Still the King of Prize Pools
Why The International Still Reigns
With jaw-dropping prize pools year after year, The International maintains its status as the single most anticipated event in the esports calendar. No other tournament consistently brings together the same level of competition, hype, and financial reward.
- The International continues to offer multi-million dollar earnings
- Community-driven funding keeps prize pools among the highest in esports history
- Prestige and pressure make it the defining battleground for Dota 2’s elite
Earnings, Teams, and Strategy Breakdown
Recent editions of The International haven’t just showcased skill—they’ve highlighted how strategic depth and team coordination can turn underdogs into icons.
Top Takeaways from the Latest Events:
- Winning teams often adopt flexible drafting strategies and meta-defining picks
- Mid-tournament adaptability has proven crucial to staying in contention
- Support players and offlane synergy are playing an increasingly decisive role
Prize Pool Snapshot:
- Total prize pools remain in the range of 30-40 million USD in top years
- First-place winners have taken home over 10 million USD individually
- Even lower bracket teams often walk away with six-figure payouts
Why Fans Still Tune In
Despite changes to formats and shifting metas, The International remains a must-watch for fans worldwide. The combination of high-stakes drama and top-tier production ensures an unmatched spectator experience.
- Signature moments and legendary comebacks keep viewers on edge
- Behind-the-scenes content and player stories build emotional connections
- Innovations in broadcast, from multi-language commentary to real-time analytics, elevate the viewing experience
The International isn’t just a tournament. It’s the pinnacle of Dota 2 esports, where legacies are written—and rewritten—in front of millions.
Esports in 2024 is on a whole new level. What was once a niche part of the internet is now filling arenas, flooding streaming platforms, and pulling in sponsorships on par with traditional sports. From street-level mobile gaming tournaments in Southeast Asia to packed-out stadium finals in Europe, the boom isn’t just real—it’s global.
But not all tournaments are created equal. The top five stand out with million-dollar prize pools, elite production values, and international fandoms. These events have built reputations not just on gameplay, but on consistent delivery of spectacle, competition, and community. They’re not just tournaments. They’re cultural moments.
What separates them? Scale, yes. But also vision. These aren’t just competitions—they’re finely-tuned ecosystems built to pull in players, brands, and fans for the long haul.
Few esports events pull off what League of Legends Worlds manages year after year. Riot Games continues to deliver a global tournament that runs like a machine. Clean broadcasts, tight scheduling, local flair, and storylines that hook audiences across continents. It’s not perfect, but it’s remarkably consistent—and fans show up because of it.
This year’s meta added fuel to the fire. Shifts in champion pools, changes to jungle pace, and new tech pushing different comps forward made each region bring something unique. LCK macro served as the benchmark, but LPL’s aggression, LCS’s underdog swings, and EU’s split-second decision-making created a real clash of styles. Top players stepped up big when it counted, creating the kind of highlight reels that get posted, reposted, and clipped endlessly online.
But Worlds isn’t just about gameplay. It’s a cultural pillar. For fans, it’s a month-long celebration that blends hype, history, and hope. Memes fly, Twitter melts, and rivalries reignite. For the broader esports world, it’s a showcase of what peak performance, production, and passion can look like. Whether you’re a one-time viewer or a grizzled fan from Season 3, Worlds keeps delivering because Riot knows what it’s building: a scene that feels global, but still personal.
Riot’s push into the tactical shooter genre with Valorant wasn’t just bold — it was careful, calculated, and clearly effective. What started as a potential competitor to titles like CS:GO quickly carved out its own space. Riot leaned into what it knows best: community-first design, a long-game approach to patches and updates, and a clear, structured path for pros to rise through the ranks.
The regional circuits have been key to this rise. From EMEA to North America to the Pacific, localized tournaments now function like feeder systems, giving grassroots players a shot at global attention. These aren’t just throwaway comps either. They come with broadcast quality, serious prize money, and career opportunities that didn’t exist in previous esports cycles.
Now, with multi-million-dollar global championships, franchised teams, and steady viewership, Valorant’s pro scene looks less like an experiment and more like a cornerstone of the modern competitive gaming landscape. And Riot isn’t done yet. Expansion continues, new regions are coming online, and the game’s structure keeps evolving. If the momentum holds, we’re watching a long-term staple form in real time.
Traditional Shooter with Evolving Hype
The classic first-person shooter isn’t going anywhere. What’s changing is how it’s packaged, played, and perceived. Competitive titles once labeled as “just shooters” are now pulsing at the heart of a growing content and esports ecosystem. In 2024, games like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and Valorant aren’t just about reflexes anymore. They’re about storytelling, personality, and audience connection.
The franchise model has matured. Leagues are tightening branding, creating clearer player pathways, and experimenting with local representation. Some fans love it. Others say it’s too sanitized, too polished, and moving away from grassroots roots. Either way, people are watching, and they’re tuning in with more loyalty than before.
