Top 10 eSports Games and Events with the Highest Prize Pools

Over the years, several different eSports games and events have had exceptionally high prize pools. I wrote about eSports before. Here are two examples if you are interested to read them.

Let’s Talk About eSports Today.

Here’s How to Use Streaming in Gaming and Esports

In this post, I will introduce the top 10 games and events with the highest prize pools in eSports history.

I have watched various Esports broadcasts since I got into competitive online gaming in the early 2010s.

Some of my favorite eSports titles include the following:

• Counter-Strike Global Offensive
• Rocket League
• Overwatch
• Valorant
• Rainbow Six Siege

Although do keep in mind that a few of the events I’ll be listing have annual events with the same name. In these cases, I’ll select the event with the highest prize pool instead of listing every event with the same game.

1 — Halo World Championship 2016 (Halo 5: Guardians)

The Halo World Championship 2016 was a popular esports tournament held in 2016, featuring the popular first-person shooter game Halo 5: Guardians. The tournament was organized by Xbox and 343 Industries, with a total prize pool of $2.5 million, making it the biggest prize pool in Halo esports history.

The championship took place in several stages, starting with online qualifiers in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia/New Zealand.

The top teams from each region advanced to the regional finals held in February and March 2016. The winners of each regional final then moved on to the Halo World Championship Finals, held in Hollywood, California, in April 2016.

The Halo World Championship Finals featured 16 teams from around the world competing for the top prize of $1 million. The teams were divided into four groups and played in a double-elimination bracket until only two were left.

The grand finals were a best-of-seven series between Counter Logic Gaming and Allegiance, with Counter Logic Gaming emerging as the champions.

The event was broadcast on various platforms, including Twitch and the Xbox Live Events interactive channel, and was watched by millions worldwide.

2 — Smite World Championship 2015 (SMITE)

The Smite World Championship 2015 was a significant esports tournament held in January 2015, featuring the famous multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Smite. The tournament was organized by Hi-Rez Studios and had a total prize pool of $2.6 million, making it the third-largest esports prize pool.

The championship featured teams from around the world, including North America, Europe, Brazil, China, and Latin America. The tournament was held over four days at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, and was broadcast live on the internet through various streaming platforms.

The tournament began with a group stage, in which teams were divided into four groups and played in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinals, which were held in a best-of-three format. The semifinals and grand finals were held in a best-of-five format.

In the grand finals, the North American team Cognitive Prime faced off against the European team Titan. The two teams battled it out in an intense best-of-five series, with Cognitive Prime emerging as the champions. They took home the first-place prize of $1.3 million, the largest prize in Smite esports history.

The tournament's success helped cement Smite as a major player in the esports industry and paved the way for future events and competitions. The Smite World Championship continues to be an annual event, with the prize pool growing larger each year.

3 — Six Invitational 2020 (Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege)

The Six Invitational 2020 was a famous esports tournament held in February 2020, featuring the popular tactical first-person shooter game Rainbow Six Siege. The tournament was organized by Ubisoft and had a prize pool of $3 million, making it one of the largest in Rainbow Six Siege esports history.

The championship was held in Montreal, Canada, at the Place Bell stadium. The tournament featured 16 of the world’s best teams from around the world, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

The teams were divided into four groups and played in a round-robin format on the group stage. The top two teams from each group advanced to the playoffs, which were held in a single-elimination bracket.

In the grand finals, the European team Spacestation Gaming faced off against the North American team Ninjas in Pyjamas.

The two teams battled it out in an intense best-of-five series, with Spacestation Gaming emerging as the champions. They took home the first-place prize of $1 million, the largest prize in Rainbow Six Siege esports history.

The Six Invitational 2020 was broadcast on various platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, and the Rainbow Six Siege game client, and was watched by millions worldwide.

The tournament's success solidified Rainbow Six Siege as a major player in the world of esports and paved the way for future events and competitions.

4 — Overwatch League — Season 2 Playoffs (Overwatch)

The Overwatch League (OWL) Season 2 playoffs culminated in months of intense competition as the top eight teams from the regular season faced off in a double-elimination tournament.

