Semifinals

The day began with a bang as OG took on Team Liquid in a rematch from the Manila Major final. Liquid showed up strong in the first game and took the victory in a dominating fashion. OG was not about to give up easy, however, as it was them who had the last word and took the next two matches, and the series 2-1.

The next semifinal was a CIS matchup between Natus Vincere and Vega Squadron. Game one of the series was one of the craziest we’ve seen with nearly 60 minutes on the clock and tons of intense team fights. It was not easy but Na’Vi did prevail, taking the 2-0 victory and a place in the grand final.

Grand final

It all came down to OG and Natus Vincere who clashed in a best of five series to determine who will become the new ESL One Frankfurt champion. The first two games showed a dominating performance by OG who took the wins without much difficulty. Game three, however, was a completely different story as Na’Vi accelerated and both teams were going back and forth but it was OG’s tournament to take and they became our new ESL One Frankfurt champions. Congratulations!

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who helped making this amazing event happen. Thank you to the teams and players, to all attendees and to everyone who tuned in online. It was a great weekend of celebrating everything Dota 2 – we can’t wait to do it again!

Remember to follow our ESL Dota 2 Twitter and Facebook for your daily Dota 2 fix.

Group A

Alliance, Liquid and Fnatic were left to fight in group A. After their surprising loss to Vega, Team Liquid got back on track and with two 2-0’s advanced to the semifinals.

• Team Liquid vs. Fnatic 2-0
• Alliance vs. Team Liquid 0-2

Group B

Group B saw Natus Vincere, Virtus.pro and compLexity playing for the last slot in the playoffs. This fight was Na’Vi’s to take as they took down Virtus.pro in the elimination match and later coL in the decider match.

• Na’Vi vs. Virtus.pro 2-1
• compLexity vs. Na’Vi 0-2

A new champion approaches!

Only three series remain until we will crown a new ESL One champion in Dota 2. We will see Vega Squadron taking on Natus Vincere and a rematch from the Manila Major final – OG vs. Team Liquid. The winners of these matchups will clash in the grand final.  We’re in for a real treat so be sure not to miss any of the action and tune in starting today, 19th of June, from 10:00 CEST.

For more information about ESL One Frankfurt, visit the official website and follow ESL Dota 2 on Twitter and Facebook for highlights, memes and more.

Key information

• Where? Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany
• When? 18th and 19th of June 2016
• Homepage: ESL One Frankfurt official website
• Stream: Twitch
• Doors open at 09:00 CEST and close at 23:00 CEST
• Event App: available for iOS and Android
• Event guide for all attendees – directions, ticket information and more
• Event map:

Click to enlarge

Teams

Broadcast team

• ReDeYe
• Eri
• SirActionSlacks
• Pajkatt
• ODPixel
• Merlini
• Tobiwan
• SexyBamboe
• Capitalist
• Nahaz
• Blitz
• Pimpmuckl
• Maelk
• Noxville

Schedule

All times are in CEST and are estimates, matches will be played one after another. The event schedule will be as follows:

Friday, June 17th

• 10:30 to 13:45 – Team Liquid vs. Vega and Alliance vs. Fnatic
• 13:45 to 17:00 – OG vs. Na’Vi and coL vs. LGD
• 17:00 to 20:15 – Group A winners’ match
• 20:15 to 23:30 – Group B winners’ match

Saturday, June 18th

• 10:30 to 13:45 – Group A elimination match
• 13:45 to 17:00 – Group B elimination match
• 17:00 to 20:45 – Group A decider match
• 20:45 to 23:30 – Group B decider match

Sunday, June 19th

• 10:30 to 13:45 – Semifinal one
• 13:45 to 17:00 – Semifinal two
• 17:45 to 23:00 – Grand final

Team previews

• Alliance’s quest for their first ESL One trophy continues in Frankfurt
• Team Liquid are the team to beat at ESL One Frankfurt
• Can OG secure themselves another trophy on German soil during ESL One Frankfurt?
• compLexity looking to lift their first piece of silverware at ESL One Frankfurt
• Fourth time’s the charm? Fnatic are ready for ESL One Frankfurt!
• Is another ESL One title on the cards for Vega Squadron in Frankfurt?
• Natus Vincere’s timely rise back to power ahead of ESL One Frankfurt

Social Media

Our social channel will be full of live coverage, highlight videos, photos and more – be sure to follow us on:

• ESL Dota 2 Twitter
• ESL Dota 2 Facebook
• ESL Twitter
• ESL Facebook
• And join the conversation with #ESLOne!

