Although the COVID-19 caused considerable disruption to eSports events and tournaments last year, the leading eSports continued bringing hefty prizes for the top players and teams.
According to data presented by Safe Betting Sites, Dota 2, as the leading eSports game by total winnings, hit over $234 million in cumulative prize money, more than Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Fortnite combined.
Chinese Dota 2 Players Won One-Third of Total Prize Money
The EsportsEarnings data show Dota 2 players competed in 1,525 tournaments and competitions and won more prize money than CS:GO and Fortnite players combined.
With $6.9 million in total prize money, Danish gamer Johan “N0tail” Sundstein still tops the list of the most successful Dota 2 player globally. Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka and Anathan “ana” Pham follow with $6.4 million and $6 million in earnings, respectively.
However, statistics show Chinese players won the largest share of total Dota 2 prize money or $66.2 million so far. Finland ranked as the country with the second-highest number of Dota 2 winners, with nearly $16 million in prize money. The United States, Denmark, and Russia follow, with $13.9 million, $11.9 million, and $11.8 million, respectively.
Top 5 Esports Games Hit $575 Million in Total Prize Money
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive ranked as the second highest-paid eSports game. Valve’s tactical first-person shooter game hit $115.8 million in cumulative prize money or two times less than the leading Dota 2. However, statistics show CS:GO leads in 2021 prize money. Over the last four months only, CS:GO players won $6.7 million, or around 20% more than Fortnite or Dota 2 players.
Fortnite players raked in $104.8 million in 731 tournaments so far, ranking as the third-largest eSports game globally. With more than $3.1 in total prize money, US gamer Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf is the most successful among them.
League of Legends ranked as the fourth highest-paid eSports game globally, with $84.1 worth of prize pools so far. Blizzard Entertainment’s military SF real-time strategy game, StarCraft II, follows with $35.1 million, respectively.
Statistics show the top five eSports games hit $575 million in total prize money, almost a $75 million increase in a year.
