In 2015, eSports and prize money exploded. Which teams earned the most?
The prize money for individual eSports events significantly increased. For example, this year’s Dota 2 International tournament had a prize pool of over $18,000,000.
After Dota, the Smite World Championships had the next highest prize money with over $2,500,000. Let’s take a closer look at which teams won what portion of the total prize money available in 2015.
Place 10: Cloud 9 – Total earnings $1,461,315.12
The name Cloud 9 is recognized by anyone involved in eSports. They not only have a strong team in League of Legends, but they also participate in other games such as Dota 2, CS:GO, and Heroes of the Storm. They have strong players in other games like Hearthstone or Smash Bros. who take home many prizes. Unlike other teams on this list, their main revenue does not come from Dota.
Place 9: SK Telecom T1 – Total earnings $1,531,484.02
SKT1 is the only team in this Top 10 that exclusively competes in League of Legends. Just a few months ago, they became world champions in LoL and received a prize of $1,000,000. The rest of their total earnings came from the LCK tournament and the Mid-Season Invitational.
Place 8: EHOME – Total earnings $1,565,688.11
This team is well-known in the Dota scene and managed to achieve something again in 2015. With a newly assembled squad, they started in various tournaments and unfortunately did not perform particularly well. However, they only needed a little time and ultimately showcased their capabilities at the Dota International 2015. There, they secured 5th place and took home $1,197,925. At the Frankfurt Major tournament, they also managed to secure some prize money, finishing in 4th place.
Place 7: COGnitive Gaming – Total earnings $1,768,958.39
COGnitive Gaming primarily earned prize money from the Smite World Championships. Although they are also participating in games like Smash Bros. and Heroes of the Storm, their significant earnings came from having 2 teams in a Smite tournament with a total prize pool of $2,600,000, both landing in the Top 3.
Place 6: Virtus.Pro – Total earnings $2,131,185.40
Virtus.pro is one of the few teams that can claim to compete at the top level in both major eSports titles by Valve. They have strong teams in both CS:GO and Dota. At the ESL in Dubai, the CS:GO team managed to win $100,000. Additionally, at the Dota International 2015, they partnered with EHOME in a winning category and received $1,197,925.
Place 5: Team Secret – Total earnings $2,231,114.09
This team was regarded as Dota 2’s “super team” and was expected to sweep all the prizes available. While they did not always secure 1st place, they consistently performed very well in tournaments. They earned the most money through Dota tournaments. For instance, they finished 2nd place at the Frankfurt Major, receiving $405,000 in prize money.
Place 4: Vici Gaming – Total earnings $2,581,954.91
Just the 4th place finish at the Dota International 2015 is enough for Vici Gaming to appear on this list. There, they received over $1,500,000 as prize money. When accounting for other Dota tournaments, the total sum is quite significant. Additionally, smaller amounts from LoL teams and Hearthstone players contribute to Vici Gaming’s position at number 4 on our Top 10 list.
Place 3: LGD Gaming – Total earnings $3,045,517.23
This team is recognized among both League of Legends and Dota players. In LoL, they had a promising start to the year, as they participated in the LCS. Although prize money at Riot tournaments is not particularly high, participants in the LCS receive consistent payments. However, it was their 3rd place finish at the Dota International 2015 that constituted the largest share of their total winnings, exceeding $2,200,000.
Place 2: CDEC Gaming – Total earnings $3,229,600.78
The Dota 2 surprise team. With a wildcard entry, they made it into the big Dota International 2015 and reached the finals where they placed 2nd. Just from that, they earned over $2,800,000 in prize money. There are no other teams under the name CDEC, which means that a single good placement in a major event can have a significant impact. Up until the end of 2014, CDEC was still part of Team LGD, which they must now regret greatly since their paths have diverged.
Place 1: Evil Geniuses – Total earnings $8,952,675.05
At the top of this Top 10 list is the team Evil Geniuses by a large margin. Team EG received more than twice the prize money of CDEC Gaming in 2nd place in 2015. While the victory at the aforementioned Dota International 2015 would have been enough to ensure the top spot on this list, strong placements in other Dota tournaments also contributed to their high prize money. Additionally, Team EG has had strong eSports athletes since the beginning of Starcraft 2, consistently landing in top placements at Starcraft 2 tournaments.
