The last two decades have been marked by the rapid development of eSports disciplines, so it is not surprising that this direction has become a full-fledged sport. Moreover, in terms of popularity, it has long left behind the absolute majority of classic sports competitions (including team ones). This is due to the massiveness of eSports, as well as incredible prize money, which grows every year.
The organizers of such competitions are game developers such as Valve (Dota 2, CS) or Riot Games (League of Legends). Independent esports organizations, such as ESL, DreamHack, BLAST, also play a significant role. In addition, certain organizational moments are taken over by big brands and sponsors who invest in holding competitions to increase their popularity and publicity.
Many beginners dream of taking part in the most prestigious events, but for this it is necessary to make maximum efforts, pass the sieve of qualifying selections and show a high level of play. Ratings of players and teams in the game also play an important role. Popular teams and individual gamers can receive direct invitations from the organizers.
Competitions are held in both physical and online formats. The biggest eSports events are usually held in large arenas and stadiums that can hold thousands of spectators. For example, The International is held at KeyArena in Seattle. Other tournaments may take place on specially equipped grounds or studios. Online confrontations take place on such well-known platforms as Battlefy, FACEIT or Challengermode.
The size of the prize funds depends on the prestige of the competition and sponsorship interest. For example, CS tournaments like IEM Katowice can have prize pools of several million dollars. Funds smaller in scope, organized by local or regional organizers, range from a few thousand to tens of thousands. Prizes may also consist of cash prizes, valuable prizes, equipment or contracts with eSports organizations.
Why Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournaments are popular and the size of the prizes
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS) tournaments have become incredibly popular due to several key factors. First, the game has simple and clear rules, which makes it accessible to a wide range of players and viewers. Second, CS offers a deep level of strategic gameplay that appeals to both novice and experienced gamers. In addition, the development of the eSports scene and large prize pools have also contributed to the increase in popularity.
Such competitions usually consist of several stages, including the following stages:
- Qualification. Qualifiers can be open to all teams or closed, where highly ranked teams are invited. Qualifiers determine the teams that will advance to the main tournament.
- Group stage. Participants who have passed the qualification screening are divided into groups. They play each other in a round-robin format, where each team faces each other. The results of the group matches determine which teams will advance to the playoffs.
- Playoffs. This stage is usually played in a double-elimination format where teams compete in a series of elimination matches. Winners move on and losers get another chance at the lower grid.
The last stage of the competition is the finals, where the winners are determined and receive the lion's share of the prize fund. For example, major tournaments such as the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM), ESL One, and the PGL Major often have multi-million dollar prize pools. Typically, the winner gets about 50%, second place gets 25%, third gets 15%, and 10% is shared among the other teams.
CS tournaments are held in various locations around the world. The biggest events are often held in big cities like Katowice, Cologne, Los Angeles, and others. They are organized in arenas and stadiums that can accommodate thousands of spectators. Also, a significant part of the tournaments is held online, which allows to attract a larger audience from different parts of the world.
The peculiarity of tournaments with WoW
World of Warcraft is one of the most famous games of the MMORPG genre, which is distinguished by its deep mechanics and an active community of players. WoW tournaments are exciting events that can be divided into several main formats:
- PvP tournaments (Player vs. Player). In PvP tournaments, players compete against each other or as part of teams in arenas or battlegrounds. The most famous tournaments of this format are the Arena World Championship (AWC).
- PvE tournaments (Player vs. Environment). In PvE tournaments, players compete in the speed of completing dungeons or raids. One of the popular formats is Mythic Dungeon International (MDI).
- Raid tournaments. These competitions focus on how quickly you can complete the new raid bosses. Teams compete in the Race to World First, trying to be the first to defeat a new boss or complete a raid.
Prize pools in WoW tournaments vary depending on the level of competition. The biggest tournaments like AWC and MDI have a combined cap in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and most of them are held online, allowing players from all over the world to be involved. Meanwhile, the final stages of major tournaments like the AWC can be held at large events like BlizzCon, with in-room spectators and significant media support.
Dota 2 tournaments
Dota 2, developed by Valve Corporation, is one of the most popular strategy games in the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) genre. The holding of such tournaments is an impressive example of the organization of e-sports competitions.
The main game formats include:
- Majors (Dota 2 Majors). These are international competitions with huge prize funds. They consist of several stages: qualifying matches, group stages and playoffs.
- Regular leagues and series. Leagues such as Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) are held throughout the year and include series of matches and tournaments. Teams collect points that affect their ranking and the possibility of participating in major confrontations.
- Local and regional tournaments. Smaller competitions are often held at the regional level and can serve as qualifiers for major international events.
If we talk objectively about the size of the prizes in these competitions, they have recently reached incredible proportions. For example, at The International in 2021, the total prize pool was more than $40 million. In Dota 2 Majors, prizes range from 300,000 to one million dollars, and in Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) Regional Leagues - up to 300,000. In regional and amateur tournaments, these numbers are significant and on average are in the range from 5 to 50 thousand.
Among other popular tournaments for money in games, competitions in the following disciplines attract attention:
- League of Legends
- Fortnite
- Call of Duty
- Hearthstone
- Overwatch
- Apex Legends
- FIFA
- Rainbow Six Siege and others.
The formation of prize funds in tournaments depends on many factors, but among the main ones, the following components attract attention:
- Sponsorship Sponsors play a decisive role in the formation of prize funds. They can be represented by well-known brands, technology companies, equipment manufacturers, etc. Such companies provide financial support in exchange for advertising and marketing opportunities during tournaments.
- Ticket sales. Tickets to major offline eSports events are also a source of prize money, as it allows organizers to raise additional funds.
- Funds of the organizers. Tournament organizers such as ESL, DreamHack, BLAST and others allocate their own funds to form prize pools. They are financed by sponsors, ticket sales and other sources of income.
- Crowdfunding. It is becoming an increasingly popular method of forming prize funds. Players and fans can contribute to increase the total prize pool of the tournament.
- Television and streaming rights. The sale of rights to broadcast tournaments through platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, TV channels also brings significant income, which can be partially used for prize funds.
- Partner programs. Cooperation with other organizations and companies within the framework of partnership programs can ensure the inflow of additional funds. Partnerships may include co-branding agreements, development of joint marketing campaigns, etc.
- License payments. Some game companies receive licensing fees from tournament organizers for the right to use their game in official competitions. These funds can be returned in the form of prize funds.
The popularity of eSports is due to many factors, but it is safe to say that this sport has a great future. According to specialists' forecasts, in the next 5-7 years, the prize money in such tournaments will increase by at least 15-25%.
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