20 teams enter — one team leaves as millionaires.

The Riyadh Masters 2023 — featuring a US$15 million prize pool, and a US$5 million purse for its winners — is kicking off.

With the Dota Pro Circuit behind us, and The International 12 still months away, high octane action around one of esports’ largest prize pools will help tide fans over until Dota 2’s premier event in October.

What is the Riyadh Masters 2023?

Team Liquid miCKe at TI11
Credit: Valve

It is the final tournament in the inaugural ESL Pro Tour, featuring some of the best teams in the world as they gear up for TI12.

Though not part of the Dota Pro Circuit — already concluded ahead of October’s TI12 — but the hefty US$15 million prize pool is sure to entice teams.

Teams competing in Riyadh Masters 2023

Shopify Rebellion Saberlight and Team Spirit Collapse
Credit: ONE Esports

Group stage seeds

These teams have qualified for the group stage due to their performances in the first two tournaments of the ESL Pro Tour, DreamLeagues 19 and 20.

  • Gaimin Gladiators
  • BetBoom Team
  • PSG.LGD
  • Evil Geniuses
  • Tundra Esports
  • Shopify Rebellion
  • Team Spirit
  • Talon Esports

Play-in seeds

These teams have been invited to the tournament based on ESL’s own EPT ranking.

  • Team Liquid
  • 9Pandas
  • TSM
  • beastboast
  • Team Aster
  • Execration
  • OG
  • Virtus Pro
  • Entity
  • Xtreme Gaming
  • Team Secret
  • Quest Esports

Format of Riyadh Masters 2023

Of the 20 attending teams, eight teams had secured their group stage seeds through their performances at DreamLeagues 19 and 20.

The remaining 12 teams, qualified via the EPT and a MENA qualifier, play a single round-robin, best of two. The top two teams will qualify for the group stage, before a short, single-elimination bracket kicks off that sees four more teams exit the tournament.

The group stage then kicks off with two groups of eight teams each, once again playing best-of-twos, single round-robin. The top four teams enter the upper bracket, the next two advance to the lower bracket, and the last two teams are eliminated.

The tournament then heads into more familiar territory — a double-bracket playoffs. Each series is a best-of-three, except for the best-of-five grand final.

Riyadh Masters schedule and results

Play-in standings

Group A

STANDINGTEAMGAME RECORDMATCH RECORD (W-D-L)
1stTeam Aster9 – 14 – 1 – 0
2ndTeam Liquid7 – 33 – 1 – 1
3rdTSM5 – 51 – 3 – 1
4thEntity5 – 51 – 3 – 1
5thVirtus Pro2 – 80 – 2 – 3
6thExecration2 – 80 – 2 – 3

Group B

STANDINGTEAMGAME RECORDMATCH RECORD (W-D-L)
1stQuest Esports6 – 23 – 0 – 1
2nd9Pandas5 – 32 – 1 – 1
2ndXtreme Gaming5 – 32 – 1 – 1
4thOG3 – 51 – 1 – 2
4thTeam Secret3 – 51 – 1 – 2
6thbeastcoast2 – 61 – 0 – 3

(Group stage standings will be updated after each round of games)

Play-in group stage results

July 19

TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
5 p.m.9 a.m.2 a.m.

Group A

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Liquid1 – 1Entity
Team Aster2 – 0Virtus Pro
Execration0 – 2TSM

Group B

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
OG0 – 2Quest Esports
beastcoast0 – 2Team Secret
Xtreme Gaming0 – 29Pandas
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
7:30 p.m.11:30 a.m.4:30 a.m.

Group A

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Execration0 – 2Team Liquid
Virtus Pro0 – 2Entity
Team Aster1 – 1TSM

Group B

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
beastcoast2 – 0OG
9Pandas0 – 2Quest Esports
Xtreme Gaming1 – 1Team Secret
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
10 p.m.2 p.m.7 a.m.

Group A

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Virtus Pro0 – 2Team Liquid
Execration0 – 2Team Aster
Entity1 – 1TSM

Group B

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Quest Esports2 – 0Team Secret
9Pandas1 – 1OG
beastcoast0 – 2Xtreme Gaming
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
July 20, 12:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.9:30 a.m.

