In the esports industry, a prize pool is a sum of money awarded to the top-performing teams or players in a tournament or competition. The funding for these prize pools usually comes from multiple sources. These may include sponsors, ticket sales, and crowdfunding and can vary significantly in size, from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars. The prize money distribution in esports tournaments varies depending on the event and game played. Some matches provide a fixed payout to the highest-ranking players or teams, while others adopt a tiered approach. In such cases, a major portion of the prize pool goes to the tournament champion, and the other top performers receive the remaining amount.
Esports prize pools have been steadily increasing over the years. Some of the most significant esports events in the world have offered prize pools of over $30 million. Esports players and teams often rely on these prize pools as a primary source of income, with top earners bringing in millions of dollars in winnings each year. As the industry keeps growing, the stakeholders expect the prize pools in esports to increase further, making professional gaming an even more profitable career option for skilled players.
The reason behind the increasing popularity of the huge prize pools
Several factors are responsible for the boom in esports tournament prize money. Firstly, the increasing popularity of esports has led to a surge in the number of viewers and participants, resulting in a greater demand for competitive gaming events. This demand has increased company sponsorship and investment, resulting in larger prize pools.
Secondly, the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube has made it easier for esports events to reach a global audience. As more people tune in to watch these events, the advertising revenue generated by the tournaments increases, allowing for larger prize pools.
Thirdly, crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have allowed fans to contribute to the prize pool of their favorite esports tournaments. This has led to even larger prize pools, as fans are more invested in the events and want to see their favorite players and teams win big. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of esports, as traditional sports events were canceled or postponed. This has led to increased investment in esports, with companies looking to capitalize on the growing demand for competitive gaming.
Breaking Records and Making History: Esports Tournaments with the Highest Prize Pools
Esports is a rapidly growing industry, and one of the main drivers of this growth is the huge prize pools offered in some of the top esports tournaments. Here is a detailed explanation of the top 7 esports tournaments with the biggest prize pools:
- The International – Dota 2: The International is Dota 2’s premier esports tournament, organized by Valve Corporation. It has a massive prize pool crowdfunded by fans, with a portion of the revenue from in-game purchases going toward the prize pool. The International has had the largest prize pool in esports history, with the 2019 tournament offering a staggering $34.3 million.
- League of Legends World Championship: This one is the most significant event in League of Legends esports, with teams worldwide competing for the championship title. The tournament has a significant prize pool, with the 2020 edition offering $6.5 million.
- Fortnite World Cup: Fortnite is a famous battle royale game, and its World Cup is one of the most lucrative esports events in the world. The 2019 edition had a prize pool of $30 million, with Kyle Giersdorf, a 16-year-old American, taking home the grand prize of $3 million.
- The International – Valorant: The International is not just limited to Dota 2. The esports tournament recently expanded to include Valorant, a popular first-person shooter game. The 2021 edition of the match had a prize pool of $2 million.
- PUBG Global Championship: The PUBG Global Championship is the biggest esports event for the popular battle royale game, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). The 2019 edition had a prize pool of $5 million.
- Overwatch League: The Overwatch League is a professional esports league for the popular first-person shooter, Overwatch. The league’s grand finals have a significant prize pool, with the 2019 edition offering $3.5 million.
- Call of Duty World League Championship: This is the biggest event in Call of Duty esports. The 2019 edition of the tournament had a prize pool of $2 million.
Overall, these top 7 esports tournaments with the biggest prize pools have contributed to the esports industry’s growth and have provided players with significant financial opportunities. As the esports industry continues to grow, these tournaments’ prize pools are expected only to continue to increase.
Also Read: Dominating the Game: The Unstoppable Rise of eSports