See you in Frankfurt!

We’re looking forward to welcoming all of the teams and thousands of passionate fans at the Commerzbank Arena for Europe’s biggest Dota 2 festival. If you’re in need of a last-minute ticket, you can still purchase one here.

For more information about the event, visit the ESL One Frankfurt official website.

The winners

Traditional art

Joy “astrojoy” Martir

“I owe this to a friend who encouraged me to finish the artwork the night before the deadline, because I was sure I wouldn’t make it. I painted it because I love the game and its design; to be recognized for it is a very pleasant (unexpected) bonus and motivates me to draw even more.”

Check out Joy’s Instagram to see more of her works!

Digital art

Mike Hirshon

“I can’t tell you how much winning this contest means to me. Dota and drawing are the two things I love doing most, and finding a way to combine the two has proven to be a great experience that’s led me to create work I am really proud of. Dota has been a part of my life for almost 10 years now, and I plan on continuing to contribute to its creative community in my own way. Thanks so much for this wonderful opportunity!”

Be sure to visit Mike’s blog for more of his art!

Both of the winners will receive a premium ticket to ESL One Frankfurt as well as travel and accommodation paid along with other goodies – congratulations!

The top ten submissions will be featured in the Artist’s’ Alley gallery – see them all in our Facebook gallery!

See you in Frankfurt

It’s not too late for you to get yourself a ticket to the Dota 2 festival that is ESL One Frankfurt 2016. Remember to follow ESL Dota 2 on Twitter and Facebook to not miss any important updates about the event.

“I’m really excited about ESL One Frankfurt! I’d like to think of it as the sequel to the recently highly-acclaimed ESL One Manila that happened in my hometown.” said Diredude “And like ESL One Manila, I think Frankfurt will deliver just as great of an event, if not better, because we Dota artists get to exhibit what we can do too! It will be my first time exhibiting and performing my art live as Diredude and I’m so hyped to have it in Germany, where Dota 2 all began. Looking forward to sharing not only mine, but everyone else’s Dota 2 art with everyone!”

We are looking forward to having Diredude at ESL One Frankfurt and to showcasing his amazing art! All attendees will have a chance of meeting the Dude and watch him do his magic in person. Be sure to follow Diredude on the following platforms to see more of his works: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitch.

Frankfurt calling

ESL One Frankfurt is less than a month away – are you ready to celebrate everything Dota 2 together with us? If yes, head over to our ticket page and join us in person at the Commerzbank Arena.

Remember to follow ESL Dota 2 on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest updates regarding the event.

ESL: Hi there, Stephanie! Let’s start at the beginning – how did your adventure with Dota begin and what was it that drew you to the game?
Anuxinamoon: Heya! Well, I was a game artist for about eight years before I started Dota 2 and had some time off when the Polycount competition was announced for the Dota 2 Workshop. Once I started work on my contest item set I realised I had to play this Dota 2, so I got a key from NeoGAF and jumped right into a pub game. I had queued all servers and lost HORRIBLY with Enchantress. I started looking up guides and queued more and eventually won my first game. I was hooked.

ESL: How about creating? When did you first start making art and what kind?
Anuxinamoon: I’ve always made art for as long as I can remember. Drawing mostly. I started making 3D art in 2012 when I downloaded a pirated copy of 3DS Max 4 and started doing the tutorials that came with the software manual. I was bad at 3D for about four years after that but, like anything when you do it enough, you get better.

