2023 Riyadh Masters Group Stage: Gaimin Gladiators favored
The 2023 Riyadh Masters, the biggest Dota 2 event this year outside of the 2023 Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) season, is well underway. The Play-Ins are set, and now we move to the Group Stage!
From July 19th-30th, 20 of the best teams worldwide will be battling for their share of the tournament’s massive US$15 million prize pool, including a US $5 million grand prize. Riyadh Masters kicked off with its two-day Play-In stage on Wednesday, where 12 teams will be fighting to be among the six squads advancing to the tournament’s Group Stage.
Three-time Major finalists Team Liquid and Chinese powerhouse Team Aster quickly claimed the first two Group Stage spots after a dominant showing in Group A of the Play-Ins.
In Group B, it was much more chaotic. Quest Esports dominated their way through the group with ease. However, everyone else below them and second-place Xtreme were left fighting for the last few spots.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Riyadh Masters Group Stage!
Group Stage Teams
Here are all twelve teams competing in the Group Stage, along with their groups and updated esports odds to win the Riyadh Masters!
| Team | Odds *Last Updated: 7/21/2023 |
|---|---|
| Gaimin Gladiators | +250 |
| Tundra Esports | +450 |
| BetBoom Team | +650 |
| PSG.LGD | +700 |
| Quest Esports | +800 |
| Team Liquid | +900 |
| Team Spirit | +1000 |
| Team Secret | +1200 |
| Talon Esports | +1500 |
| Team Aster | +2000 |
| 9Pandas | +2200 |
| Evil Geniuses | +2500 |
| Xtreme Gaming | +2800 |
| Shopify Rebellion | +2800 |
| OG | +3000 |
| TSM | +3000 |
Group A
- Evil Geniuses
- Gaimin Gladiators
- PSG.LGD
- Team Spirit
- Quest Esports
- Xtreme Gaming
- 9Pandas
- OG
Group B
- BetBoom Team
- Shopify Rebellion
- Talon Esports
- Team Aster
- Team Liquid
- Tundra Esports
- TSM
- Team Secret
Tournament Format
Once the initial set of matches for the Riyadh Masters Play-In wraps up, the top two seeds of each group will automatically advance to the Group Stage.
Two more Group Stage spots will be handed to the winners of a cross-match between each group’s third to sixth-placed teams. The third seed will face the sixth seed of the other group, while the fourth seed will take on the fifth seed of the other group.
The winners will advance to the Group Stage, while the losers are eliminated. The losing teams of the Riyadh Masters Play-In won’t walk away empty-handed, though, as they will get US$50,000 for their efforts.
After the Play-In, the Riyadh Masters Group Stage esports schedule goes from July 21st-24th. Two groups of eight teams each, comprised of directly-invited teams and the teams who survived the Play-Ins, will be battling in a single round-robin to be among the 12 teams advancing to the Playoffs.
The Top 4 teams of each group will earn upper-bracket berths in the Playoffs, while the fifth to sixth-placed teams will have to start in the lower bracket. Meanwhile, the bottom two teams of each group are eliminated.
Top Teams to Watch
Our top teams to watch in the 2023 Riyadh Masters Group Stage are the same as the previous article. Evil Geniuses and Quest Esports are the two teams to watch in Riyadh.
Evil Geniuses
After securing their spot at the 2023 Riyadh Masters, thanks to their DOTA 2 ranks so far this season, Evil Geniuses had a disappointing Bali Major. EG can compete with the best of the best, but they need to find some consistency to compete. They have had the time to watch how their opponents play, so there should be no reason they can make a decent run.
Quest Esports
Despite not being considered one of the top Dota 2 teams, Quest Esports has had a fantastic year. They placed fourth at the Bali Major, beating PSG, BetBoom, and EG along the way. Quest dominated the Play-In stage and did not lose a single game. They could easily make a big run through Riyadh.
For Esports betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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