After a heated Closed Qualifiers, the list of attendees for ESL One Fall 2021: Bootcamp Edition has been finalized! Who will walk away with the lion’s share of $400,000?
While the global pandemic has made inter-region competition nigh obsolete, this preparation period before TI10 has presented a unique circumstance. With the TI-invited teams coming together for their respective bootcamps, it looks like fans will get an early taste of the regions battling it out. ESL had announced the ESL One Fall 2021 Bootcamp Edition in July, with the tournament set for August 21st-29th. Just like the summer edition, the event will feature 12 teams competing for a total prize pool of $400,000.
The Final 12 of ESL One Fall Bootcamp Edition
With the Closed Qualifiers concluding just yesterday, the list of invited teams for ESL One Fall 2021 have been finalized. Featuring five out of the six regions, this event looks to be a spectacle
The Returning Top 3
It's no surprise that the Top 3 from ESL One Summer are all back again, in T1, Virtus.Pro and Alliance. As the dust settled, it was T1 that claimed the title in emphatic fashion over VP. The sole SEA representatives will be looking to repeat their success in ESL One Fall as well.
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As for VP and Alliance, despite solid performances in the regional leagues, they've yet to show up when it counts - at the Majors. All eyes will be on them to prove themselves in this last gauntlet before TI10.
The South Americans Show Up To Play
Joining their ranks are the 3 TI-qualified teams from South America, in Beastcoast, Thunder Predator and SG Esports. These three teams are all ones to watch, each for a different reason. For Beastcoast, the perennial kings of SA have had a lackluster season overall. ESL One Fall 2021, and the ensuing TI will answer the question fans have been asking for a while now: Is Beastcoast's reign really over?
As for Thunder Predator, the fiery squad has yet to make a splash apart from their phenomenal Singapore Major run. It's been almost 4 months since then, and the TP boys will be hungry to fight.
SG Esports are the wildcard of the wildcards. SA Dota is already unpredictable on it's own. On top of that factor, SG have yet to make an appearance outside of SA this whole season. Yet, they have put up strong showings against both of their regional counterparts. Any team underestimating them will be in for a shock.
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Rounding Out the List
ESL One Fall 2021 will see the return of summer participants Team Liquid, Tundra and PSG.LGD as well. Liquid and Tundra unfortunately did not make qualification for TI10, but are no doubt strong contenders in their own right. Representing China is PSG.LGD, who need no introduction. The AniMajor champions seem to be on a roll, and in their TI6 Wings form. The last of the invited teams is Team Spirit, who had pulled out of ESL One Summer to prep for the Major. The young guns of CIS have been on fire this season, and will be looking to gather momentum going into their first TI.
Finally, from the Closed Qualifiers are Team Empire and the untested Creepwave. Don't be mistaken though, these teams are not to be taken lightly. Empire is led by the veteran Ivan "Vanskor" Skorokhod, while Creepwave is stacked with pubstars. While most of the Creepwave roster might be relatively unknown, Remco "Crystallis" Arets is a standout name, having been Rank 1 multiple times in EU.
ESL One Fall 2021 Bootcamp Edition Format
Unlike it's predecessor, ESL One Fall 2021 Bootcamp edition will feature two stages. The Group Stage will see the twelve aforementioned teams split into two groups of six. These teams will face off in a single round robin bout, in best-of-two matches. The Top 2 teams from each group will advance to the Upper Bracket of the Playoffs, while the third and fourth will start in the Lower Bracket. The bottom two of each group will be eliminated. The Group Stage will take place from August 21st to 24th.
As for the Playoffs stage, the format will be a double-elimination bracket, with best-of-threes instead. This stage will take place from August 26th - August 29th, where a champion will be crowned in a best-of-five Grand Finals.
The stage is set, and the teams are in - and ESL One Fall 2021 Bootcamp Edition is going to be hype. Notably, this event will likely be the first event on the new patch as well. All in all, ESL One Fall will be a TI preview of sorts, and not one to miss if you're a fan of Dota 2.
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