With the rise of online gaming and streaming platforms, esports has become a billion-dollar industry over the past decade. Professional gamers, or “esports athletes,” compete in organized tournaments with huge prize pools, drawing in millions of viewers from around the world. It’s no wonder that esports has gained mainstream recognition and is considered a legitimate sport by many.
One of the key factors that contribute to the success and growth of esports is its highly competitive nature. And one way to measure this competitiveness is through the popularity of its tournaments. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the most popular esports tournaments, organized by game titles, prize money, and viewership numbers.
1. Dota 2: The International
Dota 2, developed by Valve Corporation, is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that has been dominating the esports scene since its release in 2013. Its flagship tournament, The International, is renowned for having the largest prize pool in esports history, with a whopping $34.3 million in 2019.
Overview of the Tournament
The International is an annual event that features the top 18 teams from around the globe competing against each other in a series of matches. The tournament has been held in different cities across the world, including Seattle, Vancouver, Shanghai, and Stockholm. Each year, The International also introduces new features, such as exclusive in-game items and mini-games, to keep players and fans engaged.
Prize Pool Breakdown
What sets The International apart from other tournaments is its unique crowd-funding system. A percentage of the revenue generated from in-game purchases is added to the overall prize pool, making it a community-funded event. In 2020, The International’s prize pool reached a record high of $40 million, which was mainly driven by the sale of the “Battle Pass” in-game item. The winning team takes home the majority of the prize pool, with the runner-up and other participating teams receiving a significant amount as well.
Viewership and Impact
The International has been regarded as the most prestigious event in Dota 2, drawing in millions of viewers from around the world. In 2019, the tournament’s peak concurrent viewership reached over 1.1 million, with an average of 628,000 viewers per match. The International also holds the record for the highest-paying esports event in history, with its prize pool increasing every year.
Aside from its impact on the esports scene, The International also has a significant impact on the gaming industry as a whole. It has become a platform for game developers to showcase new features and updates, while also attracting sponsors and investors to the industry.
2. League of Legends: World Championship
League of Legends (LoL) is another popular MOBA game developed by Riot Games, with an estimated 115 million monthly active players in 2021. The game’s annual World Championship is the most anticipated event in the LoL community, boasting a massive prize pool and record-breaking viewership numbers.
Overview of the Tournament
The League of Legends World Championship brings together 24 of the best teams from different regions, including North America, Europe, South Korea, and China. The tournament follows a similar format to The International, where teams compete in a series of matches until only one remains. However, unlike The International, the League of Legends World Championship is held in a single location, which changes every year.
Prize Pool Breakdown
The League of Legends World Championship has seen a steady increase in its prize pool over the years, reaching $6.5 million in 2020. Unlike The International, the prize pool in LoL’s tournament is not entirely crowd-funded. Riot Games allocates a set amount to the prize pool, with additional revenue from in-game purchases contributing to its growth. The winning team takes home the majority of the prize pool, with the runner-up and other participating teams receiving a portion as well.
Viewership and Impact
The League of Legends World Championship has consistently broken viewership records year after year. In 2020, the tournament’s peak concurrent viewership reached over 3.8 million, with an average of 2.1 million viewers per match. It also holds the record for the most-watched esports event in history, with over 137 million unique viewers tuning in for the 2019 finals.
Apart from its massive viewership, the League of Legends World Championship has also made a significant impact on the gaming industry. Its success has influenced the rise of other MOBA games and has proven that esports can be a viable career for many young players.
3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Major Championships
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, developed by Valve Corporation, is a popular first-person shooter game that has been dominating the esports scene since its release in 2012. Its Major Championships, also known as “Majors,” are the most prestigious events in the CS:GO community, often referred to as the “Super Bowl” of the game.
Overview of the Tournament
The CS:GO Major Championships bring together the top 24 teams from around the world to compete in a series of matches. Unlike The International and League of Legends World Championship, these Majors are not annual events. They are held approximately three times a year, with each event hosted in a different city. Each Major features a new set of challenges and obstacles for teams to overcome, making it one of the most unpredictable tournaments in esports.
Prize Pool Breakdown
The prize pool for CS:GO Major Championships is significantly smaller compared to other popular tournaments, with a base prize pool of $1 million. However, similar to The International and League of Legends World Championship, the CS:GO Majors also have an in-game item called the “Souvenir Package,” which contributes to the overall prize pool. The winning team takes home the majority of the prize money, with the runner-up and other participating teams receiving a share as well.