Group A

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
TSM0 – 2Team Liquid
Entity0 – 2Team Aster
Execration1 – 1Virtus Pro

Group B

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
9Pandas2 – 0beastcoast
Team Secret0 – 2OG
Quest Esports0 – 2Xtreme Gaming

July 20

TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
5 p.m.9 a.m.2 a.m.

Group A

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Liquid0 – 2Team Aster
TSM1 – 1Virtus Pro
Execration1 – 1Entity
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
7:45 p.m.11:45 a.m.4:45 a.m.

Group B

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
beastcoast0 – 2Quest Esports
Team Secret1 – 19Pandas
OG0 – 2Xtreme Gaming

1v1 tiebreaker

PLAYERRESULTSPLAYER
Execration.Bob1 – 0Virtus Pro.squad1x

Play-in decider schedule and results

July 20

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
TSM2 – 0beastcoast
Entity0 – 2OG
9Pandas2 – 1Virtus Pro
Team Secret2 – 1Exceration

(To be updated)

Group stage standings

Group A

STANDINGTEAMGAME RECORDMATCH RECORD (W-D-L)
1stQuest Esports9 — 52 — 5 — 0
2ndTeam Spirit8 — 62 — 4 — 1
3rdGaimin Gladiators8 — 62 — 4 — 1
4th9Pandas7 — 71 — 5 — 1
5thPSG.LGD7 — 72 — 3 — 2
6thEvil Geniuses7 — 72 — 3 — 2
7thOG5 — 90 — 5 — 2
8thXtreme Gaming5 — 91 — 3 — 3

Group B

STANDINGTEAMGAME RECORDMATCH RECORD (W-D-L)
1stBetBoom Team12 — 26 — 0 — 1
2ndTeam Liquid9 — 53 — 3 — 1
3rdTeam Aster9 — 53 — 3 — 1
4thTalon Esports8 — 63 — 2 — 2
5thTeam Secret6 — 82 — 2 — 3
6thTundra Esports4 — 100 — 4 — 3
7thShopify Rebellion4 — 100 — 4 — 3
8thTSM4 — 100 — 4 — 3

(Group stage standings will be updated after each round of games)

Riyadh Masters 2023 group stage schedule and results

July 21

TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
5 p.m.9 a.m.2 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Xtreme Gaming1 – 1Quest Esports
Gaimin Gladiators1 – 1Team Spirit
Evil Geniuses2 – 09Pandas
PSG.LGD2 – 0OG
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
7:30 p.m.11:30 a.m.4:30 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Tundra Esports0 – 2BetBoom Team
Team Aster1 – 1Team Liquid
Shopify Rebellion1 – 1TSM
Talon Esports2 – 0Team Secret
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
10:15 p.m.2:15 p.m.7:15 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Gaimin Gladiators1 – 1PSG.LGD
Evil Geniuses1 – 1Team Spirit
Quest Esports1 – 19Pandas
Xtreme Gaming1 – 1OG
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
July 22, 12:45 a.m.4:45 p.m.9:45 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Aster2 – 0Team Secret
Tundra Esports1 – 1Talon Esports
Shopify Rebellion0 – 2BetBoom Team
Team Liquid1 – 1TSM

July 22

TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
5 p.m.9 a.m.2 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
9Pandas1 – 1OG
Gaimin Gladiators1 – 1Evil Geniuses
Quest Esports2 – 0Team Spirit
Xtreme Gaming2 – 0PSG.LGD
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
7:30 p.m.11:30 a.m.4:30 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Tundra Esports1 – 1Shopify Rebellion
Team Aster1 – 1Talon Esports
Team Liquid0 – 2BetBoom Team
TSM0 – 2Team Secret
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
10:15 p.m.2:15 p.m.7:15 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Spirit2 – 0PSG.LGD
Gaimin Gladiators1 – 1Quest Esports
9Pandas1 – 1Xtreme Gaming
OG1 – 1Evil Geniuses
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
July 23, 12:45 a.m.4:45 p.m.9:45 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
TSM0 – 2Talon Esports
Tundra Esports0 – 2Team Aster
Team Liquid1 – 1Shopify Rebellion
Team Secret2 – 0BetBoom Team

