Valve just announced each CS: GO Major Championship , starting with MLG Columbus 2016, will have a prize pool of $1 million. This is good news for fans, and a huge step for Valve in its quest to legitimize the fast- paced shooter as a viable eSport. League of Legends and Smite both had prize pools totaling over $2 million last year. DOTA 2 still has the highest prize pool for an eSport, with the 2015 International totaling over $18 million.
Earning a living as a professional gamer is hard to do, and large prize pools help players justify the time needed to invest into the game. League of Legends has the LCS, which sees players compete in the same city for the entirety of the split. CS:GO has tournaments scattered all around the world, making players travel to a different country almost every week.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive ’s Major Championship in Columbus takes place on March 29- April 3. Sixteen teams will duke it out for a first place prize of $500,000. It will be hosted by Paul “Redye” Chaloner, with a full caster team. Veteran eSports journalists Thorin and Richard Lewis will be at the analyst desk.
