25 Most Successful Esports Countries by Prize Money so far in 2020

Published

6 years ago

July 15, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

– United States leads the way winning $7.2m

– Brazilian players most in form this year

– Bulgarian and Danish players win the most prize money per person on average

– Only 60% of tournaments played compared to this time last year

New Unikrn research shows players are winning MORE on average so far in 2020 than 2019 – despite pandemic

Esports players from the top 25 countries are earning more average prize money in 2020 so far than at the same point in 2019, new research shows.

Despite a number of tournaments being cancelled, professional gaming is still thriving during a global pandemic.

So much that despite playing 40% less tournaments than at this point last year, players are earning more money on average per tournament.

World-leading esports bookmakers Unikrn have revealed the finding after analysing the top 25 countries for prize money so far this year.

By the end of June last year, $67million had been won by more than 26,000 players from 2,715 tournaments across the esports circuit.

Whereas by the same time this year, only $38.8m was won by almost 11,000 players in 1,622 tournaments.

The average tournament prize pool was very similar each year – in 2019 it sat at $23,988, compared to $23,920 in 2020.

However, in the first half of 2019, players were only winning on average $2,492 compared to individuals taking home $3,652 in 2020.

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The research also found that like last year the United States leads the way at the halfway point of 2020 with players winning a massive $7.2m in prize money.

Identical to the first six months of 2019, China and Korea make up the top three.

Brazil are the biggest movers in 2020 rising from 9th to 4th in the rankings helped by Magic World Championship XXVI champion PVDDR’s $300k victory.

The highest prize money to player ratio sits with Bulgaria, maybe surprisingly. Their top 5 players including Complexity’s poiz0n are spread across CS:GO, DOTA2 and League of Legends.

The Danish also have a high turnover on prize money with 173 players averaging $9,564.

In 2019, the prize money across esports increased heavily from huge tournaments such as DOTA2’s The International setting a prize pot of $35million and the Fortnite World Cup Finals.

But with both of these tournaments cancelled and many others postponed, total prize money for 2020 is estimated to be considerably lower than 2019.

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Most Successful Countries By Prize Money Won (All Esports)

	2019 (Jan-July)					2020 (Jan-July)
	Country	Total Prize Money	Players	Average prize money		Country	Total Prize Money	Players	Average prize money
1	United States	$10,079,707.15	5902	$1,707.85	1	United States	$7,280,222.31	1999	$3,641.93
2	Korea	$5,438,336.48	1377	$3,949.41	2	China	$3,093,705.23	379	$8,162.81
3	China	$4,876,979.55	1027	$4,748.76	3	Korea	$2,356,078.82	573	$4,111.83
4	France	$2,290,981.17	1378	$1,662.54	4	Brazil	$2,284,006.59	420	$5,438.11
5	Denmark	$2,234,162.91	652	$3,426.63	5	Russian Federation	$1,718,361.31	454	$3,784.94
6	Russia	$2,179,829.93	855	$2,549.51	6	France	$1,703,512.13	441	$3,862.84
7	Canada	$2,011,038.76	884	$2,274.93	7	Denmark	$1,654,614.71	173	$9,564.25
8	Sweden	$1,933,771.15	712	$2,715.97	8	United Kingdom	$1,327,882.15	348	$3,815.75
9	Brazil	$1,861,949.00	989	$1,882.66	9	Canada	$1,307,092.60	319	$4,097.47
10	Germany	$1,824,623.63	1032	$1,768.05	10	Germany	$1,304,784.38	500	$2,609.57
11	Finland	$1,672,037.47	405	$4,128.49	11	Sweden	$1,176,960.10	215	$5,474.23
12	United Kingdom	$1,438,156.76	915	$1,571.76	12	Australia	$891,602.63	359	$2,483.57
13	Australia	$1,278,719.22	838	$1,525.92	13	Thailand	$826,835.23	314	$2,633.23
14	Poland	$1,158,065.87	624	$1,855.87	14	Finland	$792,457.03	96	$8,254.76
15	Philippines	$1,106,753.39	200	$5,533.77	15	Poland	$596,336.18	221	$2,698.35
16	Japan	$973,735.09	406	$2,398.36	16	Ukraine	$574,589.16	112	$5,130.26
17	Thailand	$882,805.98	350	$2,522.30	17	Norway	$439,630.18	67	$6,561.64
18	Bulgaria	$860,229.50	118	$7,290.08	18	Netherlands	$399,067.54	150	$2,660.45
19	Norway	$714,775.28	225	$3,176.78	19	Japan	$325,085.28	223	$1,457.78
20	Spain	$625,412.64	392	$1,595.44	20	Bulgaria	$310,401.72	24	$12,933.41
21	Ukraine	$623,458.01	278	$2,242.65	21	Philippines	$290,771.52	71	$4,095.37
22	Taiwan	$600,532.10	211	$2,846.12	22	Turkey	$281,767.76	128	$2,201.31
23	Netherlands	$519,272.80	451	$1,151.38	23	Malaysia	$252,612.81	43	$5,874.72
24	Italy	$490,560.54	137	$3,580.73	24	Argentina	$251,784.40	79	$3,187.14
25	Malaysia	$463,826.66	175	$2,650.44	25	Estonia	$240,863.04	37	$6,509.81