And then there’s North America. A region once playing catch-up in esports is now setting new precedents. Big arenas. Bigger sponsors. Streamers moving between creator content and pro clips seamlessly. The shooter genre is no longer just surviving. It’s growing up. The hype isn’t overhyped. It’s earned.
CS2: A New Chapter for an Iconic Game
Counter-Strike 2 has arrived, and it’s not just an update. It’s a reinvention with respect for its roots. For fans and pros alike, CS2 brings fresh energy while keeping the heart of one of esports’ most enduring franchises intact.
Honoring the Legacy
CS2 doesn’t just modernize gameplay and graphics, it preserves the core that made Counter-Strike a cornerstone of competitive gaming. This balance between innovation and tradition has been key to its early success.
- Revamped engine offers higher clarity and responsiveness
- Signature mechanics remain largely intact
- Maps reimagined with better lighting and detail, not overhauled
Competitive Integrity Reaffirmed
One of the biggest wins for CS2 is its recommitment to competitive fairness. Improved anti-cheat systems and server performance show Valve’s investment in serious play.
- Long-time pro teams are returning to peak performance
- Tactical depth remains central to elite play
- Esports organizations show renewed interest in CS-based tournaments
Reception and Viewership
Initial response to CS2 has been a strong mix of nostalgia and excitement. While not universally perfect, it’s been well-received among critics, players, and streamers alike.
- Launch weekend saw strong Twitch numbers across major regions
- Tournament streams logged millions of cumulative views
- Positive early reviews from esports analysts and creators
CS2’s arrival proves that modernizing a classic can be done without losing what made it iconic. The next chapter of Counter-Strike is unfolding, and it looks promising—both for its veterans and a new wave of fans.
Top Esports Events Keeping Vloggers Locked In
The PUBG Global Championship remains a heavy hitter in the esports scene. With million-dollar prize pools and intense squad-based tactics, the event pulls a global audience that’s hungry for behind-the-scenes footage, team insights, and reaction recaps. Vloggers covering PUBG aren’t just gaming commentators anymore—they’re storytellers tracking momentum shifts and highlighting how real strategy wins matches.
The Rocket League Championship Series continues to surprise with its wild pace and high-flying plays. The mix of soccer-meets-racing is a sweet spot for creators who can break down top plays, interview up-and-comers, or even rewatch finals with fan commentary. Vloggers who tap into Rocket League’s vibrant community know it’s not just about goals—it’s about culture, rivalries, and creativity.
Then there’s Evo. The premier fighting game tournament is less polished, more raw, and full of exactly the kind of moments content creators love. Over-the-top reactions, controller cam footage, and analysis of shocking upsets make for strong video hooks. From Street Fighter to Tekken, Evo gives vloggers access to one of gaming’s most passionate subcultures—where hype, skill, and emotion are turned all the way up.
In 2024, the business behind gaming content is getting a major shakeup. Sponsors are pulling out of spray-and-pray influencer deals and turning toward more tailored, long-term partnerships. They’re not just looking at follower counts anymore, but at engagement, audience fit, and niche credibility. That means if you’re a vlogger in gaming or esports, it’s not enough to be loud—you have to be aligned.
Live attendance at events is back, but it’s not eclipsing digital. Hybrid formats are the new normal. Creators who can translate hype from stadiums to streams—and vice versa—are becoming essential middlemen between brands and fans. The big money isn’t just in playing the game anymore, it’s in narrating the culture around it.
Meanwhile, serious investment is flowing into content teams, creators signing to orgs, and multi-channel rights deals. The line between vlogger and media operator is blurring. Teams like 100 Thieves and individual creators with business acumen are locking in production budgets and licensing agreements like small studios. Power is shifting toward creators who treat their vlogs like franchises.
For a longer look at how the entire competitive gaming ecosystem has evolved, check out The Evolution of Competitive Gaming: Then vs. Now.
Esports tournaments aren’t just about players clicking fast and fans screaming in stadiums. These events have grown into full-blown industry builders. They drive hardware demand, dictate sponsorship flows, and set production standards for digital-first entertainment. The biggest tournaments aren’t just watched. They’re studied, emulated, and monetized from every angle.
The cultural weight is real. From South Korea to Sweden, tournaments influence everything from career aspirations to Internet slang. A generation is growing up not just dreaming of going pro but launching YouTube channels to analyze match meta, break down strategy, or even just react live. The ripple effect has turned these events into long-tail engines of content and conversation.
Looking ahead, the future is hybrid—live arena energy with global digital reach. Regions like Southeast Asia and parts of Africa are quickly becoming the next hotbeds for growth. And as esports continues to blend with tech, fashion, and music, expect even more crossovers. This isn’t a bubble. It’s a long game. And the game is only getting bigger.