The 1win Essence III, an online Dota 2 tournament featuring a $200,000 prize pool, begins on Thursday, November 12, and runs through November 18. The competition features 12 teams divided into four groups. The group stage takes place from November 12–14, followed by the double-elimination playoffs from November 15–18.
According to Dot Esports, three-time The International champions Team Spirit are the tournament's leading favorites. The team defeated PARI Universe two weeks earlier, while GamerLegion, which finished third at that event, is also considered a title contender. Team Liquid enter as the defending Essence champions, while PARIVISION, winners of the inaugural edition, are also competing. Team Yandex will not participate.
Which teams are in the 1win Essence III groups?
The 12 participating teams are split into four groups of three. Eight teams received direct invitations, while four qualified through the play-in stage.
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | DO KONCA, PARIVISION, Yellow Submarine |
| B | Aurora Gaming, GamerLegion, CyberHero |
| C | LGD Gaming, Team Liquid, LEGION |
| D | 1w Team, Team Spirit, Froglings |
CyberHero, LEGION, Froglings and Yellow Submarine secured their places through the play-in stage. The remaining teams received direct invitations.
What is the 1win Essence III group stage schedule?
The following schedule is listed in Brasília time (BRT, UTC-3), converted from the original CET and ET times. All matches are best-of-three (BO3).
Thursday, November 12
- 10:00 AM: GamerLegion vs. Aurora Gaming
- 1:00 PM: PARIVISION vs. DO KONCA
- 4:00 PM: Team Spirit vs. 1w Team
Friday, November 13
- 7:00 AM: GamerLegion vs. CyberHero
- 10:00 AM: PARIVISION vs. Yellow Submarine
- 1:00 PM: LGD Gaming vs. Team Liquid
- 4:00 PM: Team Spirit vs. Froglings
Saturday, November 14
- 6:00 AM: LGD Gaming vs. LEGION
- 8:30 AM: DO KONCA vs. Yellow Submarine
- 11:00 AM: Team Liquid vs. LEGION
- 2:00 PM: Aurora Gaming vs. CyberHero
- 5:00 PM: 1w Team vs. Froglings
How does the 1win Essence III tournament format work?
The group stage follows a single round-robin format, with every team playing the other teams in its group once. The top two teams from each group advance to the playoffs, while the third-place teams are eliminated.
The playoffs use a double-elimination bracket. Matches are best-of-three, with the grand final played as a best-of-five (BO5).
What is the 1win Essence III prize pool?
The tournament features a total prize pool of $200,000, with prize money awarded to the top eight teams.
- 1st place: $100,000
- 2nd place: $50,000
- 3rd place: $22,500
- 4th place: $12,500
- 5th–6th place: $5,000 each
- 7th–8th place: $2,500 each
- 9th–12th place: No prize money
Where can you watch 1win Essence III live?
All matches are broadcast live on the official 1win Essence Twitch channel. The tournament is played entirely online, with the group stage scheduled for November 12–14.
Who do you think will win the title: Team Spirit or another contender? Share your prediction in the comments and send this article to fellow Dota 2 fans.