The HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League (ACL) announced today that the winners of its Dota 2 tournament will earn a direct berth to the Esports World Cup. The ACL, Asia’s leading multi-title esports event hosted by Hero Esports, expands its international reach with this latest development.

The tournament’s format spans three stages. An open Online Qualifier begins today and runs through March 30, where teams can register each week for a chance to claim one of four weekly titles and advance. The subsequent Season Finals are scheduled for May 1-3 and will feature four qualifying teams from the Online Qualifier alongside four invited teams, including prominent names like XG, YB and Tidebound. The Season Finals will determine four teams to progress to the Grand Finals, with the overall Season Finals champion also securing a spot at DreamLeague S26, one of Dota 2’s most prestigious leagues boasting a $1 million prize pool.

The Grand Finals are set for May 16. In this stage, the four remaining teams will compete for the championship title, a $100,000 prize and the coveted entry to the Esports World Cup.

Hero Esports, which was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Shanghai, operates more than 7,000 matches annually and reaches an online audience of over 800 million fans. The company, known for producing major tournaments including the Olympic Esports Week and various editions of the Esports World Cup, is backed by investors such as Savvy Games Group and Tencent. It also maintains strategic partnerships with platforms like Kuaishou and Huya.

The ACL tournament, part of Hero Esports’ expansive international esports portfolio, underscores the growing global influence of Asian esports and the increasing opportunities for teams to compete on the world stage.