Asia’s newest multi-title esports showcase will launch this week as the inaugural Hero Esports Asian Champions League Dota 2 Season Finals opens May 1 at the Jixi Showroom in Shanghai. The three-day, double-elimination event reunites top Chinese squads for their first offline contest of the year, with matchups drawn to pit four invited powerhouses against four qualifying underdogs.

The eight-team field includes direct invites Team Tidebound, Xtreme Gaming, Yaku1t Brothers and Fate’s Edge, alongside Tolight, Tearlaments, Excel Esports and Future Gaming, who advanced through regional play-ins. The top two finishers will earn berths at DreamLeague Season 26, while the leading four will move on to the ACL Grand Finals May 16 at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center, staged in partnership with DreamHack. The ultimate winner there secures a spot at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh.

Hero Esports has pooled nearly $2 million across nine titles for the ACL, which also features Counter-Strike 2, Honor of Kings, Street Fighter 6, League of Legends Legend Cup S3, Teamfight Tactics, the VALORANT Champions Tour, Delta Force and CrossFire. By bringing together established organizations and rising contenders, the league aims to highlight Asia’s depth of talent and competitive spirit on a global stage.

Complementing the matches, a variety show called Fun Sights will blend expert analysis with interactive challenges, streaming live across multiple platforms to broaden fan engagement. Organizers intend the spin-off content to offer a fresh angle on tournament action and spotlight emerging personalities in the scene.

Founded in 2016, Hero Esports now commands a network of 12 offices and eight dedicated arenas, producing more than 7,000 matches annually for an audience exceeding 800 million. The company has previously overseen high-profile events including Olympic Esports Week and esports competitions at both the 2018 Jakarta and 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. With the ACL Season Finals set to unfold this weekend, Asia’s esports community will see its newest marquee event take shape.