# Fueling Grassroots Dota 2 Growth with Title Sponsorship

# NADCL & GEMS League 2025

![White and Blue Clean and Bold Quote Twitter Post (2)](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/Syh-dipqyg.png)

## TL;DR

Chompix seeks 5,600 USDC from Nouns DAO to fuel NADCL and GEMS League, two grassroots Dota 2 tournaments, with two iterations each over 10 weeks. Expect 4 weeks per event, 7+ POV streams per match, Grand Finals on Nouns Esports Twitch, Nounish Bounties linking wins to Nouns DAO, and sub-DAOs shoutouts to hook gamers into the Nouns ecosystem.

## Nounish Pitch

Chompix invites Nouns DAO to double down on its Dota 2 legacy as title sponsor for NADCL and GEMS League in 2025. You’ve already planted a flag in the world’s biggest esports title by backing a team. Now this grant locks in that momentum and proves to 600K monthly active Dota 2 players that Nouns DAO is here to stay. Since 2018 NADCL has forged over 1,000 semi-pros on US East. Since 2023 GEMS League has elevated women’s Dota in Southeast Asia. This is your shot to connect with fans and players and show Nouns is more than a team. It’s a community. Our Nounish twist engages players and fans in governance via Nouns GG rounds and spotlights sub-DAOs through nouns.world. Together we’ll ignite a grassroots Dota 2 community tied to Nouns DAO through governance and sub-DAOs.

![nouns ty dota](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/Sk4FpiTqyx.png)

## What We’re Asking

We’re requesting 5,600 USDC from Nouns DAO to sponsor two tournaments, NADCL and GEMS League, each running two iterations in the next ten weeks. That’s four events total, spanning four weeks each, starting March 2025. This funds prize pools, production, and Nounish Bounties, amplifying Nouns reach in gaming and blockchain.

## What We’ve Done Before

[NADCL](https://liquipedia.net/dota2/North_American_Dota_Challengers_League/Season_1), founded in 2018 by Peter “[ppd](https://liquipedia.net/dota2/Ppd)” Dager, has launched 1,000+ semi-pro players across seven seasons on US East.

![NADCL S6](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1QAmo6qyg.jpg)

GEMS League, started by Chompix in 2023 in Southeast Asia, empowered women’s teams. Season 1 hit 25+ stream hours, 189 avg. viewers, and 814 hours watched.

![gems nounsish things (1)](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ry5Dcj6qyl.png)

Chompix' events ([Liquipedia](https://liquipedia.net/dota2/User:Chompix/Chompix_Gaming)) have sent Tier 4 talents to Tier 1, like Hokori at TI 2022.

## What’s NADCL & GEMS League?

- NADCL: A semi-pro Dota 2 pipeline open to anyone who can play on the US East server. 7 teams, 4 weeks of round-robin Bo1, playoffs Bo3, and relegation qualifiers.  
- GEMS League: A women’s Dota 2 showcase hosted in Southeast Asia, targeting SEA and Oceania. Same format, empowering champs and rising stars. 

Both unite players and fans, with Nouns GG amplifying community governance.

## Women’s Team Inclusion

### GEMS Women Circuit Americas

The top women’s team in the Americas will get an early option to acquire a franchise slot in NADCL’s first iteration, joining the league on US East. We ran a [GEMS Women Circuit](https://liquipedia.net/dota2/GEMS_Women_Circuit/2023-24/1) in America that proved unsustainable due to low ROI despite good viewership numbers. A wide skill gap between the top team and others made matches lopsided and unappealing with limited top-tier pool, made it tough to sustain a competitive league, so the circuit had to end.

![inf astra champs](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BJYpEipqkl.jpg)

### GEMS League Asia and Oceania

[GEMS League Asia and Oceania](https://liquipedia.net/dota2/GEMS_League/1/Asia_Oceania) stands as its own full-fledged tournament, launched in 2023 to empower women in Dota 2 across Southeast Asia and Oceania. With teams of relatively equal rank, it’s fostered a vibrant, competitive scene since day one. This standalone league continues to thrive, offering a balanced stage for rising stars and champs alike, distinct from the Americas’ challenges. Its top women’s team will eventually meet up with Americas top best at the [Global Esports Games](https://liquipedia.net/dota2/Global_Esports_Games/2024/Women) 2025, and we’re committed to rigorous training to ensure they perform at their peak during the LAN Grand Final.

