eSports: Top 10 Annual Events

eSports and Competitive Video Gaming Events and Competitions Guide

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1. The International (Dota 2)

Game: Dota 2

Organiser: Valve Corporation

Average Prize Pool: £25–30 million. The International is the largest esports event for Dota 2, organised by Valve, and is held annually; in 2021, its prizes pool exceeded $40 million.

·     When: October

·     Where to Watch:

‍YouTube or Twitch

The International is the world's largest endowed esports event, with a prize pool of 25.5 million dollars in the Dota 2 tournament. Most of the prize money comes from fans through in-game purchases. The event is organised with a highly professional structure, where top teams from around the world compete for the title. Matches are played in a tournament format, with a total of dozens of games held before the winner is determined. The International also offers a unique VR viewing experience, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the action like never before. It holds the record for the highest ever prize pool for a Dota 2 tournament.

Arguably, the crown jewel of eSports, The International (TI) is the world’s richest gaming tournament. Its community-funded prize pools routinely break records, and the spectacle is unmatched.

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 2. League of Legends World Championship (LoL Worlds)

·     Game: League of Legends

·     Organiser: Riot Games. The League of Legends World Championship is a premier tournament and a major title in the esports world, organised by Riot Games. Its global reach is reflected by the 2014 League of Legends World Championship, which drew a total audience of over 40,000 fans in attendance.

·     Average Prize Pool: £6–8 million

When: October–November

Where to Watch:

lolesports or Twitch

The League of Legends World Championship is one of the most prestigious esports events, focuses exclusively on League of Legends, and is organised annually by Riot Games. The tournament is held in different cities and countries each year, with past events taking place in Shanghai (China), Seoul (South Korea), Taipei, and various cities across Europe, highlighting the global reach across multiple regions. Some stages or regional qualifiers are held in the summer, while the main event typically takes place in autumn, with the exact date announced each season. Teams from different regions compete through a series of qualifiers, and the best teams compete for the championship title. League of Legends is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game where two teams compete to conquer each other's base. Matches are played in a structured format, and the event is organised to showcase top talent from around the world. The prize pool for the League of Legends World Championship grew from $100,000 in 2011 to $4.5 million in 2017, reflecting its rise as one of the premier tournaments in esports.

Known simply as 'Worlds', this month-long spectacle defines professional eSports presentation. Riot Games transforms arenas into fantasy-themed stages, complete with augmented reality performances.

The championship showcases top talent, including elite esports players competing at the highest level. Audience diversity has also grown, with female viewership rising from 15% to 30% by 2013, while 33% of European viewers are female as of 2024. Some female competitors also play in women-only tournaments, and Team Siren’s 2013 disbanding remains part of League of Legends scene history.

3. Counter-Strike 2 Majors

Game: Counter-Strike 2

Organiser: ESL & BLAST Premier. ESL ONE is a well-known tournament provider that hosts events for CS:GO and Dota 2, and is one of the best-known tournament providers in Germany, helping shape esports around leading competitive titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and now Counter-Strike 2 for professional teams.

Average Prize Pool: £1–2 million. The prize pool for ESL ONE Dota 2 events is typically around one million dollars, while top Counter-Strike events can offer large cash prizes.

When: Spring and Autumn

Where to Watch:

YouTube or Twitch

The ESL ONE esports tournament for CS:GO is held annually in Cologne, Germany, at the LANXESS Arena, attracting thousands of viewers. Organised by the Electronic Sports League, these events are played in best of 1, best of 3, and best of 5 formats, with a total number of rounds determining the winner. Teams compete for map dominance, and matches are played by two teams of five players each. CS:GO is a popular esports game that features two teams of five players competing for map dominance.

Counter-Strike remains the foundation of professional eSports, and its Majors are the equivalent of football’s World Cup.

Majors and premier events usually mix best-of series with single or double elimination stages, and CS:GO events offered around $22 million in total prize money in 2021.

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4. Valorant Champions Tour (VCT Finals)

·     Game: Valorant

·     Organiser: Riot Games

·     Average Prize Pool: £1–1.5 million

·     When: August or September

·     Where to Watch:

YouTube or Twitch

The Valorant Champions Tour is organised by Riot Games and is held in different regions around the world. Teams from each region compete in a series of matches played in various formats, making it one of the top esports events with a truly global structure.

Riot’s tactical shooter, Valorant, has taken the competitive scene by storm. The annual VCT Finals cap off a global season featuring top teams from around the world.

The VCT Champions event is the season-ending climax of Valorant esports, bringing together the best teams from Riot’s global structure while also relying on tournament organizers, streaming platforms, sponsors, and media companies that support the wider business around each broadcast. Riot’s marketing around the circuit has helped turn it into one of the biggest annual events in the scene. Major brands and some traditional sports franchises now sponsor esports leagues and tournaments.

5. Fortnite World Cup

·     Game: Fortnite

·     Organiser: Epic Games

·     Average Prize Pool: £15–20 million

·     When: July

·     Where to Watch:

YouTube or Twitch

The Fortnite World Cup is organised by Epic Games and is held in major cities and iconic arenas, attracting players from many countries who compete in matches played across multiple formats.

The Fortnite World Cup set records in 2019 when 16-year-old Bugha won £2.4 million live on stage in New York.

The Fortnite World Cup showcases top-level play, and Bugha’s win helped make the 2019 event a major moment for watching tournaments, with 2 million viewers tuning in live.