The playoffs featured thrilling matches and stunning upsets as teams battled to compete in the Grand Finals and claim the championship title.

The Grand Finals, held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, saw the San Francisco Shock dominate the Vancouver Titans in a 4–0 victory. The Shock’s DPS player, Jay “Sinatraa” Won, was named the Finals MVP after his impressive performance throughout the tournament.

In addition to the prestige of winning the championship title, the OWL Season 2 playoffs featured a significant prize pool.

The total prize pool for the playoffs was $3.5 million, with $1.1 million going to the champions, the San Francisco Shock. The runner-up, Vancouver Titans, received $600,000, while the third and fourth-place teams each received $450,000.

The OWL playoffs also offered additional monetary rewards to players who earned individual accolades throughout the tournament. These included the Finals MVP award and awards for the top-performing tank, DPS, and support players.

Overall, the OWL Season 2 playoffs were an exciting showcase of high-level competitive Overwatch play, with top teams from around the world vying for a chance to claim the championship title and a share of the significant prize pool.

5 — Call of Duty League Championship 2020 (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)

The Call of Duty League Championship 2020 was a significant esports tournament held from August 19–30, 2020, featuring the top 12 teams from the inaugural season of the Call of Duty League.

The tournament was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with teams competing from their respective cities and playing in a double-elimination bracket format.

The Dallas Empire won the championship and defeated the Atlanta FaZe in a thrilling 5-game Grand Finals series. The Empire’s win was mainly due to the stellar play of their MVP, James “Clayster” Eubanks, who led the team with impressive performances throughout the tournament.

The Call of Duty League Championship 2020 offered a prize pool of $4.6 million, with the winning team, Dallas Empire, taking home $1.5 million. The runner-up, Atlanta FaZe, received $900,000, while the third and fourth-place teams received $600,000 and $450,000, respectively.

Throughout the tournament, teams competed in various game modes, including Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, and Domination. The Championship was also notable for featuring the new Call of Duty title, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, as the game used for competition.

The Call of Duty League Championship 2020 was an exciting showcase of top-tier Call of Duty esports competition, with high stakes and impressive performances from some of the best players in the world.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the online format of the tournament allowed fans to watch and cheer on their favorite teams from the safety of their homes.

6 — LoL 2018 World Championship (League of Legends)

The League of Legends (LoL) 2018 World Championship was the eighth edition of the annual esports tournament held by Riot Games.

The tournament was held in South Korea from October 1 to November 3, 2018, and featured 24 teams worldwide competing for the championship title.

The World Championship was won by Invictus Gaming, a Chinese team that defeated Europe’s Fnatic in a dominant 3–0 sweep in the Grand Finals. Invictus Gaming’s top laner, Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok, was named the tournament’s MVP for outstanding performances.

The LoL 2018 World Championship offered a prize pool of $6.45 million, with Invictus Gaming taking home $2.4 million as the champions. Fnatic received $850,000 as the runner-up, while the third and fourth-place teams, G2 Esports and Cloud9, each received $450,000.

The tournament featured exciting matches, with teams competing in various game modes, including Summoner’s Rift, Twisted Treeline, and Howling Abyss.

The LoL 2018 World Championship also set a new record for esports viewership, with the Grand Finals attracting over 200 million viewers worldwide.

Overall, the LoL 2018 World Championship was a thrilling showcase of top-tier League of Legends competition, with talented teams from around the world battling it out for the championship title and a share of the significant prize pool.

7 — PGI.S 2021 Main Event (PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS)

PGI.S 2021 Main Event was a major esports tournament held in South Korea, featuring the world’s top teams competing in the popular battle royale game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). This tournament was the second global event for PUBG in 2021, and the main event was held from February 5 to March 28.

The tournament featured 32 teams from around the world, each competing for a share of the $3.5 million prize pool. The Main Event was won by the South Korean team Gen.G, who defeated Tianba in a tense Grand Finals series to claim the championship title and the top prize of $1.2 million.

Throughout the tournament, teams competed in various game modes, including Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, and Karakin. The tournament also featured a range of exciting and high-stakes matches, with teams battling to qualify for the Grand Finals.

