How Huge is the Prize Money at the Esports World Cup?
As we know, the Esports World Cup 2024 held in Saudi Arabia is the first World Cup event for the esports scene, and of course, there are many shortcomings. Nevertheless, its impact is undeniable as it has created a significant buzz and could even serve as a precursor for an Olympic-level tournament next year, with the IOC having given the green light for esports. Moreover, the championship teams have gained prominence in Saudi Arabia and have also secured a substantial prize pool. According to some information, T1’s total prize money is around $525k (equivalent to over 13 billion VND) – a figure even higher than the prize money of the 2023 World Championship.
Esports World Cup from the Insider’s Perspective
However, according to Keria, while the prize money may be substantial for a League of Legends tournament, it does not significantly impact him or the T1 players. Specifically, Keria shared in a recent interview: “The slogan of the Esports World Cup 2024 linked with the prize money is ‘Life Change’. But I don’t think the prize money is that high. I don’t feel like my life has changed at all after this.”
In reality, unlike some other esports, League of Legends players are almost independent of tournament prize money. Teams have their own salary structures, along with livestream contracts and brand endorsements. For a team like T1 and a well-known player like Keria, his income likely does not rely on the Esports World Cup 2024 (EWC 2024) or any tournaments like MSI or the World Championship.
Therefore, Keria’s assessment does not seem to downplay the prize money of EWC 2024. However, the prize money will also be distributed among all participating teams in the tournament, so it is entirely normal for it not to significantly affect players like Keria. Not to mention, as the reigning champion of the 2023 World Championship, Keria and his T1 teammates will also have a significant additional income once the 2023 World Championship skins for the team are officially launched in the near future.