Dota 2 prize pool reaches US$17.8 (AU$23M), still growing

As of July 14, Dota 2 has reached over $23 million. Most of this amount, a little over $20 million, was contributed by the Dota 2 community. This increased the original amount by 992.2 percent. Dota 2 players from all over the world are able to buy special time limited in game items depending on the tournament season. A portion of the sales is then added to the final prize pool. With The Internationals (Dota 2’s equivalent to Rugby Wold Cup) happening in August and the prize pool still increasing, Dota 2 fans anxiously wait and see if this year’s prize pool can surpass last year’s $24,270,408.52 million.

Video game-based tournament E-Sports has been gaining popularity and audience in the past few years. Dota 2 has been a front runner in promoting E-Sports with its large prize pools and active player base. Prize pools have been reaching staggering levels from $330,000 to $4 million in other held tournaments. Two of the 3 Majors series with the $4 million prize pool were held in the first half of this year. Five tournaments are currently in progress worldwide while two more are scheduled to start after The Internationals.

Now and then
Dota 2 popularised the prize pool crowdfunding. The practice was first rolled out on the third The Internationals in 2013. The move boosted the prize pool from 2011 and 2012 of $2.1 million to $3.7 million. That increase jumped even more as 2014’s reached a $14.4 million mark and 2015 clocked in a gargantuan $24.2 million.

The amateur scene did not fall behind as more amateur leagues and tournaments are being held worldwide. The amateur’s only tournaments lowered the bar for new teams to compete and get experience. The lack of it back then meant that newly formed teams had to compete against long standing and big pro teams in the few tournaments available.

Gear up Australia!
The stages are on fire and a king’s ransom is up for the taking. Dota 2 shows no sign of slowing down in pushing itself as the premier e-sport. Active professional teams from North America, South America, Europe, China, South East Asia, and Korea compete yearly to be the best in the world. The seat of “Best Oceanic Team” is empty and the honour of “First Oceanic Team to compete in The Internationals” untaken, the only questions are when and who.