Total Prize Money, Tournaments and Players (All Esports)

2019 (Jan-July)		2020 (Jan – July)
Total Prize Money	$66,992,940.50	Total Prize Money	$38,798,059.63
Total Tournaments	2715	Total Tournaments	1622
Total Players	26141	Total Players	10625
Average tournament prize pool	$23,987.94	Average tournament prize pool	$23,919.89
Average player prize money	$2,492.18	Average player prize money	$3,651.58

Best Countries By Average Player Prize Money

Country	Average prize money per player
Bulgaria	$12,933.41
Denmark	$9,564.25
Finland	$8,254.76
China	$8,162.81
Norway	$6,561.64
Estonia	$6,509.81
Malaysia	$5,874.72
Sweden	$5,474.23
Brazil	$5,438.11
Ukraine	$5,130.26

**Stats from www.esportsearnings.com – does not include information about salaries, bonuses or sponsorships

MEGA Appoints Morgan Tremaine as Executive Producer to Drive Esports Growth

Published

2 hours ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

mega-appoints-morgan-tremaine-as-executive-producer-to-drive-esports-growth

Mobile, Esports and Gaming Alliance (MEGA), the powerhouse behind the globally recognized Esports Awards, has announced the appointment of Morgan Tremaine as Executive Producer.

The move signals a new phase of growth for the organization as it looks to elevate its live events, expand its intellectual property portfolio, and strengthen premium partnerships across the esports ecosystem.

Based in London, MEGA continues to position itself at the forefront of esports entertainment, with Tremaine now stepping into a key leadership role to guide its next chapter.

A Strategic Leadership Appointment

Having already served as producer for the Esports Awards since 2023, Morgan Tremaine’s promotion formalizes his role within MEGA’s senior leadership team. In his new position, he will oversee the development and production of MEGA’s full events portfolio, including flagship ceremonies and associated digital content.

His appointment reflects MEGA’s ambition to scale its globally recognized event properties and deliver more immersive, high-quality experiences for esports audiences worldwide.

Extensive Experience in Live Production

Tremaine brings over 13 years of experience in live production, content creation, and large-scale event execution. His career spans major media and esports organizations, including roles at TMZ and Esports Engine.

He is also the Founder and CEO of Cuer, a next-generation platform designed to streamline live broadcasts and event production workflows.

Throughout his career, Tremaine has contributed to some of the most high-profile events in gaming and beyond, including TwitchCon and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games streaming initiatives. His portfolio also includes collaborations on Twitch Rivals and major brand activations such as the Fortnite x Polo Ralph Lauren launch.

Collaborations with Global Brands and Talent

Tremaine’s work extends beyond event production into strategic brand partnerships and talent collaborations. He has worked with globally recognized companies such as Ford, Samsung, and Doritos.

In the gaming and streaming space, he has collaborated with leading creators including Pokimane, Quackity, and Botez Sisters, reinforcing his deep connections within the esports and content creator ecosystems.

Driving MEGA’s Event Evolution

In his new role, Tremaine will work closely with publishers, platforms, and commercial partners to shape both the creative and commercial direction of MEGA’s events. His responsibilities will include:

Leading executive production for flagship ceremonies
Supporting strategic partnership development
Enhancing brand integrations and audience engagement
Driving innovation across live and digital event formats

He will also contribute to MEGA’s agency operations, providing leadership on high-profile client projects and helping scale the company’s production capabilities.

MEGA’s Growing Influence in Esports

Since its inception, MEGA has established itself as a leading force in esports live events. In addition to the Esports Awards, the organization produces major industry ceremonies such as the Decade Awards and the Mobies, setting benchmarks for production quality and audience engagement.

Beyond events, MEGA is committed to supporting the broader gaming ecosystem by nurturing talent, promoting education, and creating opportunities for the next generation of esports professionals.

Vision for the Future

Morgan Tremaine expressed enthusiasm about his new role, emphasizing the importance of creativity, collaboration, and innovation in shaping the future of esports events.

