Esports are thriving despite the pandemic and have seen increasing viewer numbers and prize money. The League of Legends World Championship 2021 had a peak viewership of 49.5 million, up 32% from 2019, while The International 2021 Dota 2 Championship had a peak viewership of 2.7 million. The International 2021 had a prize pool of over $40 million, with the winning team taking home $18.2 million, while the Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 had a prize pool of $30 million with the winner taking home $3 million. The League of Legends World Championship 2021 had a prize pool of $6.6 million.
eSports Takes Centre Stage: The Latest Viewership and Prize Money Stats
Viewership
Despite the coronavirus pandemic and cancellation of many live events, esports have continued to thrive. The latest viewership stats highlight the growing popularity of the industry.
League of Legends World Championship 2021
The League of Legends World Championship 2021 had a peak viewership of 49.5 million people watching the event, a 32% increase from the 2019 event. The tournament was held entirely online due to the pandemic, but it didn’t stop fans from tuning in to watch the excitement unfold.
The International 2021
The International 2021 Dota 2 Championship had a peak viewership of 2.7 million people watching the event simultaneously. The tournament had a prize pool of over $40 million, making it one of the most anticipated events in the esports calendar. The event was held in Bucharest, Romania, and was the first live event for Dota 2 fans in over two years.
Prize Money
Esports prize money has been on the rise in recent years, with larger prize pools available for competitors to win. The International remains one of the most significant events with the highest prize pool, but other tournaments are also increasing their prize money.
The International 2021
The International 2021 had a prize pool of over $40 million, with the winning team taking home $18.2 million. This is the largest prize money ever awarded in esports, and it surpassed last year’s prize pool of $34.3 million.
Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019
The Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 had a prize pool of $30 million, with the winner taking home $3 million. This was the largest prize money awarded in Fortnite to date and highlighted the growing popularity of the game.
League of Legends World Championship 2021
The League of Legends World Championship 2021 had a prize pool of $6.6 million, with the winning team taking home $2.2 million. The tournament had 22 participating teams from around the world, all competing for a chance to win the top prize.
Conclusion
Esports is continuing to grow in popularity, with larger viewer numbers and higher prize money available. Despite the pandemic, esports events have adapted to the current situation, and fans have been able to tune in from around the world to watch the action.