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

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– 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

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Esports World Cup 2026 Tickets on Sale Now

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First wave of tickets includes Early Bird passes, premium experiences and special travel offers ahead of seven-week competition for a record-breaking $75 million prize pool

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) officially opened tickets sales for the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), the world’s largest esports event, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 6 through  August 23. The first wave of ticket options for fans is now live at esportsworldcup.com and through international ticketing partners Tixr (US and EU), Webook (Middle East and Saudi Arabia), Platinumlist (Middle East and India), and Damai (China), alongside special travel packages from Saudia Holidays available to first purchasers.

EWC 2026 will feature a record-breaking $75 million prize pool that reflects the evolution of the EWC as a premier sporting event and the anchor multi-title competition within the global esports ecosystem. Over 2,000 players representing more than 200 Clubs and over 100 countries will compete in Riyadh in the industry-leading cross-game Club Championship that is now a focal point of the esports calendar.

Limited-edition goodie bags for Weekly All-Access and Premium Tournament purchases contain a collector coin, trading card, aluminium water bottle, tote bag, T-shirt, fridge magnet, merch voucher, and a collectible pin.

Saudia Holidays, the travel division of Saudia Airlines, the Kingdom’s national carrier, now also offers an all-in-one Early Bird package to experience the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, including return flights, hand-picked hotels near the action, and a free All-Access Pass for the full duration of the stay, with one simple booking and no hidden fees.

Regular Tournament Passes and Daily Passes will be released in the next wave of sales.

The EWCF has officially confirmed the weekly schedule for EWC 2026, locking in seven weeks of world-class competition. Below is the schedule for each EWC tournament, sorted by week.

The post Esports World Cup 2026 Tickets on Sale Now appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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$75 Million Prize Pool, Full Game Lineup and Schedule Announced for Esports World Cup 2026

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The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced a total prize pool of $75 million alongside the full game lineup and schedule for the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), the world’s largest esports event, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 6 through August 23. More than 2000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries will compete in 25 tournaments across 24 games over seven weeks to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion.

The record-breaking prize pool reflects the evolution of the EWC as a premier sporting event and the anchor multi-title competition within the global esports ecosystem. Delivered at scale for a third year through an established, cross-game format, the EWC brings together the world’s best players, Clubs, games and a global community of fans through a shared calendar that sets the rhythm of the global esports season.

“The life-changing prize pool exists to support the people at the heart of esports: the players and the Clubs that invest in them year after year. EWC is different because of the Club Championship. One title crowns a champion. EWC crowns the ultimate cross-game Club Champion,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.

In 2026, the EWC Club Championship, the EWC’s flagship cross-game competition, will award $30 million to the top 24 Clubs, an increase of $3 million year-on-year. The winning Club will receive $7 million, with increased prize allocations distributed across the remaining top finishing positions. Last year’s Club Championship title was decided in the final week of competition, with seven Clubs remaining in contention entering the closing stages.

Individual Game Championships will each carry their own prize pools, with combined allocations exceeding $39 million. The remainder of the prize pool will be distributed through a combination of Club and Player Awards, including MVP awards for each tournament and the Jafonso Award for players or Clubs that win a Game Championship after advancing from a Last Chance Qualifier, as well as through qualifying events hosted by partnered publishers and organizers ahead of the EWC 2026 main event in Riyadh.

Alongside the prize pool, EWCF will continue to operate ecosystem support programs, including the EWCF Club Partner Program and the Road to EWC qualification system. The 2026 Club Partner Program will again support a lineup of 40 top global esports organizations, while publisher-led circuits, tournaments, and grassroots events provide the foundation for the Road to EWC, giving more players and Clubs defined qualification pathways to compete in Riyadh.

Twenty-four competitive titles, including new additions Fortnite and Trackmania, will showcase the best Clubs, players and talent the esports world has to offer on stage at EWC 2026 in Riyadh this summer. The EWC 2026 lineup of games features: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Crossfire, Dota 2, EA Sports FC 26, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, Fortnite, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, PUBG Mobile, Rocket League, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, TEKKEN 8, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X, Trackmania, and VALORANT.

EWC 2026 competitions will be staged across seven weeks and multiple arenas, allowing several game championships to take place in parallel with a coordinated, multi-venue schedule designed to enhance fan experience and viewership across the lineup.

Tickets for EWC 2026 will be available at esportsworldcup.com, and through EWC 2026 international ticketing partners: Webook, Platinumlist, Damai, Maiseat, and Tixr. Early Bird tickets include Weekly Access Passes, Premium Tournament Passes, and Hospitality Packages for the Esports Embassy, the EWC’s premium on-site hospitality destination.

The announcement builds on the landmark success of the Esports World Cup 2025. In its second year, EWC reached 750 million viewers worldwide and generated 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership of 7.98 million during the League of Legends at EWC ‘25 tournament. Coverage was delivered across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and more than 800 channels in 35 languages. Twenty-five tournaments spanning 24 games featured more than 2000 players representing approximately 200 Clubs from over 100 countries. In Riyadh, the EWC and its Festival welcomed more than 3 million visitors over the seven-week event.

The post $75 Million Prize Pool, Full Game Lineup and Schedule Announced for Esports World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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World Esports Summit Celebrates Its 10th Edition in Busan

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The World Esports Summit returns to Busan, South Korea, for its 10th edition, taking place on 10–11 February 2025.

Hosted at the Wyndham Grand Busan, the Summit will bring together 40+ speakers from the international esports ecosystem, including representatives from federations, publishers, global brands, sports organizations, technology companies, and public institutions.

Over the past decade, the World Esports Summit has provided a platform for dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders shaping the world of esports. The 2025 edition will continue this role, offering space for discussion on current developments, industry challenges, and future directions.

The Summit will feature contributions from a wide range of organizations, including Alibaba, FIBA, FIFAe, Tencent, Moonton, NetEase, FIA, Sportradar, EFG, Good Game, Telekom, among others.

Across two days, participants will take part in keynote sessions and panel discussions addressing topics such as esports governance, international collaboration, industry development, integrity, and the continued convergence of esports and traditional sports.

Further information on the program, speakers, and registration is available on the official World Esports Summit website.

The post World Esports Summit Celebrates Its 10th Edition in Busan appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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