Esports have grown tremendously in recent years, becoming a billion-dollar industry. As a result, they have gained mainstream recognition as an accepted form of sports competition. Similarly to traditional sports, professionals utilize the platforms offered to gain skills and finances. Perhaps you have encountered some stars interacting with ordinary players via social media live streams, mainly on Twitch or Tiktok. We shall review some skilled video game players and analyze why they’re the highest earning athletes in the growing sport.
Esports Success in the Gambling World
So, how does Esports manage to award competitors big cash prizes? Their revenue is also mainly contributed by gambling activities on the sport, which is a huge sum when combined with multiple advertisement deals and partnerships.
The influence of video games, such as Dota, is evident in the gaming industry’s partnerships and collaborations. This can be observed in various online casinos that offer users the opportunity to bet on Esports events, providing a chance to delve into other options, like playing online slots for real money. By visiting the site, you can engage with some of the finest platforms for pokies and enjoy their exceptional features, including enticing bonuses and efficient payment systems. Moreover, these platforms also incorporate multiplayer options to create an engaging and competitive atmosphere akin to Esports tournaments.
Top 5 Esports Earners
Johan Sundstein ‘N0tail’
Going by the alias’ N0tail,’ Johan Sundstein is a professional Dota 2 player from Denmark. His prowess in the game has made him the highest-earning esports player globally, with total earnings of over $7.4 million.
The most he has earned from a tournament is $3.3 million, won in “The International” in 2019. This tournament alone has netted N0tail almost $3.9 million in prize money
The Danish 29-year-old began his esports career in 2012, winning multiple major competitions, including ‘The International’ twice. Additionally, he is the player with the largest prize pool in esports history.
Jess Vainikka ‘JerAx’
Next is Dota 2 superstar Jesse Vainikka, famously known as JerAx. He is retired but still has the second-most earnings, totaling over $6.5 million. JerAx is a two-time ‘The International’ winner, earning over $3.1 million from the tournament.
The Finnish pro participated in 68 total tournaments, and his biggest win came in the 2019 competition, $3.3 million, in a stage they shared with N0tail. His cash prize from the competition accounts for 48% of his career earnings.
Anathan Pham’ ana’
Unlike the previous two, Anathan Pham, referred to as ‘Ana,’ is non-European, an Australian professional Dota 2 player. As the world’s third-highest-earning esports player, he earned over $6 million over his video career.
Replicating the previously mentioned pros, Ana’s first-place performance in one of his 26 tournaments giving cash prizes, earned him the most money. Like JerAX, he has won ‘The International’ twice and has over $3.1 million in prize money from the competition.
Additionally, the young Australian has participated in the OG group, winning two major events in 2018 and 2019. The group’s income accounts for 51% of his total money won.
Sébastien Debs ‘Ceb’
Sébastien Debs, popularly known as Ceb, is an accomplished Dota 2 pro from France. The European has earned over $5.4 million to become the world’s fourth-highest-earning esports player. Ceb has won ‘The International’ competition twice, getting over $3.1 million.
He has participated in 67 Esport tournaments, with the 2019 win earning him a whopping $3.2 million. The amount covers 53% of his career cash prizes.
Topias Taavitsainen ‘Topson’
Topias Taavitsainen, also known as Topson, is a Finnish professional Dota 2 player with over $5.2 million in total earnings. Topson has won The International twice, attaining over $3.1 million from the coveted competition. Like Ana, he had once played for OG when he got his most ever prize money, $3.1 million.
The Dota Game Effect and Games’ Players
As observed from our top five, Dota 2 video game has dominated as the version utilized by the highest earners of Esport events. This is mainly because of the game’s massive prize pools in the annual ‘The International,’ Dota 2 championship.
For instance, 2019’s competition comprised a prize pool of over $34 million, with the winning team, OG, taking home over $15 million. Nonetheless, there are other games with their own set of top earners. Here is a look at these professionals and their respective games:
- Lee Sang-hyeok ‘Faker’: He is one of the best League of Legends players globally, coming from South Korea. ‘Faker’ has earned over $1.2 million in prize money, mainly from his three World Championships with his team, SK Telecom T1.
- Kyle Giersdorf’ Bugha’: Kyle is a 2019 Fortnite World Cup Solo Championship, winning an impressive $3 million prize money and becoming the highest Fortnite earner.
Conclusion
Apart from the retired pros, you can catch the mentioned players in the upcoming Esports events. No worries, as these matches are normally aired live in some mainstream media, but they are also readily available on different official Esport social pages.
