Western European teams competing in the closed qualifiers get one slot to ESL One Kuala Lumpur after Team Spirit withdraw from the tournament.
Team Spirit were one of the only four teams that received a direct invite to the upcoming ESL One Kuala Lumpur event. The tournament organizers gave a free pass to the top 4 placed teams at The International 2023, but as the event is set to begin rather soon after the pinnacle Dota 2 event, not everyone is ready to compete.
Unfortunately, the TI12 champions cited health concerns upon declining the invite.
“After returning from the US, several of our players need to have a medical examination, which may be followed by treatment,” said Team Spirit.
With Team Spirit forfeiting their spot, Western Europe might head to the $1,000,000 tournament with three teams. Gaimin Gladiators, runners-up at TI12 are also directly invited and two more WEU teams are bound to make their way to Kuala Lumpur via regional closed qualifiers, per ESL One’s announcement. Along with WEU, EEU has also received two qualifer slots while the rest of the regions have one slot.
ESL One Kuala Lumpur directly invited teams
Gaimin Gladiators
LGD Gaming
Azure Ray
ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 qualifiers
- 7 regions: NA, SA, WEU, EEU, MENA, China, SEA
- 8 regional qualifiers winners, slot allocations TBA
Open and closed qualifiers
- Open qualifiers #1: Nov 12-13
- Open qualifier #2: Nov 14-15
- Closed qualifier: Nov 16-18
ESL One Kuala Lumpur December 11-17,2023
- 12 teams
Group Stage
- Two single round-robin groups of six teams each
- All matches are Bo2
- Top two teams from each group advance to upper bracket of playoffs
- 3rd to 4th place teams from each group advance to lower bracket of playoffs
- Remaining teams are eliminated
Playoffs
- Double-elimination bracket
- All matches except Grand Final are Bo3
- Grand Final is Bo5
The main event will unfold November 15-17 at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre with a live audience. Tickets for the main event went on sale on September 21 with Premium and Plus ticket bundles being already sold out. Those interested in attending the event in person can still purchase daily tickets or a three-day Regular bundle HERE.
