Usher in the new year with Captains Draft and Qualifiers: Jan 2-7

We've only just emerged from our holiday-cave and it's already almost time for the first Minor of the year! Get up to speed on what's going on in the world of Dota 2 this week with another joinDOTA Survival Guide.

Sparing no time, the first Dota 2 Minor of 2018 kicks off on Jan 4 in Washington, D.C. Captains Draft Season 4. Unlike every other event on the tournament calendar this year, Captains Draft will be held in an alternate mode (the event's namesake).

The tournament's format should be familiar to most. Two groups of four teams play a GSL group stage which will provide the seeding for a single elimination playoff bracket. All ten group stage matches are single-game series and will take place on the first day of the event, quarterfinals on the second day and semifinals on the third day. The best-of-five Grand Final stands alone on the fourth and final day.

Groups have been named Group Horse and Group Hippo (after Moonduck and Dota Cinema's respective animal "mascots"). They are:



Vici Gaming Yuno / Paparazi LaNm Fenrir Ori Eleven CN Qualifier Team Secret Puppey MidOne YapzOr Fata Ace Direct Invite paiN-Gaming hFnk3 PAADA tavo KINGRD Duster SA Qualifier compLexity Gaming Kyle ZfreeK Moo Limmp Chessie NA Qualifier Team Empire Miposhka Ghostik Vanskor fn / Recovery Silent CIS Qualifier Mineski Jabz / Kaneki iceiceice Mushi ninjaboogie NaNa / Timun SEA Qualifier Evil Geniuses Cr1t- Fear SumaiL MiSeRy Arteezy Direct Invite OG Fly BigDaddyN0tail JerAx s4 Resolut1on EU Qualifier



ESL One Katowice 2018 Open qualifiers are also taking place this week, specifically this weekend. That means that even if you're not awake at the right time for Captains Draft, there will be plenty of live Dota 2 matches to choose from. Registration is still open, so if you're looking to play you can sign up on ESL's website.

Matches will be broadcast on our ESL/joinDOTA Twitch channels, so hit them up with a follow if you don't want to miss the matches.

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