On March 31, the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 tournament in Counter-Strike 2 came to an end. The Ukrainians Natus Vincere won the tournament and $500,000. However, Twitch streamer xQc earned significantly more from their victory.
This is the situation:
- On March 31, the Natus Vincere team, even without their star player s1mple, secured victory in Copenhagen and a prize of $500,000.
- On their way to the finals, they eliminated Eternal Fire and G2 Esports. In the end, they defeated FaZe Clan 2:1.
- For some players, the $100,000 was a huge boost. The 19-year-old Ukrainian Wonderful was able to double his prize money total with this victory alone. He had previously earned “only” $92,000 with Counter-Strike; now it amounts to $192,000 (via esportearnings).
Who else made more money? The reaction streamer and generally known as a gambler, Félix “xQc” Lengyel, reportedly won $842,137.42 from Natus Vincere’s victory by placing a sports bet.
This allows him to offset his losses from the quarterfinals, where he had bet $200,000 on MOUZ, who lost against G2: That was the game where a viewer stormed the stage and broke a trophy.
How did he react: In the Twitch chat, someone explained to him that if he won the bet, he would make more money than the winners of the Major.
xQc exclaimed in disbelief: “More than all of them combined?” and then laughed somewhat hysterically.
Streamer warned long ago about gambling, now a major promoter for casinos
What’s behind it: xQc has taken a strange path In 2021, he often expressed frustration over his susceptibility to gambling and here explains how much money he lost and that he wants to get away from it:
For years, he kept away from gambling because he knew how susceptible he was to the addiction mechanics. He never wanted to have anything to do with “gambling” and swore to his viewers that he would never do that:
- But gradually he slipped into gambling. Even in games like “Rust,” the former shooter pro was caught up in the roulette wheel.
- At some point, he then openly made casino streams and played blackjack.
- For a long time, he struggled with this addiction and repeatedly expressed frustration with himself.
In recent months, however, xQc has apparently fully embraced the dark side, as he took the millions from the online casino Stake, to promote Kick, and is now publicly indulging in his gambling addiction on a large scale.
Ultimately, it is essential to warn that such examples of significant winnings are always countered by substantial losses.
xQc is also being accused by Counter-Strike 2 fans of playing not with his own money as a casino promoter but with the casino’s money – and that his winnings are faked
(via hltv.org)
xQc is in a unique position due to his deals and his enormous reach, and should not serve as a role model for anyone. He himself has repeatedly warned about his “degeneracy” and about “Gamba,” meaning gambling.
Twitch streamers earn millions € with gambling deals – Their viewers go bankrupt