![GEMS League Invites](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rkMkBsp5Jx.png)

## Who’s Behind This

I’m [Chompix](https://liquipedia.net/dota2/User:Chompix), a Dota 2 organizer since 2018, in web3 since October 2024. I’ve run Nounish Cups with 20% ROI and grown Nouns GG by 578 users. My tournaments have a track record of spotting talent and delivering buzz. For this upcoming two seasons, I’ll step up as head admin for NADCL under its new league format, ensuring a smooth run.

## How It’s Going Down

- Dates: March to May 2025 (10 weeks per iteration: 4 weeks play, 2 weeks qualifier break, 4 weeks play)    
- Teams: 7 per tournament, per iteration (28 total teams across 4 events)    
- Schedule:
  - Week 1 to 3: Round-robin  
  - Week 4: Grand Final  
  - Week 5: Break  
  - Week 6: Closed Qualifier  
  - Week 7 to 9: Round-robin  
  - Week 10: Gran Final  
- Game Format: Captains Mode, Bo1 matches, Bo3 Grand Finals    
- Streaming: 7+ player POVs per match (6-9 hours each), Grand Finals live on [Nouns Esports Twitch](https://twitch.tv/nounsesports) with duo casters
  
  ![draft nadcl (1)](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1kx5jp9yg.png) 

## Nouns DAO’s Mark on This

- Title Sponsorship: NADCL & GEMS League presented by Nouns DAO    
- Branding: Nouns DAO logos on streams, overlays, and socials    
- Soundtrack: Feature *[Nouns World](https://open.spotify.com/album/1jf66TffikNQthJhf4hQMP)* in streams    
- Community Nod: Nouns DAO and Nouners get Grand Final shoutouts    
- Governance: Invite casters to submit their Grand Final caster proposals via [nouns.gg/rounds](https://nouns.gg/rounds)           
- Gratitude Token: All players and organizers will feature a rotating ad logo showcasing Nouns sub-DAOs and [nouns.world](https://nouns.world), giving fans and viewers a window into the Nouns ecosystem.
  
  ![GEMS LEAGUE presented by NOUNS DAO](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/Hy9vYoacye.png) 

## Where the 5,600 USDC Goes

Per Tournament (4 Total):  

- Prize Pool: $600 USD ($250, $125, $100, $75, $50)    
- Nounish Bounty: $600 USDC ($200, $150, $100, $50, $40, $30, $20, $10)    
- Production: $200 USDC (Producer: $100, Casters: $50 each)    
- Total per event: $1,400 USDC
  Total Funding: 4 × $1,400 = 5,600 USDC
  Admin Fees: $0, covered by Chompix via franchise fees ($100 per slot for new franchises, $50 per slot for season renewals) 

## Why the Nounish Bounty Matters

The Nounish Bounty is key: it pushes players to grind and boost their MMR (Matchmaking Rating), tracked by Chompix's perfomance discord bot using [OpenDota](https://www.opendota.com/) API. With $600 USDC up for grabs per tournament, it’s a massive incentive to sharpen skills daily, turning NADCL and GEMS League into fiercely competitive battlegrounds. Beyond the game, it’s a bridge to Nouns and crypto. As players chase the bounty, they’ll learn about how to create a wallet and use their funds, blending esports with blockchain in a way that sticks.

![ranked perfomance](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/B1t4ii6cJg.png)

## Why USD as Payment?

The tournament prize pool will be handed out in USD to hit Liquipedia’s $500 minimum for notable tournaments, ensuring lasting recognition. All teams can request USDC instead, with Chompix handling the payment conversions. Nounish Bounties in USDC fund players’ wallets, tying wins to Nouns DAO. At 3 ETH, owning a Noun might be a barrier for some, but sub-DAOs offer an accessible entry into governance. We aim to draw them there organically, letting them buy into the Nouns ecosystem and governance with their winnings.

## What We’ll Deliver

- Viewership: 4 Grand Finals (3 hours each) targeting 150+ avg. viewers, 7+ POVs per match across 21 round-robin matches per tournament (42 streaming hours total per event), aiming for 420+ total hours watched per tournament.    
- Community Boost and Governance: Re-engage Nouns GG users via rounds, gain 40+ followers, onboard new players into Nouns sub-DAOs    
- ROI: 15-25% measured by attracting new governance participants, with sub-DAOs as their gateway (3 ETH for a Noun may be steep, but sub-DAOs ease them in)    
- Exposure: Nouns DAO branding across Twitch, socials, and esports chatter, plus rotating ad logos for sub-DAOs and [nouns.world](https://nouns.world) to deepen ecosystem awareness. 

Best,
Chompix

Outcome: DEFEATED