The PGI.S 2021 Main Event was notable for its innovative format, which featured a unique “Pick’em Challenge” that allowed fans to predict the tournament's outcome and win in-game rewards.

The tournament was notable for promoting fair play and sportsmanship, with organizers implementing strict anti-cheat measures and a code of conduct for players.

Overall, the PGI.S 2021 Main Event was an exciting showcase of top-tier PUBG competition, with talented teams from around the world battling it out for the championship title and a share of the significant prize pool.

8 — Honor of Kings International Championship 2022 (Arena of Valor)

The Honor of Kings International Championship 2022 was a great esports tournament featuring the top teams from around the world competing in the famous mobile game Honor of Kings.

The championship featured 16 teams from around the world, including teams from China, South Korea, Vietnam, and other countries. The tournament offered a prize pool of $6 million, with the winning team taking home $1.5 million.

The Honor of Kings International Championship was organized by Tencent, the company behind the game, and is one of China's most significant esports events. The tournament featured a double-elimination bracket format, with matches played on the players' mobile devices.

The Honor of Kings, known as Arena of Valor in the West, is a famous multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that has gained a massive following in China and other parts of the world.

The game is known for its fast-paced gameplay, diverse character roster, and high production value.

9 — Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 — Solo (Fortnite)

The Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 — Solo was a significant esports tournament held in New York City from July 26–28, 2019, featuring the world’s top players competing in the popular battle royale game Fortnite.

The tournament was the first-ever Fortnite World Cup Finals and offered a prize pool of $30 million, making it one of the most prominent esports events in history.

The Solo event featured 100 players competing against each other in a series of matches, with the highest score at the end of the event being crowned the world champion.

The Solo event was won by Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, a 16-year-old American player who dominated the competition, winning the final match with a record-breaking 59 points.

The Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 — Solo was notable for its high production value and the event's sheer size, which drew in tens of thousands of fans to the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens.

The tournament also featured exciting and high-stakes matches, with players competing in various game modes, including Solos, Duos, and Creative.

The success of the Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 — Solo helped to cement Fortnite’s place as one of the world’s most popular and lucrative esports, with the game continuing to draw in millions of players and fans around the world.

The tournament set a new standard for esports events, with its massive prize pool and high-profile venue helping to raise the profile of competitive gaming.

10 — The International 2021 (Dota 2)

The International 2021 was a significant esports tournament held in Bucharest, Romania, featuring the world’s top teams competing in the popular multiplayer online battle arena game Dota 2.

The tournament was the tenth edition of The International and was originally scheduled to take place in Stockholm, Sweden, but was moved to Romania due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.

The tournament featured 18 teams from around the world, each competing for a share of the $40 million prize pool, the largest prize pool in esports history.

The International 2021 was won by Team Spirit, a Russian team who defeated the heavily-favored PSG.LGD in a thrilling Grand Finals series to claim the championship title and the top prize of over $18 million.

Throughout the tournament, teams competed in a double-elimination bracket format, with matches played in a best-of-three and best-of-five series. The tournament also featured a range of exciting and high-stakes matches, with teams battling to qualify for the Grand Finals.

The International 2021 was notable for its innovative format, which featured a unique “Compendium” that allowed fans to purchase in-game items and contribute to the tournament’s prize pool.

The tournament was also notable for promoting fair play and sportsmanship, with organizers implementing strict anti-cheat measures and a code of conduct for players.

Overall, The International 2021 was an exciting showcase of top-tier Dota 2 competition, with talented teams from around the world battling it out for the championship title and a share of the record-breaking prize pool.

The tournament also demonstrated esports' continued growth and popularity, with Dota 2 remains one of the world’s most popular and lucrative esports.

Final Words

The esports industry has grown exponentially over the years, and this is evident in the increasing prize pools offered in competitive events.

These events were held across different parts of the world and had millions of viewers from various streaming platforms, showcasing the industry’s widespread popularity.

These events have not only offered gamers an opportunity to showcase their skills but also helped solidify different games’ positions in the esports industry and pave the way for future events and competitions.

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