The year 2025 has already set new benchmarks for competitive gaming, with organizations and game publishers investing heavily to attract the best talent and the largest audiences. The sheer scale of some prize pools is a testament to the growth and global appeal of esports.
1. The Esports World Cup (EWC 2025)
- Total Prize Pool: Over $71.5 Million USD
- Game(s): Multi-game (including CS2, LoL, Dota 2, Valorant, R6 Siege, Apex Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Free Fire, StarCraft II, Chess, Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and more)
- Why it ranks #1: The Esports World Cup, ongoing through August 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has shattered all previous records for a combined esports prize pool. This unprecedented sum is distributed across multiple game championships, a $27 million “Club Championship” (rewarding organizations for overall performance across titles), MVP awards, and qualifier prize money. It’s a colossal undertaking designed to redefine the esports landscape, offering life-changing money to winners across a vast spectrum of games.
2. Dota 2: The International (TI)
- Largest Historic Prize Pool (TI 2021): Over $40 Million USD
- Recent Prize Pool (TI 2025): Currently a base of $1.6 Million USD, but typically grows significantly through crowdfunding.
- Why it’s still elite: While the base prize pool for The International 2025 is $1.6 million, Valve’s unique crowdfunding model, where a percentage of Battle Pass sales directly contributes to the prize pool, has historically made TI the single-game tournament with the largest prize pools. The 2021 edition reached a staggering $40 million. Though recent TIs (like TI 2024 at $2.58 million) have seen lower crowdfunded totals than their peak, the potential for an explosive increase remains, and its historical significance keeps it at the top of the list for single-game events.
3. League of Legends World Championship (Worlds)
- Projected Prize Pool (Worlds 2025): $5 Million USD (More than double last year’s $2.25 million)
- Why it’s a top contender: The League of Legends World Championship is consistently one of the most-watched esports events globally. While its prize pools haven’t historically reached the crowd-funded heights of Dota 2’s TI, Riot Games has significantly increased the stakes for 2025. This $5 million pool, combined with the immense prestige and viewership, makes Worlds a premier destination for pro players and a massive draw for fans.
4. Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) Global Championship
- Recent Prize Pool (FNCS 2025 Global Championship): $2 Million USD
- Historic High (Fortnite World Cup 2019): $30 Million USD (Total across various competitions)
- Why it’s significant: While Fortnite has moved away from the single, massive World Cup event of 2019 ($3 million for solo winner), the FNCS Global Championship remains a significant event with a multi-million dollar prize pool. Epic Games continues to support competitive Fortnite with substantial prizes, offering aspiring pros a clear path to earning significant income through consistent performance in its regional and global circuits.
5. Counter-Strike 2 Majors (PGL, BLAST, IEM Series)
- Typical Prize Pool: $1.25 Million USD
- Why they’re essential viewing: CS2 Majors are the pinnacle of competitive Counter-Strike, sponsored directly by Valve. While their prize pools are fixed at $1.25 million, they represent the highest honor in the game. Tournaments like the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024 and the upcoming StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 consistently draw massive viewership, making them crucial battlegrounds for teams to cement their legacy and earn significant winnings.
Honorable Mentions for Substantial Prize Pools:
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Mid Season Cup/M-Series: With its enormous popularity in Southeast Asia, MLBB tournaments often feature prize pools in the millions, with the MLBB Mid Season Cup 2025 having a $3 million prize pool.
- Honor of Kings World Cup: Another mobile MOBA powerhouse, Honor of Kings events can boast prize pools of $3 million or more, highlighting the massive growth of mobile esports.
- Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Championship: This battle royale’s premier event offers prize pools around $2 million, providing significant incentives for its top squads.
- Rainbow Six Siege Six Invitational: As the world championship for R6 Siege, this event regularly features a $3 million prize pool (as seen in the 2020 edition), attracting top tactical talent.
The competitive esports landscape is more lucrative than ever. With innovative formats like the Esports World Cup leading the charge, and established titans like Dota 2 and League of Legends continuing to offer immense rewards, the future of esports prize pools looks brighter than ever.