ESL: How did you end up creating Dota 2 item sets?
Anuxinamoon: Valve and Polycount partnered up to create a competition to promote the Dota 2 Workshop among the game art community. I had some time to spare so I decided to take part. If it wasn’t for that competition, I probably would never have thought about making items for Dota 2.

ESL: Can you walk us through a typical process of creating an item set?
Anuxinamoon: It starts with an idea, then you take that idea and butcher it in the concept phase until it actually looks good. Then I create a block-out of the concept in ZBrush – I define all the large forms and silhouette lines in this part. Then I build the high-poly model from there. This I use as my source model – it’s a good benchmark for how I expect the finished model to look and I use it to add detail to the texture. I create a low-poly over the high-poly, matching it as close as possible. I then bake the high-poly details onto the texture and add the colors. Lastly, I bind the low-poly model onto the existing character’s skeleton so that it can animate with the character in-game and upload it with all my marketing. Then I just hope it gets enough votes on the Workshop and get noticed by Valve so that it can get added to the game.

ESL: What is the most difficult part of creating item sets?
Anuxinamoon: Getting the shapes and colors to work in-game without detracting from the existing art style while telling a new story for the hero.

ESL: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Anuxinamoon: The world. I pay attention to the most random things. Going outside observing people, how they dress, observing animals is a favorite pastime of mine. I like animal behavior and also like looking at nature and landscapes. I make sure I pay attention to the very small as well as the very big. I also get a lot of inspiration from fashion and art exhibitions, books and people’s stories. I daydream a lot, which can get me into trouble sometimes.

ESL: Your portfolio is full of impressive creations – which one was the most challenging and which is your personal favorite?
Anuxinamoon: Probably the most challenging was the PA set for Jacky Mao. He is frank with what he wants and I wanted to make sure he liked what he was getting. I had to do a few revisions before we were both happy. It was a great challenge and totally worth it as it’s my favorite piece.  

ESL: Let’s talk about Dota 2 heroes – who is your favorite in terms of design and who do you like to play the most?
Anuxinamoon: I love heroes with good movement. Mirana was a quick favorite of mine – a skill shot plus a leap really made me feel good when I played her. Winter Wyvern is another favorite of mine – I love Arctic Burn. Recently I have found a love in Weaver – he’s just so cool! Oh, and Nyx cause his Aghs is the best upgrade in the game! I can become a turret!

ESL: You follow a lot of Dota 2 teams and players. If you had to choose, which team or player would be your absolute favorite?
Anuxinamoon: I can’t pick favorites any more! I have so many players who I respect so much. I have a few favorite teams who I enjoy watching like OG, Secret, Alliance, DC, No Diggity, EG, FD, Fnatic, Taring, MVP, EHOME and the new Newbie. Oh gosh, there are too many!

ESL: What are your feelings and expectations being invited to ESL One Frankfurt and its Artists’ Alley?
Anuxinamoon: I felt really honored to get invited by ESL, especially to ESL One Frankfurt as I got to attend in 2014 and I really enjoyed it. ESL put on some crazy good events and getting to come back to Frankfurt and help out is going to be super special. Really excited about the setup and being able to watch some games too. Hype!

ESL: What can we expect to see from you at the Artists’ Alley?
Anuxinamoon: I have no idea! Tell us what you would like to see from me and the other artists attending! We will do our best to make it a fun time for everyone!

ESL: Thanks for chatting with us and see you in Frankfurt! The last words are yours.
Anuxinamoon: Thanks for inviting me to your ESPORTS. I like HATS and ESPORTS, so if you like HATS and ESPORTS too, come see us so we can revel in ESPORTS and HATS together. See you in Frankfurt!

Be sure to follow Anuxinamoon on Twitter, Twitch and Tumblr to see more of her work!

Hats and esports in Frankfurt!

Join Anuxinamoon and thousands of passionate fans at Europe’s greatest Dota 2 festival – get yourself a ticket here! If you’d like the opportunity to be featured in the Artists’ Alley with your own Dota 2 art as well as win amazing prizes, make sure to sign up for our ESL One Frankfurt art competition!