Viewership and Impact
The viewership for CS:GO Major Championships has seen a steady increase over the years, with the peak concurrent viewership reaching over 1.2 million in 2020. It has become one of the most-watched esports events, attracting millions of viewers from around the world. Its success has also led to the rise of other first-person shooter games in the esports scene, making it a competitive and lucrative market for players and organizations.
4. Fortnite World Cup
Fortnite is a battle royale game developed by Epic Games that took the gaming world by storm upon its release in 2017. Its popularity quickly translated into the esports scene, with the inaugural Fortnite World Cup being held in 2019 and breaking records for its massive prize pool.
Overview of the Tournament
Unlike other tournaments on this list, the Fortnite World Cup is an individual competition, with players competing against each other in solo or duo matches. The top 100 players from around the world qualify for the final event, with additional spots reserved for players who win their regional qualifying rounds. The tournament also features other events such as the Creative World Cup and Pro-Am, adding variety and excitement for both players and fans.
Prize Pool Breakdown
The Fortnite World Cup’s prize pool reached a staggering $30 million in 2019, with the winner of the solo event taking home $3 million. The duo event winners received $1.5 million each, with other placements also receiving a significant amount. The tournament’s prize money is solely contributed by Epic Games, demonstrating their commitment to the competitive scene and players.
Viewership and Impact
The Fortnite World Cup has been one of the most-watched esports events, with over 2.3 million peak concurrent viewers in 2019. It also holds the record for the most-watched esports event on YouTube, with over 1.3 million viewers tuning in to watch the finals live. Its success has also led to the growth of other battle royale games, such as Apex Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone, in the esports industry.
5. Overwatch League (OWL) Grand Finals
Overwatch, a team-based first-person shooter game developed by Blizzard Entertainment, has been making waves in the esports scene since its release in 2016. Its professional league, the Overwatch League, is one of the most prominent and lucrative esports leagues in the world, with its annual Grand Finals being the highlight of the season.
Overview of the Tournament
The Overwatch League consists of 20 teams from different regions, representing major cities around the world. The league follows a regular season format, with the top teams competing in the playoffs leading up to the Grand Finals. In 2020, the Grand Finals were held in a virtual environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it still drew in millions of viewers and demonstrated the league’s flexibility and adaptability.
Prize Pool Breakdown
The Overwatch League’s prize pool for the Grand Finals is league-funded, with $1.5 million allocated for the winning team. Other placements also receive a portion of the prize money, making it a highly lucrative event for participating teams.
Viewership and Impact
The Overwatch League Grand Finals have seen a significant increase in viewership since its inception in 2018, with the peak concurrent viewership reaching over 1.1 million in 2020. It has become one of the most-watched esports events, attracting both gamers and non-gamers alike due to its high production value and entertaining gameplay.
6. Call of Duty World League (CWL) Championship
Call of Duty is a first-person shooter game developed by Activision and has been a staple in the gaming industry since its release in 2003. Its professional league, the Call of Duty World League, features multiple tournaments throughout the year, with its flagship event being the CWL Championship.
Overview of the Tournament
The CWL Championship brings together the top teams from different regions around the world to compete in a series of matches. The tournament follows a double-elimination format, with the winning team advancing to the Grand Finals while the losing team drops to the loser’s bracket. The winner of the loser’s bracket must defeat the winner of the winner’s bracket twice to claim the championship title, making it an intense and exciting event for players and fans.
Prize Pool Breakdown
The CWL Championship’s prize pool is funded by Activision, with a base prize pool of $2 million. Similar to other tournaments on this list, the in-game item called the “Championship Charm” contributes to the overall prize money. In 2019, the tournament’s total prize pool reached over $4.6 million, with the winning team taking home $800,000.
Viewership and Impact
The CWL Championship has seen a steady increase in viewership, with the peak concurrent viewership reaching over 150,000 in 2019. While not as large as other major esports events, the CWL Championship’s success has led to the growth of other first-person shooter games in the competitive scene, such as Rainbow Six Siege and Battlefield.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the popularity of esports tournaments can be measured by various factors, including prize money, viewership numbers, and impact on the gaming industry. The six tournaments mentioned above are just a few of the many successful events that have contributed to the growth and mainstream recognition of esports.
With the continuous development of technology and the increasing interest in competitive gaming, we can expect to see even bigger and more exciting esports tournaments in the future. Esports has evolved from being just a hobby to a lucrative career for many, and it is undoubtedly here to stay.
