Virtual sports have emerged as a popular alternative to traditional sports betting, providing fans a fast-paced and exciting way to bet on their favorite sports without waiting for live events. These digital simulations of sporting events are created using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, allowing for realistic gameplay and outcomes.
The increasing popularity of the eSports industry has opened up a lucrative career path for top players. However, the amount of money a player can earn in eSports isn’t solely dependent on their skill level but also on the particular game they choose to specialize in.
Smaller eSports may offer a few thousand dollars in prize money for their biggest tournaments, while the largest and most prestigious competitions can have millions of dollars up for grabs.
Command of experts 24Betting portal has compiled a list of the top 10 highest-paying eSports based on the prize pool of their biggest competitions. This ranking provides an overview of the games that offer the greatest financial rewards for the most skilled players in the eSports industry.
Halo – World Championship 2016
In 2016, the Halo World Championship held the largest prize pool ever seen in Halo eSports. Sixteen teams participated in Halo 5: Guardians, vying for some $2.5 million prize money. Counter Logic Gaming emerged victorious in the grand finals, defeating Team Allegiance to claim the championship trophy. Xbox Wire provided a photo of CLG posing with their well-deserved trophy.
Smite – World Championship 2015
Within a year of its release, Smite’s competitive scene peaked with a $2,612,259 prize pool at the Smite World Championship 2015. COGnitive Gaming dominated the pool phase and secured a spot in the grand finals against Titan. Following a thrilling five-game grand final set, COGnitive Gaming emerged as the winners.
Rainbow Six Siege – Six Invitational
The Rainbow Six Siege eSports scene has provided consistent joy to players for the last few years.
Below are the winning teams from each event:
- 2020 – Spacestation Gaming
- 2021 – Ninjas in Pyjamas
- 2022 – TSM
The Six Invitational, with a $3 million prize pool, was held in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Overwatch – OWL Season 2 Playoffs
At the Overwatch League Season 2 Playoffs in 2019, eight teams battled for a prize pool of $3.5 million. The San Francisco Shock emerged as champions by defeating the Vancouver Titan in the final match. With the transition to Overwatch 2 in the OWL format, it remains to be seen whether tournament prize pools will reach the same levels as they did before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Call of Duty – CDL Championship 2020
The Call of Duty esports scene peaked at the Call of Duty League Championship 2020, where a $4.6 million prize pool was up for grabs among ten competing teams. The Dallas Empire ultimately took home the trophy, defeating the Atlanta FaZe. Meanwhile, the League of Legends 2018 World Championship takes the fifth spot on the list of biggest esports prize pools, with a peak prize pool of $6.45 million and Invictus Gaming coming out as champions.
League of Legends – 2018 World Championship
Although League of Legends is a trendy competitive game, it ranks fifth among eSports with the largest prize pools. Its prize funds have decreased in recent years, but at the LoL 2018 World Championship, it peaked with a $6.45 million prize pool. Invictus Gaming emerged victorious among 24 teams to claim the grand prize.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – PGI.S 2021 Main Event
During the PUBG Global Invitational.S 2021 Main Event, the game hit its highest point in the prize pool with a staggering $7,068,071. Although 32 teams participated in the tournament, only the Susquehanna Soniqs claimed the top spot as champions.
Arena of Valor – Honor of Kings International Championship 2022
Compared to other games on this list, Arena of Valor may be considered niche, but its players have enjoyed numerous large prize pools. In the Honor of Kings International Championship 2022, 16 teams competed for a whopping $10 million. Despite facing tough competition from a top eight that consisted exclusively of Chinese teams, eStar Pro emerged as the winner.
Fortnite – World Cup Finals 2019
The prize pools for the Solo and Duo events at the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Finals rank among the top 10 in eSports history. Cooler Esport’s David “Aqua” Wang and Emil “Nyhrox” Bergquist Pedersen claimed the majority of the $15.1 million prize pool in the Duo category.
Meanwhile, Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf won the Solo event with a prize pool of $15,287,500, and it is worth noting that the Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 Solo tournament is the only non-team event to make it onto this list.
Dota 2 – The International 2021
The International, Dota 2’s premier eSports competition, dominates the charts with the top seven biggest prize pools of all time and the tenth. Despite a decrease in prize money in its most recent installment, The International remains leagues ahead of any other eSports event.
The International 2021, also known as The International 10, holds the record for the highest prize pool in Dota 2 history, with a staggering $40,018,400 on the line. Team Spirit’s triumph in the event secured the largest prize payout in eSports history. The championship was a big event for bettors on the 24betting app India, with a lot of excitement in the virtual sports betting section.
Conclusion
In recent years, virtual sports have gained significant popularity, and large prize pools and massive fan followings have accompanied their rise. The virtual sports industry has created a new source of entertainment for viewers and opened up new opportunities for the betting industry. With virtual sports, bettors can enjoy quick and easy access to betting markets and have the opportunity to bet on events with almost no delay. Ultimately, the virtual sports business is increasingly important within the larger eSports and sports betting sectors.
