Three-Day Festival Features 100th IEM Event, First Overwatch® Champions Series Major, ESL Impact League Finals, and Multiple Esports World Cup Qualifiers

DALLAS, TX — May 13, 2024 – ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company, and DreamHack, a leading global gaming festival, today announced a full slate of esports programming for DreamHack Dallas, taking place the weekend of May 31-June 2, 2024, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

One of DreamHack’s longest-running North American gaming festivals, DreamHack Dallas features everything gaming under one roof. From the world-famous bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) LAN party, panels, and an expo, to art, cosplay, creator meet-and-greets, and much more, DreamHack Dallas offers attendees a great variety of activities for an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, the festival will host 13 unique esports competitions – including iconic titles like Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch, StarCraft® II, and more to come – with over $1 million in total prizing.

For the first time, several DreamHack Dallas esports events – including competitions in EA SPORTS FC™ 24, Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and more – will offer aspiring competitors the chance to qualify for this summer’s debut Esports World Cup. With new pipelines to a $60 million prize pool and a global audience in Riyadh, DreamHack is offering more opportunities than ever for grassroots talent to fight their way to the world stage.

"Esports has been part of the fabric of DreamHack Dallas since the festival's inception, and we're excited once again to welcome tens of thousands of fans this summer to celebrate their favorite competitive titles," said Shahin Zarrabi, Vice President, Festivals, ESL FACEIT Group. "From the 100th IEM event to the first-ever OWCS live event and qualifiers for Esports World Cup, DreamHack is celebrating every type of gamer, from world-class competitors to the next breakout stars."

Badges for DreamHack Dallas start at $35 for a single day and $99 for three-day access, with more information available at dreamhack.com/dallas/badges.

Dallas Hosts 16 Top Counter-Strike 2 Squads for 100th IEM Event

The birthplace of North American Counter-Strike esports will invite 16 of the world’s best teams to clash in Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Dallas, the 100th IEM event. With an ESL Pro Tour (EPT) Masters trophy, $250,000 in prizing, and qualification to an EPT Championship up for grabs, fans will watch as hometown heroes challenge international hopefuls in the US’s biggest Counter-Strike event of the year.

Overwatch Luminaries Assemble for First-Ever International Live Event for OWCS

The first-ever in-person Major tournament of Blizzard Entertainment and EFG’s Overwatch Champions Series invites eight of our competitive region’s top teams for a three-day showcase of industry-class talent. Featuring a prize pool supported by crowdfunding, fans can watch the action unfold live – or at home with the official broadcast or partnered co-streams – as teams face off to be the first team to claim an international OWCS title and qualify to compete at Esports World Cup.

ESL Impact Returns to DreamHack Dallas with $123K Season Finale

ESL Impact, a global all-women Counter-Strike circuit, returns to DreamHack Dallas for the exciting conclusion of Season 5 of competition. Eight of the world’s best women’s Counter-Strike teams representing North America, Europe, South America, and Asia will face off to see who will claim the title and the lion’s share of the $123,000 prize pool.

ESL Pro Tour in StarCraft® II Makes Masters Stop at DreamHack Dallas

The EPT in StarCraft® II, the title’s premier global esports circuit, continues with the ESL SC2 Masters: Spring 2024 Finals at DreamHack Dallas. Not only will competitors battle for their share of the $100,000 prize pool, but the opportunity to qualify for StarCraft® II competition at this summer’s inaugural Esports World Cup.

EA SPORTS FC™ 24 at DreamHack Dallas Kicks off Esports World Cup Qualifications

Electronic Arts’ soccer title, EA SPORTS FC™ 24, comes to DreamHack Dallas for the first time this summer with a world-class tournament. With the top two players securing their spot at Esports World Cup this August, the competition offers up to 250 competitors their first opportunity to qualify for EWC, in addition to $100,000 USD in total prizing. For more information on qualifying for Esports World Cup at DreamHack Dallas, visit dreamhack.com/dallas/eafc.

Fighting Games take Center Stage with New DreamHack Fighters, Esports World Cup Tournaments

DreamHack’s marquee fighting game hub, DreamHack Fighters, brings six open tournaments to Dallas, including a mix of modern mainstays and FGC classics. Open to all registered attendees, competitors can face off to claim a slice of the $16,000 total prize pool. Participating titles include:

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Singles ($5,000)

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes (UNI 2) ($2,500)

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising ($2,500)

Guilty Gear Strive ($2,500)

Mortal Kombat 1 ($2,500)

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Doubles ($1,000)


For the first time, DreamHack will also host competitions in Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6, which include the chance to qualify for Esports World Cup. Both tournaments offer $50,000 in prizing each, as well as pipelines to compete on some of the titles’ biggest stages in Riyadh this summer.

More information, including daily schedules, will be revealed soon at dreamhack.com/dallas/fgc. Registration is open now at start.gg/dhdal24/.

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About ESL FACEIT Group

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is the leading esports and video game entertainment company dedicated to creating worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. EFG is built on a legacy of world-renowned brands including ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack and DreamHack Sports Games, providing innovative ecosystems for global communities of players, fans and creators around the games they love. Working alongside leading partners, brands and global IPs, EFG operates an unmatched portfolio of live events, digital platforms and developer tools that reach and engage millions of gamers worldwide. For more information visit www.eslfaceitgroup.com.

About DreamHack

DreamHack creates a world where the gaming community comes to life. The festivals, featuring everything gaming under one roof, create an arena where you can come to connect, explore, win, play a part, and be yourself through a gaming lifestyle experience. Attendees meet their favorite creators, experience professional esports tournaments, amateur and varsity gaming tournaments, world-famous bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) LAN party, cosplay championships, panels, art, activities, expo, screenings, live music, and more. DreamHack is part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading competitive games and esports company.

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ESL FACEIT Group media contacts:

Elke Zweers, Inga Howell, ESL FACEIT Group

press@efg.gg

Nick Moran, JSA+Partners

efg@jsapartners.co

OWCS media contact:Alex Levine, Blizzard Entertainmentallevine@blizzard.com

Image credit: Gabriel Kulig