In a surprising move, FISSURE has announced a brand-new Dota 2 tournament set to kick off tomorrow. While it’s unexpected to launch a competition amidst the ongoing ESL One Raleigh, what has truly caught the attention of the community is the tournament’s draft format. FISSURE has opted to implement a system strikingly similar to the Fearless Draft format that Riot Games introduced in its League of Legends tournaments a few years ago.
What Is the Fearless Draft?
In simple terms, the Fearless Draft is a system that modifies the standard drafting phase of a game. Once a hero is selected, it cannot be picked again by any team throughout the entire series. This means that strategic picks become all the more important, as teams must carefully plan their hero selections to avoid leaving their opponents with advantageous options.
We first saw this draft system used in the LCK and NACL, and it quickly became a fan favorite. In 2025, the First Stand tournament also adopted the Fearless Draft, with remarkable success. Fans and players alike enjoyed the added complexity and strategy it brought to the games.
FISSURE’s Elimination Draft: A Familiar Yet Fresh Approach
While FISSURE’s Elimination Draft is essentially the same as the Fearless Draft in practice, it comes with a slight twist in the name. In this format, once a team picks a hero, that hero is eliminated from the pool and cannot be chosen again by any team for the remainder of the series. This system encourages diverse hero compositions and keeps the gameplay dynamic and engaging.
Teams Invited to the FISSURE Special
FISSURE has already revealed the teams that will debut this exciting new draft format starting tomorrow. The invited teams are:
Mosquito Clan
Xtreme Gaming
1W
Virtus Pro
OG
Paseka Team
L1GA Team
Source: FISSURE
These top teams will go head-to-head in the FISSURE Special, with each match bringing its own unique set of challenges due to the Elimination Draft system.
Tournament Format
Aside from the Elimination Draft, the tournament format itself is straightforward yet competitive. The 7 invited teams will compete in a single group, where they will face off in Best-of-3 (Bo3) series.
After all group stage matches are completed, the top 4 teams will advance to the Playoffs. The remaining teams will be eliminated.
The Playoffs will feature double-elimination brackets, with each series played as a Best-of-3 (Bo3). The Grand Final, however, will be a Best-of-5 (Bo5), ensuring a thrilling climax to the competition.
Tournament Scoring System
FISSURE has also introduced an interesting twist to how points are awarded in the tournament. Unlike other competitions, where a win guarantees one point, in the FISSURE Special, the scoring system works as follows:
A win will grant the winning team 3 points.
A 2-1 victory will result in the winning team receiving 2 points, while the losing team will earn 1 point.
In the case of a 2-0 sweep, the loser receives no points, adding an additional layer of strategy to each series.
Source: Liquipedia
Tournament Dates
The tournament will take place over two phases:
Group Stage: April 5 – 10, 2025
Playoffs: April 11 – 13, 2025
These dates are critical for fans who want to follow the action as the teams battle it out for glory and a share of the prize pool.
Prize Pool Distribution
The prize pool for the FISSURE Special is substantial, with the top-performing teams set to receive the following payouts:
1st Place – $35,000
2nd Place – $18,000
3rd Place – $10,000
4th Place – $7,000
7th Place: No prize money will be awarded.
This structure rewards the top competitors heavily while ensuring that teams who perform well enough to make it to the Playoffs are compensated for their efforts.
Tournament Viewing Details
The matches will begin at 10:00 AM CET and will be available to watch exclusively on the Kick platform via the official FISSURE Kick channel. Make sure to tune in and follow your favorite teams as they battle for the coveted title!