Similarly, MEGA co-founder Michael Ashford highlighted Tremaine’s pivotal role in the success of the Esports Awards and expressed confidence in his ability to elevate the company’s event portfolio to new heights.

Conclusion

The appointment of Morgan Tremaine as Executive Producer marks a significant milestone for MEGA as it continues to expand its global footprint in esports entertainment.

With a proven track record in live production, deep industry connections, and a forward-looking vision, Tremaine is well-positioned to lead MEGA into its next phase—delivering world-class events that captivate audiences and redefine standards in esports and gaming entertainment.

Reference

A similar article on esports events and industry leadership can be found on Esports Insider:

This source regularly covers leadership changes, event production, and strategic developments in the esports industry.

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Asia

Mumbai to Host the Prestigious Global Esports Games (GEG) World Finals from March 19–22

Published

12 hours ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

mumbai-to-host-the-prestigious-global-esports-games-(geg)-world-finals-from-march-19–22

India to host the Global Esports Games World Finals in Mumbai, from 19-22 March 2026, providing India’s growing esports and gaming ecosystem an international stage to compete. The Global Esports Federation’s flagship, Global Esports Games Mumbai, is organised by Eflag Corp with the support of Maharashtra Tourism. GEG Mumbai features 70 esports athletes from 23 countries and territories. This premier event will also feature GEFcon and GEFestival.

After successful editions in Singapore, Istanbul and Riyadh, the Global Esports Games, the international national-team esports championship, makes its South Asia debut with India hosting the World Finals in Mumbai. The tournament will witness leading esports nations competing in DOTA 2 and Clash Royale. The national teams of leading esports nations like Argentina, Australia, the US, Great Britain, Indonesia and Türkiye will compete alongside India and teams from 16 more countries and territories, marking a significant milestone for India as it steps onto the global stage as a host of one of esports’ most prestigious international competitions. The global broadcast reach is projected at 40 million+ viewers.

The programme will feature a Grand Opening Ceremony, GEFCon, GEFestival, fan experiences and meet-ups, playoffs, the grand finale, and medal and trophy presentations, before concluding with a ceremonial handover to Los Angeles for the Los Angeles 2026 Global Esports Games in December 2026.

Devendra Fadnavis, Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and senior state ministers, will inaugurate the event.

Devendra Fadnavis said: “The future will be shaped by technology, innovation, and digital ecosystems. We are proud that India will host the Global Esports Games, welcoming athletes from around the world to Mumbai. By bringing together sport, technology, and youth talent, this event further strengthens our position as an emerging global hub for digital innovation.”

Sir Paul J. Foster, KStJH, President and CEO of Global Esports Federation, said: “India represents one of the most dynamic growth stories in global esports, and there is no city better suited to host our flagship event than Mumbai. This is a city powered by youth, creativity, and innovation, the same forces shaping the future of esports worldwide. Hosting the Global Esports Games here is about more than competition; it’s about opportunity, connection, and reinforcing our belief that esports is for all.”

Shripad Ashtekar, Founder of Eflag Corp, said: “We are committed to strengthening India’s esports ecosystem and are glad to bring the GEG World Finals to Mumbai, India. This move marks a significant milestone as it will foster talent development, innovation, and global competitiveness while accelerating the rise of homegrown talent, showcasing India’s capabilities on the global esports stage.”

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eSports

International Esports Federation Marks 100 Days of the New Leadership

Published

12 hours ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

international-esports-federation-marks-100-days-of-the-new-leadership

The International Esports Federation marked the first 100 days of its current leadership by holding an Extraordinary General Meeting and implementing a series of governance, financial and institutional developments aimed at strengthening the federation’s stability and transparency.

At the Extraordinary General Meeting 2026, member federations approved the audited financial reports, further strengthening confidence in IESF’s financial oversight and accountability.

The EGM also introduced updates to the federation’s voting system, designed to enhance the integrity and improve the governance processes.

On the same day, IESF held the fourth Board Meeting in Budapest, Hungary. The in-person meeting allowed Board Members to align strategic priorities for the next 100 days and review governance initiatives aimed at strengthening the federation’s operational framework.

Since the election of the new leadership, the President and the Board have focused on reinforcing the federation’s financial framework and restoring confidence among member federations through improved transparency and accountability measures.

During EGM26, IESF also launched its new official membership platform and the new IESF competition platform. Developed to support national federations in their day-to-day operations, the platforms aim to simplify administrative processes, improve communication and provide a structured environment for managing competitions and federation activities.

These measures reflect the federation’s continued commitment to strengthening democratic governance, financial stability and institutional responsibility across the World of Esports.

As IESF continues its efforts to support national federations and advance esports within the international sports framework, the first 100 days of leadership represent an important step in reinforcing the federation’s institutional foundations.

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