The Biggest Esports Tournaments - Ranked by Prize Pool

The Importance of Prize Pools in the Esports Industry

Prize pools provide a financial incentive for players and teams to participate in tournaments. High rewards can attract the best talent from around the world, increasing the level of competition and excitement. Competitive gamers often rely on tournament winnings as a significant part of their income, so prize pools can help keep top players and teams in the ecosystem. The bigger the prize, the more likely skilled players are to stay in the competitive scene.

Large prize pools often come from sponsorships, which help tournament organizers cover costs and generate profit. Sponsorships also elevate the status of the event and attract media coverage, benefiting both the brands involved and the tournament organizers. Companies sponsoring esports events can get increased visibility by associating themselves with high-stakes competitions. This helps brands reach younger, tech-savvy audiences who are highly engaged with esports.

High prize pools contribute to the legitimacy of esports as a viable career option for players. When tournaments offer large rewards, they help validate esports as a serious, professional industry – comparable to traditional sports. Prize pools reflect the financial health and stability of the esports scene, encouraging long-term growth and sustainable competition, where players can earn a living and invest time and resources into improving their skills.

Without prize pools, esports would likely struggle to gain the attention, participation, and financial backing necessary for long-term success.

The Biggest Prize Pools in the Esports Industry

Big prize pools help generate buzz, bringing esports into more mainstream news cycles, not just gaming-specific media. It helps create high-stakes drama, drawing in viewers who want to watch the intense competition and see how top-tier players or teams perform under pressure. The potential for such enormous rewards encourages more people to tune in, significantly boosting viewership.

Top 10 Prize Pools in Esports Tournaments

When prize pools reach millions, these tournaments garner massive media coverage, attracting viewers from outside the traditional gaming community. This in turn helps grow the esports ecosystem, making it more visible and legitimate as a major entertainment form. The International (TI) is by far the most prominent esports tournament in terms of prize pool size.

From 2015 to 2021, it consistently topped the charts, with TI 2021 reaching an astonishing $40.02 million. This highlights the sustained growth and global significance of Dota 2's esports scene. TI’s unique method of funding through in-game purchases like the Battle Pass allows fans to directly contribute to the prize pool, giving the community a sense of ownership and increasing engagement. This has made the tournament iconic within the esports world.

The Fortnite World Cup (2019) made a major splash with its $15.29 million prize pool for solo players and $15.1 million for duos. The game’s massive mainstream popularity and accessibility helped attract both competitive players and casual gamers, significantly increasing its global esports presence.

The Fortnite World Cup had a breakthrough impact by offering substantial rewards for both solo and duo competitions. This mirrored traditional sports tournaments, which often include both individual and team formats. By offering separate prize pools, Fortnite created an ecosystem where multiple forms of play could flourish.

At $15.12 million, the Riyadh Masters 2023 marks a major step in the growth of non-traditional esports hubs. Saudi Arabia’s emergence as an esports powerhouse reflects the global expansion of esports, where new regions are hosting tournaments with massive prize pools and attracting international players and audiences.

Game Popularity and Prize Pools

These prize pools are a clear sign of the rapid financial maturation of the esports industry. As sponsorships and media rights continue to grow, we can expect even higher prize pools and more investment in high-profile tournaments.

Top 10 Esports Titles based on Tournament Prize Pool

With a tournament prize pool of $23.86 million, Dota 2 continues to dominate the esports scene in terms of prize money, primarily driven by The International. This reflects not just the longevity of the game but also its strong community engagement through crowdfunding and its position as the pinnacle of competitive gaming.

Counter-Strike 2 (previously CS:GO) is a staple of the competitive FPS scene, and its $20.83 million prize pool underscores its enduring popularity and importance. As one of the most iconic esports titles, CS:GO continues to attract massive viewership, top-tier teams, and sponsorships.

With Dota 2 leading the charge, it’s clear that the biggest prize pools are often associated with games that have an established competitive scene and a loyal, engaged community. On the other hand, games like Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, and Rainbow Six Siege show that competitive FPS games continue to be a major pillar in the esports ecosystem, attracting high-level sponsorship and viewership.

Fortnite and PUBG Mobile are prime examples of how battle royale games can quickly rise to prominence in esports with large player bases and huge prize pools, drawing both professional players and casual fans.

How Prize Pools Appeal to the Public

Huge prize pools not only act as financial incentives for players and teams but also serve as a major driver for increasing viewership, sponsorship, media coverage, and fan engagement. The sheer scale of these prize pools enhances the legitimacy and professionalism of esports, creating a virtuous cycle that boosts the overall popularity and cultural impact of the industry.

hen tournaments offer huge prizes year after year, fans develop a long-term interest in the competition, players, and the game itself. The massive prize pool is a reason for fans to remain invested in the scene and follow multiple editions of the event.

A consistent high-level competition with large rewards helps foster loyal fan bases and communities around the games. For example, Dota 2's community has been driven by the tradition of big prize pools, ensuring long-term popularity for the game.