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Last year, Valve announced significant changes to the Major Championship circuit. Alongside Major events, which would receive a $500,000 sponsorship package from Valve, the company would also sponsor smaller events called Minors. These would receive $150,000 in sponsorship.
The new system works like this: Teams play in these events throughout the Dota 2 season to earn Circuit Points. There are 1,500 Circuit Points up for grabs in the Major events and 300 Circuit Points in the Minors, and these points form the basis for qualification for The International 2018.
Since the end of The International 2017 and the start of the new qualifying season in October, teams have competed in the first four circuit events. Three Minors and one Major — the SL i-League Invitational Season 3, the PGL Open Bucharest, the AMD Sapphire Dota PIT League, and the ESL One Hamburg 2017 (the one Major)— are in the books.
The next Minor on the docket is the Perfect World Masters, which got underway in Shanghai on Nov. 19. It features 10 teams fighting for a share of the $300,000 prize pool and 300 Pro Circuit Points.
Who is competing?
The tournament features the following 10 teams:
- Newbee
- Forever Young
- Team Secret
- LGD Gaming
- Vici Gaming
- compLexity Gaming
- SG e-sports
- Team Kinguin
- Vega Squadron
- Mineski
The group stage has already been completed, and the two completed tables stand as follows:
Group A
| Pos | Team Name | W-D-L | Pts |
| 1 | Vici Gaming | 3-0-1 | 9 |
| 2 | LGD.Forever Yng | 2-2-0 | 8 |
| 3 | compLexity Gaming | 1-1-2 | 4 |
| 4 | Vega Squadron | 1-1-2 | 4 |
| 5 | SG e-sports | 0-2-2 | 2 |
Group B
| Pos | Team Name | Record | Pts |
| 1 | Team Kinguin | 1-3-0 | 6 |
| 2 | Team Secret | 1-2-1 | 5 |
| 3 | Newbee | 1-2-1 | 5 |
| 4 | Mineski | 1-2-1 | 5 |
| 5 | LGD Gaming | 0-3-1 | 3 |
Both SG e-sports and LGD Gaming have been eliminated. The remaining eight teams progress into the quarterfinals.
This is a double-bracket elimination event, which means if a team loses in the quarterfinals, semifinals or winners final, it gets a second chance to progress by dropping into the losers bracket.
This week’s betting picks up here. Betway is offering a chance to bet on each of the playoff matches until the grand final on Nov. 26.
The lineup for quarterfinal games is as follows:
- Match 1 – Team Secret vs. compLexity Gaming
- Match 2 – Vici Gaming vs. Mineski
- Match 3 – LGD.Forever Young vs. Newbee
- Match 4 – Team Kinguin vs. Vega Squadron
The winners of the first and second matches face off in the semifinals, with the winners of Matches Three and Four doing likewise. The losers of the quarterfinal matches drop into the losers bracket.
Betway is currently offering the following odds:
- Team Secret 1/2 vs. CompLexity Gaming 7/5
- Vici Gaming 9/20 vs. Mineski 31/20
- LGD Forever Young 17/20 vs. Newbee 4/5
- Team Kinguin 9/20 vs. Vega Squadron 31/20
Current Dota Pro Circuit standings
After the four events so far in the 2017 Dota Pro Circuit, the standings are as follows:
| Team Name | Pts |
| Virtus.pro | 2295 |
| Team Secret | 1440 |
| Team Liquid | 1350 |
| Mineski | 720 |
| Newbee | 585 |
| Vici Gaming | 270 |
| LGD Gaming | 202.5 |
| complexity Gaming | 90 |
| Evil Geniuses | 90 |
| Immortals | 90 |
Although it looks like Virtus.pro have an unassailable lead, only 11.5 percent of the points available have been awarded. There is plenty of chance for any team, even those without any points at present, to earn a place at The International 2018 over the coming months.
The World Electronic Sports Games in Barcelona
Starting Nov. 23 in the beautiful city of Barcelona, the World Electronic Sports Games Europe Finals begin with a total prize pool of $92,500 available. This event offers the top CS:GO teams from across Europe a chance to battle for the title of the continent’s best.
Over the past few months a total of 20 teams have earned the right to compete. It all begins with a group stage and four sections of five teams.
All set for initial best-of-one matches, the groups have been drawn as follows:
- A – GODSENT, Team Ukraine, North Academy, NOREG, Team Endpoint
- B – BIG, QB.Fire, Space Soldiers, Nemiga, Wololos
- C – Team EnVyUs, Virtus.pro, Team Russia, Team Belgium, GameAgents
- D – AGO Gaming, Fragsters, Fnatic, Limitless Addict, Resistance
In addition to a share of the prize money (which is only allocated to the top eight teams), the top 12 ranked teams at the event qualify for a spot at the WESG Global Finals in March.
Here again, Betway boasts a heap of action starting Nov. 23. Currently, the bookmaker has the more established CS:GO teams — Fnatic (4/1), Team EnVyUs (5/1), and Virtus.pro (5/1) — as the main favorites for the event.
Other notable prices include AGO at 11/2, Big at 6/1, Team Ukraine at 7/1, Space Soldiers at 8/1, and Team Russia at 14/1. Outside of these teams, everyone else is a 20/1 or longer shot.