Remember that you can also join us on Friday for the public viewing and opening party – more information about this can be found here. Moreover, if you need a place to stay or means of transportation to the event, we’ve also got you covered with our ESL One Frankfurt hotel and buses.

To stay up to date with everything Dota 2 at ESL, be sure to follow the official ESL Dota Twitter and Facebook accounts!

Round two for Arteezy

Artour “Arteezy” Babaev is making his way onto the Team Secret roster for the second time, having played with them for The International 2015. However, after a disappointing run at the event, Arteezy returned to Evil Geniuses to team up with his long-time friend and mentor Clinton “Fear” Loomis.

Things didn’t go in the Dota 2 prodigy’s favor, though, and time has now taken him back to the ranks of Team Secret once more to assume the playmaking mid position.

The first test at ESL One Manila

With rosters finalized and set in stone until The International 2016, Team Secret definitely got the better side of the deal, and at least on paper are seen as untouchable in the Dota 2 scene for now.

Having a direct invite for ESL One Manila, Team Secret’s first proving ground is less than two weeks away, and will see the team will test their might against the top Dota 2 teams in the world. Not many will be able to make a stand against the prowess of Team Secret, who already have a major under their belt along with the winning title of ESL One Frankfurt 2015.  

Placed in group B with the likes of Fnatic, EHOME and Empire, it will certainly be exciting to see the big names fight to get to the next stage. Will Team Secret’s run be strenuous or a walk in the park?

The showdown begins

Watch Team Secret and seven more top teams battle it out for the prestigious first place spot as well as the lion’s share of a US$250,000 prize pool. The ESL One Manila main event starts on April the 22nd, so if you haven’t already booked your ticket make sure to get yours here!

Get up to date with the latest news and happenings from ESL One Manila by keeping an eye on the official website, Twitter and Facebook. 

ESL: Hey, Fwosh – thanks for taking the time to talk to us! When did you first start playing Dota and what was it that got you hooked?
Fwosh: My pleasure! Back in my college years around 2011, my friends and I would pass time by having LAN parties, playing the old Warcraft 3 Dota. We would game for hours until our laptops overheated and we had to resort to playing on ice packs. The game really brought my friends together, and the group addiction easily transferred over to Dota 2.

ESL: When and how did your adventure with drawing begin?
Fwosh: I’ve always loved to doodle ever since I was little! My parents surprised me with a Wacom tablet when I was in middle school and from there I picked up drawing tips from YouTube tutorials. I began drawing Dota-related content three years ago and had originally planned on making a regular webcomic (still possible!) until the video parodies came along.

ESL: When and how did you transition to making videos and parodies?
Fwosh: It all started with a comment on Reddit shortly after Disney’s Frozen was released. Someone pointed out the similarity between the Frozen sisters and Crystal Maiden/Lina and this led to the creation of my first parody “Do You Want to Lane Together?”. People seemed to enjoy the video, so I continued to mix other Frozen songs with Dota themes and eventually branched out into other genres.

ESL: Out of all of the mediums you use to create content, which one is your favorite and why?
Fwosh: I think I still enjoy drawing the most. You can draw quick funny caricatures or you can put a lot of time into a detailed piece, all while listening to music or watching some streams on the side. It’s one of my favorite ways to unwind.

ESL: Do you have any personal favorites among your creations? Which and why?
Fwosh: Not really – I feel like a lot of my creations fall short of my expectations. If I had to pick from one of my parodies, I would probably say “At TI5” was the most fun to create since I had to look back and remember all the highlights from a huge week of Dota.

ESL: Can you talk us through the process of creating a parody video from start to finish?
Fwosh: Usually I start out with a theme or topic I want to write about (for instance, position five support or the Shanghai Major) and I jot down as many related words and jokes I can think of in a Notepad document. Then, I browse for a fitting song, paste the original lyrics and use my word list to rewrite everything so that the rhyme scheme and rhythm still fits. After the lyrics are done, I sing the song with karaoke backing and bring the final audio file into Premiere for video editing. After all the footage is in place and lyrics are timed, I release the final video to YouTube. Tada!

