The press office announced that Sber is venturing into organized esports competitions for the first time, marking a notable expansion of the company’s footprint in competitive gaming. The upcoming Dota 2 tournament will be staged with the backing of the Russian Computer Sports Federation, commonly referred to as the FCS, underscoring a formal partnership between corporate sponsors and national sports bodies in the digital arena.
Pathway to the main stage will be determined through a structured qualification process that leads to a decisive eight-team field. In the knockout rounds, teams must secure victories to advance toward the grand stage, where high-stakes matches are set to capture audience attention and test teams’ strategic depth under pressure.
The ultimate victor will carry Sber’s banner into the international Open Esports Games 2023, an event that brings together top teams from across the region and beyond. Beyond the championship title, the winning squad will receive sponsorship support from Sberbank and will benefit from the guidance of a dedicated coach who will work to elevate tactics, teamwork, and execution as teams prepare for the international stage.
Prizes for the runners-up distinguish the event as well, with cash awards allocated to teams finishing second through fourth, ranging from fifty thousand to two hundred fifty thousand rubles. These awards recognize emerging talent and provide tangible incentives for serious competition across the participant pool.
In addition to the main Dota 2 event, organizers are hosting a separate one-on-one championship. The winner of this side competition will be awarded a SberBoom smart speaker equipped with the Salyut virtual assistant, offering a practical fusion of gaming culture and smart technology as a reward for individual skill and strategic thinking.
Registration for the tournament is open through August 6, with qualifying rounds scheduled July 29 to August 6. The group stage is slated for August 12–13, and the culmination comes with the final on August 19, delivering a compact but intense schedule that tests endurance and consistency across several phases of play.
Beyond the Open Esports Games effort, Sberbank continues its sponsorship of Russian FCS tournaments, including a school league that spans diverse game genres. Participants compete in electronic chess, time-challenge games, Hearthstone, and Dota 2, reinforcing a broad ecosystem that nurtures competitive talent from youth levels up to professional competition and aligns with broader sports sponsorship programs tied to digital entertainment.
Earlier updates indicate that Sber is expanding its IT division with a substantial operation in Bengaluru, India, signaling a significant investment in technology talent and regional capabilities that could influence future esports initiatives and digital services across multiple markets.