The world of esports has scaled up to a billion-dollar industry. Now, players are fighting for breathtaking sums of money in cash tournaments. From Dota 2 esports tournaments to Fortnite tournament cash prizes, esports games are offering life-changing big payouts. In this post, Kate Richardson, a sports expert, discusses which esports disciplines boast larger prize pools and points at some of the most far-reaching tournaments so far.
Over the years, prize pools have grown a lot in esports and drawn the attention of players, sponsors, and fans alike. Let’s dive into which games top the charts:
1. Dota 2 — The King of Esports Prize Pools
Among prize pool prizes, Dota 2 esports tournaments are in a league of their own. The most significant event within the game is called The International and is always held in great renown for breaking records regarding prize pool money. Indeed, Valve uses a special crowdfunding model where part of revenues coming from in-game purchases directly feeds into the prize pool.
Key Facts
● Largest Prize Pool: $40 million at The International 2021
● Notable Winner: OG, the only team to win The International twice (2018, 2019)
Esport Insider reports that Dota 2 has set the gold standard for esports prize pools, and it is not going to be beaten anytime soon. With such huge prizes, Dota 2 esports tournaments have remained at the top box office and set a record for other esports disciplines. The winning team, Team Spirit, took more than $18 million of the prize pool at The International in 2021.
2. Fortnite — Youthful Energy Meets Big Prizes
Colorful graphics and frantic action have catapulted Fortnite to international phenomenon status, but for those who would consider the bottom line, it is a real powerhouse in prize money.
Key Facts
● Largest Prize Pool: $30 million at the Fortnite World Cup 2019
● Notable Winner: Kyle Bugha Giersdorf, who won $3 million as a solo champion
● How Much Do Fortnite Tournaments Pay? Cash prizes range from $1,000 to multi-million-dollar payouts at flagship events like the Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS).
The fact that the Fortnite World Cup was won by a 16-year-old sent shockwaves across the globe that esports indeed holds tremendous potential to be one of the most sought-after professions. “It feels amazing, and the game has changed everyone’s lives drastically,” Kyle, a 10th grader and the 16-year-old winner, said.
The Fortnite tournament cash prizes drove a whole new generation of gamers, and the fun mixed with competition made Fortnite a household name in the world of esports.
3. League of Legends — Global Fame and Big Wins
League of Legends (LoL) is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, e-sport titles in the world, and its most significant event is considered to be the League of Legends World Championship, which also gains millions of viewers with extremely lucrative cash prizes.
Key Facts
● Most prominent Prize Pool: $6.45 million at the 2018 World Championship
● Notable Winner: FunPlus Phoenix, winners of the 2019 Championship
● League of Legends Biggest Prize Pool: While not as large as Dota 2’s, LoL’s steady payouts attract a global audience.
Notably, League of Legends takes a different approach to funding compared to Dota 2’s crowdfunding mechanism. Riot Games uses both direct investment and sponsorship partnerships to fund the prize pool. Smaller yet more stable reward pools are part of this framework. During their 2018 World Championship, one of the largest events in esports, League of Legends attracted over 99.6 million viewers.
4. PUBG — Battle Royale with Big Cash Prizes
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds pioneered the battle royale genre, and its esports tournaments have grown very fast. The major prize pools are offered via the PUBG Global Championship.
Key Facts
● Largest Prize Pool: $4 million at PUBG Global Championship 2019
● Notable Winner: Gen.G Esports, winner of PGC 2019
While the prize pool of PUBG is not as big as that of Fortnite, it still holds a significant role in gaming. The fast-paced gameplay of battle royale games keeps the fans at the edge.
5. CS:GO — Consistent and Steady Earnings
First released in 2012, CS:GO remains among the most popular esports titles to date.
Its prize pools are generally more modest than those available to Dota 2 players, but given that hundreds of CS:GO tournaments are organized every year, it nevertheless provides significant sums of money for its pro players.
Key Facts
● Largest Prize Pool: $2 million at the PGL Major Stockholm 2021
● Notable Winner: Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) — one of the most successful CS: GO teams
CS:GO is always buzzing; it always comes with frequent events that usually face many hopefuls with several different and distinct chances to win throughout the year. With the consistent richness of tournaments, it has already turned CS:GO into a favorite among the professional teams and stars in this genre of esports.
Notable Mentions: Other Esports Disciplines with High Prize Pools
Besides the ones specifically listed above, there are other esports events with hundreds of thousands as their prize money. More recently, female-only esports tournaments are on the rise with the hopes that they can offer just as much cash prizes as many male-dominated competitions do.
Speaking about this phenomenon, Stephanie Harvey, retired pro Counter-Strike player and game developer once said, “Female tournaments, at the moment, are the only initiative we have towards female gamers. Because of those events, we’ve seen female teams even being sponsored. Those are band-aids, in my opinion. They serve a purpose, but underneath the band-aid the problem is still there.”
Hopefully, the world gets to see more female tournaments soon. But for now, here are some high-paying esports disciplines worthy of mention.
● Minecraft Tournament Prize Money: Minecraft does tend to be a very unusual sight when it comes to esports; it is an up-and-coming interest in community-driven tournaments.
● Rainbow Six Siege: Very high prize pools for its Six Invitational events.
● Apex Legends: They continue to have a significant presence in big esports tournaments, which is pretty standard.
How to Choose a Bookmaker for Esports Betting
Photo: MightyTips
For those fans who would like to place a bet on esports, it’s important to choose a good bookmaker. Knowing how to choose a bookmaker can ensure a safer betting experience. Here’s a quick guide to help you:
- Check Licensing: The bookmaker should be licensed by the Hellenic Gaming Commission.
- Review Betting Markets: Look for esports, covering games like Dota 2, LoL, and Fortnite.
- Assess Bonuses and Promotions: To review sign-up bonuses and increased odds.
It’s worth noting that there are fewer sportsbook options in some locations than there are in others.
In countries like Greece, Estonia and many parts of eastern Europe, you may need some extra guidance finding a bookmaker because of the limited number of platforms that offer esports betting.
Notwithstanding, you can leverage MightyTips for a detailed guide on how to choose a bookmaker in Greece. The platform gives you access to top, reputable sports betting companies in Greece and many other countries. If you’re looking for sites with VIP structures, seamless payment methods and multiple esports events to bet on, MightyTips will lead you right to where you ought to be.
Conclusion
From record-breaking prize pools in Dota 2 esports tournaments to exciting, youth-driven Fortnite tournament cash prizes, esports really changed the writing of the gaming industry. Athletes became overnight millionaires, and every main event was awaited with huge eagerness from fans. Regarding esports betting, knowing how to choose a bookmaker will make all the difference in having security and reaping a good reward.
The rise in the popularity of esports has been phenomenal, and for prize pools that are this high, it’s no wonder we now have a global sensation. In general, as esports continues to grow, we can only expect the prize pools to grow with it, providing players with even more excellent opportunities for both fame and fortune.