July 23

TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
5 p.m.9 a.m.2 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Quest Esports2 – 0Evil Geniuses
Gaimin Gladiators2 – 0Xtreme Gaming
9Pandas1 – 1PSG.LGD
OG1 – 1Team Spirit
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
7:30 p.m.11:30 a.m.4:30 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
BetBoom Team2 – 0Talon Esports
Tundra Esports0 – 2Team Liquid
TSM1 – 1Team Aster
Shopify Rebellion1 – 1Team Secret
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
10:15 p.m.2:15 p.m.7:15 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Gaimin Gladiators0 – 29Pandas
PSG.LGD2 – 0Evil Geniuses
OG1 – 1Quest Esports
Team Spirit2 – 0Xtreme Gaming
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
July 24, 12:45 a.m.4:45 p.m.9:45 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Secret0 – 2Team Liquid
Talon Esports2 – 0Shopify Rebellion
BetBoom Team2 – 0Team Aster
Tundra Esports1 – 1TSM

July 24

TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
5 p.m.9 a.m.2 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
PSG.LGD1 – 1Quest Esports
Evil Geniuses2 – 0Xtreme Gaming
Team Spirit1 – 19Pandas
Gaimin Gladiators2 – 0OG
TIME IN GMT+8TIME IN GMTTIME IN PT
7:30 p.m.11:30 a.m.4:30 a.m.
TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Shopify Rebellion0 – 2Team Aster
Talon Esports0 – 2Team Liquid
BetBoom Team2 – 0TSM
Tundra Esports1 – 1Team Secret

Tiebreaker 4th-6th

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Evil Geniuses0 – 19Pandas
PSG.LGD0 – 19Pandas

Group B tiebreaker 6th-8th

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Shopify Rebellion0 – 1TSM
Tundra Esports1 – 0TSM
Tundra Esports1 – 0Shopify Rebellion

(To be updated)

Riyadh Masters 2023 playoffs schedule and results

July 25

Upper bracket quarterfinals

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Quest Esports1 – 2Talon Esports
Team Liquid2 – 1Gaimin Gladiators
Team Spirit2 – 0Team Aster
BetBoom Team2 – 19Pandas

July 26

Lower bracket round 1

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Quest Esports2 – 0PSG.LGD
Gaimin Gladiators2 – 1Tundra Esports
Team Aster2 – 0Evil Geniuses

July 27

Lower bracket round 1

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
9Pandas2 – 0Team Secret

Upper bracket semifinals

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Talon Esports1 – 2Team Liquid
Team Spirit2 – 1BetBoom Team

July 28

Lower bracket round 2

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Quest Esports0 – 2Gaimin Gladiators
Team Aster1 – 29Pandas

Lower bracket quarterfinals

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
BetBoom Team1 – 2Gaimin Gladiators

July 29

Lower bracket quarterfinals

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Talon Esports2 – 09Pandas

Upper bracket final

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Liquid1 – 2Team Spirit

Lower bracket semifinal

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Gaimin Gladiators1 – 2Talon Esports

July 30

Lower bracket final

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Liquid2 – 0Talon Esports

Grand final

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Spirit3 – 1Team Liquid

(To be updated)

Riyadh Masters 2023 prize pool

STANDINGTEAMSPRIZE MONEY
1stTeam SpiritUS$5,000,000
2ndTeam LiquidUS$2,500,000
3rdTalon EsportsUS$1,700,000
4thGaimin GladiatorsUS$1,200,000
5th-6th9Pandas
BetBoom Team		US$800,000
7th-8thQuest Esports
Team Aster		US$500,000
9th-12thEvil Geniuses
PSG.LGD
Team Secret
Tundra Esports		US$300,000
13th-14thOG
TSM		US$200,000
15th-16thShopify Rebellion
Xtreme Gaming		US$100,000
17th-20thbeastcoast
Entity
Execration
Virtus Pro		US$50,000

Where to watch

You can watch the tournament on Epulze’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.

READ MORE: The Dota 2 hero tier list (July 2023) | Bali Major edition