ESL: Among your other talents, you are also a cosplayer – can you tell us a bit about this? Which costume of yours is your favorite?
Fwosh: I made my first cosplay for an anime convention in high school and realized how much fun it was to bring characters to life. My favorite cosplay would have to be the Legion Commander I made for TI4. It was a lot of fun to duel people with rock, paper, scissors and carry around the “Winner!” sign.

ESL: ESL One Frankfurt is known for its great cosplay competition and incredibly talented participants. Are you looking forward to seeing this year’s cosplay in action?
Fwosh: With all the cosmetics that’ve been released, I’m hoping to see some takes on new sets or maybe some creative twists on characters we haven’t seen before. Courier cosplays? Genderbent heroes? There are so many possibilities!

ESL: Which professional Dota 2 team do you cheer for, or do you have a player you prefer to support from roster swap to roster swap?
Fwosh: I just want to watch some good Dota so I cheer for the team that plays good Dota! I’ve really been enjoying those action-packed MVP games recently.

ESL: Speaking of roster swaps: what was your reaction to and thoughts on 3.22 (#NeverForget)?
Fwosh: It was so hard to keep up during that week, geez. I was actually considering doing a parody of it all but I was on a trip and I think I missed my window. I’m excited to see how these new teams and roles will work out but I also hope for more roster stability down the road so that maybe I can actually have a team to root for.

Click to enlarge
 

ESL: What are you most looking forward to at ESL One Frankfurt 2016?
Fwosh: I’m looking forward to the hype and the people! Nothing beats watching your favorite game in a stadium full of the most passionate fans and friends.

ESL: What can we expect to see from you in the Artists’ Alley?
Fwosh: I’ll be drawing, answering questions about cosplay and art and potentially offering some goodies like Dota commissions, prints, buttons and whatnot. I might also be working on my own cosplay for TI (hopefully going!) at the table. Feel free to swing by and hang out!

ESL: Thank you so much for your time and see you in Frankfurt! The last words belong to you – are there any shoutouts you’d like to make?
Fwosh: Shoutouts to my backers on Patreon, subs and friends off my Twitch stream, emcee, animastryfe, Terrence and anyone who has given me the support and encouragement to keep going. This amazing community is a large part of the reason why I continue to create and it’s been a joy to see how far we’ve come. Thanks to ESL for the opportunity and I’ll see you all in Frankfurt!

Remember to follow Fwosh on her Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Tumblr to see more of her work!

The fun commences this June

Be sure to join Fwosh at Europe’s greatest Dota 2 festival – get yourself a ticket here! If you’d like an opportunity to be featured in the Artists’ Alley with your own Dota 2 art as well as win amazing prizes, make sure to sign up for our ESL One Frankfurt art competition!

Remember that you can also join us on Friday for the public viewing and opening party – more information about this can be found here. Additionally if you need a place to stay or means of transportation to the event, we’ve also got you covered with our ESL One Frankfurt hotel and buses.

To stay up to date with everything Dota 2 at ESL, be sure to follow the official Twitter and Facebook accounts!

One of the awesome things about the event is the chance to meet tons of fellow Dota fans in order to share the love for the game and have a great time together. ESL One Frankfurt 2016 will give everyone multiple ways of getting together and enjoying the event to the fullest – if you were worrying about attending the festival alone, you don’t have to anymore!

Fan buses

Do you live in Germany and find yourself looking for a cool ride to the event? Our ESL One fan buses have you covered! Going from five of Germany’s biggest cities, the fan buses will give attendees the opportunity to meet fellow fans on the way to the event as well as hang out and plan activities together.

Find all the fan bus details here!

Fan hotel

Looking for a great place to stay during ESL One Frankfurt 2016? Look no further! ESL has partnered with Motel One Frankfurt Messe to bring you the place to stay during the event. An exclusive welcome pack, event wristbands at the check-in desk, the opportunity to meet fellow fans over breakfast or at the bar and all of this via a Dota 2 themed lobby make the ESL One 2016 fan hotel the best accommodation choice for attendees.

Find all the fan hotel details here!

