions -Premium attendee badge |
| Plus 3-Day | RM349 | -Access to all Playoffs matches on December 15, 16 & 17 -Bounty Bag -Access to Signing Sessions |
| 3-Day General Admission | RM149 | -Access to all Playoffs matches on December 15, 16 & 17 -Access to Signing Sessions |
To purchase tickets, fans can visit esl.gg/eslonemytickets.
Rise Above Fate
Throughout all stages of the tournament, fans can expect to see artwork and references inspired by the tournament’s new theme: Rise Above Fate. Carolin Linden, Senior Marketing Creative at ESL FACEIT Group, had this to say about the new approach:
“Our theme draws inspiration from Kuala Lumpur’s mystic charm and rich folklore, inviting players and fans alike on a transformative journey. A journey led by none other than Nerif, the Oracle and great foreseer. His prophecies don’t merely predict the future – they shape it. As courses collide in the grand battle for the crown, we’ll have to wait and see if fate is something to be conquered. Knowing Oracle … it could go either way.”
ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 will be broadcast live on the ESL Dota 2 Twitch and YouTube channels, and via dedicated broadcast partners. For more information, head to the official website, and follow ESL Dota 2 on X (Twitter), Instagram, or Facebook.
