Although the COVID-19 caused considerable disruption to eSports events and tournaments worldwide, the leading eSports games continued bringing hefty prizes for the top players and teams.
According to data presented by Safe Betting Sites, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the highest-paid eSports game in the first half of 2021, with nearly $8 million in total prize money.
CS:GO Players Won more Prize Money than PUBG, Dota 2, or Fortnite Competitors
As 2021 began, the esports industry was still restricted almost entirely to offline events. However, as the year has progressed, several games started bringing back in-person tournaments, driving prize money up.
Besides leading in total prize money in the first half of 2021, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive also ranked as the second highest-paid eSports game of all time. The Esports Earnings data showed Valve’s tactical first-person shooter game hit $117.4 million in cumulative prize money, won in more than 5,800 tournaments so far.
The E-sports observer data show PlayerUnknown’s Battleground ranked as the second highest-paid eSports game in the first half of the year, with $7.8 million in prize money.
Fortnite players raked in $6.12 million in tournaments held during the first half of 2021, ranking as the third highest-paid eSports game this year. The US gamer Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf is the most successful among them, with over $3.1 million in total prize money. Moreover, statistics show the Epic Games` megahit still holds third place on the list of highest-paid eSports games of all time, with $107.6 million in cumulative prize money.
PUBG Mobile took the fourth spot on the list, with a prize pool between January and July worth $5.97 million.
Dota 2 rounds the top five list with $5.42 million in total prize money in the first half of the year. Still, the multiplayer online battle arena game leads in total winnings, with $234.8 million in cumulative prize money, more than CS:GO and Fortnite combined.
Susquehanna Soniqs the Most Successful Esports Team in 2021 with $1.4M in Total Earnings
Over the years, eSports became a career choice for many talented players, providing them the opportunity to sign lucrative sponsorship deals and win millions of dollars in tournaments.
The Esports Earnings data show the most successful eSports team in the first half of 2021 was Susquehanna Soniqs, which earned $1.42 million, almost entirely through its gamers’ success in the PUBG Global Invitational.
Team Liquid follows with $1.27 million in total earnings in this period. However, as one of the most respected and successful brands in eSports history, the Team Liquid players still convincingly lead in overall team earnings, or $37.4 million, so far.
Natus Vincere ranked third with $1.22 million in earnings between January and July. Ninjas in Pyjamas and Gambit Esports round the list of five most successful eSports teams in the first half of 2021, with $1.19 million in earnings each, respectively.