Opening party and public viewing

The matches may be beginning on the big stage on Saturday the 18th of June, but there will also be a party for attendees the day before! Sam’s Sportsbar will open its doors for all event goers on Friday the 17th of June, where they will be able to watch the group stage matches. as well as get an early check-in for the event, watch the best moments from last year’s ESL One Frankfurt festivities and generally have a great time with like-minded Dota fans.

Find out more about the opening party here!

Fan forums

The ESL One Frankfurt forums are a great way to kick off your planning and journey to the event at the Commerzbank Arena. Meet other attendees as well as organize transport, meetups and more all in one convenient place!

Check out the ESL One Frankfurt forums here!

See you in Frankfurt!

We’re looking forward to seeing all of you at ESL One Frankfurt 2016 to celebrate everything Dota 2 with us! A variety of different ticket options are currently available – be sure to grab yours here!

For all the latest information about the event, visit the official ESL One Frankfurt website as well as follow ESL Dota 2 on Facebook and Twitter.

ESL: Hello, Sebastian! As you’re a new face for Dota 2 fans, please introduce yourself.
Sebastian: Hi, my name is Sebastian “kL52” Lohmaier. I’m a graffiti artist, illustrator and graphic designer based in Nuremberg, Germany. I love cartoons, comics, games, movies and especially all the merchandise that comes with it. Some would say that I’m just a big, happy nerd.

I am an absolute retro head when it comes to gaming. I was raised (born in ‘85) with an Atari 2600 and got a Gameboy by the age of 5 or 6. From there I jumped on all the major consoles that came out time after time, but I stopped at the PS2 somehow. I still enjoy playing with my Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive (AKA Genesis) to this day. The games that I love the most are 2D beat ‘em ups from Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat up to the catalogue of the good old SNK games like Fatal Fury or, to sum it up more easily, the King of Fighters series.

I also had a short period as super nerdy PC gamer with stuff like Doom, Duke Nukem, Diablo and all the other early Blizzard releases. After several Voodoo card customizations and things like that I was a bit fed up with PC gaming (due to money needed for new parts etc.) and came back to my retro consoles.

ESL: What projects are you currently working on?
Sebastian: This year I’ve started my first printing series based on an exhibition I did last year. The name of it is… guess what… NERDS.

ESL: How long did your longest project take? How long does it take you on average?
Sebastian: As a graphic designer I had to manage a lot of projects that took several months. When it comes to live paintings it can get really quick. Sometimes all you need is some quick lines to paint to get an amazing picture.

ESL: Have you ever come in contact with Dota 2 or esports before?
Sebastian: Dota 2 is pretty fresh for me, but I used to follow the esports scene before it became as big as it is today. I remember all these fine StarCraft and Quake tournaments when I was younger.

ESL: What intrigued you about showcasing your art at ESL One Frankfurt 2016?
Sebastian: Dota 2 offers a lot of great characters – that is the perfect base for my work. I take characters from any kind of movie, comic or gaming universe and translate them into my caricature style to put them on a big wall.

ESL: You’ve said you have an affinity for retro fighting games. What’s your favorite video game?
Sebastian: The Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and also the SNK series are my thing. Breaking controllers and hours of shouting at my TV were the consequence of that. It was a great time!

ESL: What are you most looking forward to about being at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt?
Sebastian: It’s the first time that I’m going to visit such an event. I’m really looking forward to seeing the full dimensions of this tournament, catch some great vibes, meet a lot of nice people, paint an insane picture and just have a great nerdy weekend.

See Sebastian’s work in person in Frankfurt!

We’re really looking forward to seeing Sebastian’s work in the Artists’ Alley! If you want to enjoy his art in person as well as a number of other side activities and, of course, the thrilling matches, be sure to get yourself a ticket to the event here.

Do you want to share your own Dota art? Take part our art competition and win amazing prizes including exhibition at ESL One Frankfurt 2016 itself!

For all the latest information about the event, visit the official ESL One Frankfurt website and follow ESL Dota 2 on Twitter and Facebook.

Images from Facebook.com/kl52.er.