The year is well underway, and major esports tournaments are just starting to get heated up. Some smaller events have already taken place, with both Counter-Strike and Valorant gearing up for their first major events of the year, kicking off in the back half of March. With major changes coming to tournament organizers and the introduction of major events to new regions, it’s set to be a very exciting year for esports.
We’ll take a look at the biggest events of the year, the prize pools they’re offering, and the legacy they’ll help leave behind as esports continues to become one of the biggest and one of the most viewed sporting events in the world.
Intel Grand Slam – The Biggest Circuit Event in Esports
A staple in the Counter-Strike circuit for fans of the game and for those who like to bet on esports, it’s not just one event but a circuit of events that take place over the course of the competitive year. The event features two of the biggest events on the esports calendar, IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, and has a prize pool to match.
Over the course of the season, teams will compete for a total prize pool of a little over $4 million. While this seems shy of some huge events like The International, as a constant circuit, there are plenty of opportunities to win. The teams that do well enough to win the Grand Slam are in for a chance to get an even million dollars, too—nothing to turn their noses up at.
Only 4 teams in history have achieved the Grand Slam, and with Counter-Strike 2 heating up to be hyper-competitive with large gameplay changes that have paved the way for new teams like Spirit to thrive, this year’s circuit will be very interesting.
The International – Esports Most Funded Event
Whilst figures have become more realistic in the past couple of years, Dota 2 has long been known for having an insane prize pool for the International, which the community funded in part before the event.
The 2021 International certainly still holds the record for one of the biggest esports events ever, boasting $40 million, with the winning team walking away with the lion’s share of that. Recent events have been more anemic.
This year, fans may hope for a prize pool of around $5 million with a chance of going higher, but as the only major event, it does seem small compared to what some other esports offer. Valve may look to change this with a circuit that opens up, offering more opportunities to win, however.
Esports World Cup – The Future of International Competition
Saudi Arabia has become increasingly involved in major sporting events for all different disciplines, and esports looks to be next on their radar. They are picking up major third-party services and looking to organize future tournaments, too.
One of these is the Esports World Cup, a collection of different games and different events set to take place; all of the major games, including Dota 2, CS2, Rocket League, Siege, and others, are all expected to be on the docket with all of the top international teams invited.
The current prize pool is set at $45 million, with a chance to expand as interest grows. It’ll certainly be one of the year’s major events for esports, and as interest grows, it looks to be a near certainty that this prize pool will be one of the more sought-after within esports and one that major teams look to as a major event of the year.