The ESL Pro Tour Leaderboard is now the official reference point for the Dota 2 competitive scene. This leaderboard replaced the previous Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) Leaderboard that Valve used to rank teams.
Even though the EPT Leaderboard is not explicitly declared as Valve’s official leaderboard, it is considered trustworthy due to the numerous major tournaments covered by ESL Pro Tour in the current season.
Dota 2 Leaderboard (Image credit: ESL)
How does the EPT Leaderboard function as a Dota 2 ranking system?
The EPT Leaderboard displays the scores of teams based on their performance in ESL-covered tournaments. This season, it includes events like DreamLeague S21-23, ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, and ESL One Birmingham 2024.
Different tournaments have varied point distributions for each placement. For example, winning ESL One Birmingham 2024 awarded 6400 points, compared to 4200 points at DreamLeague S22. Similar to previous Dota 2 leaderboards, there are rules for points deduction for teams that make player changes outside specified windows or have multiple player movements.
Top eight teams on the Dota 2 Leaderboard
As the EPT 2024 season concludes at DreamLeague S23, the top eight teams on ESL’s Dota 2 Leaderboard receive direct invites to Riyadh Masters 2024.
The current rankings are as follows:
ESL Pro Tour Dota 2 Leaderboard (Image credit: ESL)
Team Falcons
Leading the pack is Team Falcons from the Middle Eastern and Africa (MENA) region. Despite being newcomers in competitive Dota 2, they have a roster of experienced players, including TI11 champions like Oliver “skiter” Lepko and Jingjun “Sneyking” Wu, along with talented players like Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen, Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, and Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak. With three consecutive tournament wins, Team Falcons stands as the strongest team on the Dota 2 leaderboard.
BetBoom Team
Close behind is BetBoom Team from Eastern Europe, led by former TI Champ Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek. This team poses a strong challenge to Team Falcons.
Gaimin Gladiators
Despite a shaky start, Gaimin Gladiators regained momentum at DreamLeague S23, securing a third-place finish.
Xtreme Gaming
At fourth place is Xtreme Gaming, the Chinese representative on ESL’s Dota 2 Leaderboard. Though not in the top tier, they have proven to be formidable opponents, even defeating Falcons in other tournaments like Elite League 2024.
Bottom Half on the Dota 2 Leaderboard
In the bottom half are Tundra Esports and Team Liquid, both displaying decent performances. Team OG, joining late in the EPT season, clinched a significant victory at ESL One Birmingham 2024, earning themselves seventh place.
At the bottom is Team Spirit, a two-time TI Champion. Despite lackluster results this season, they managed to secure the eighth and final spot for Riyadh Masters 2024.
Is the EPT Leaderboard the premier Dota 2 ranking system?
ESL has played a vital role in Dota 2 Esports by stepping up after Valve’s discontinuation of the DPC. The ESL Pro Tour includes well-organized tournaments with high production quality and intense Dota 2 action.
One area for improvement could be the EPT’s point distribution, which heavily favors top placements. This has caused a significant point disparity at the eighth position, which has historically been fiercely contested.
Riyadh Masters 2024 (Image credit: Esports World Cup)
Impact of EPT Dota 2 Leaderboard on TI13 invites
Although not officially stated, the EPT Leaderboard indirectly serves as a reliable indicator of the top contenders for the 2024 season. Therefore, Valve likely consulted the EPT Leaderboard when deciding the direct invites for The International 2024, which include Team Falcons, BetBoom Team, Gaimin Gladiators, Xtreme Gaming, Team Liquid, and Team Spirit.
