Making Millions: Why Dota 2's The International Has Esports’ Biggest Prize Pools

Since its first iteration back in 2011, Dota 2’s The International has quickly become one of the most prestigious tournaments in all of esports , but its most lucrative. With both the 2016 and the 2017 editions boasting prize pools past the $20 million mark, The International has become as famous for its ridiculous paydays as it has for its incredible moments.

But how? How did a tournament that six years ago started with a $1.6 million prizepool grow to a ridiculous amount?

Well, it’s all thanks to the compendiums. Here’s a short history of how Valve did it.

Music used under license from Associated Production Music LLC (”APM”).

Written and edited by Paul Park
Narrated by Sean Meiliunas

Courtesy List:

All footage of The International courtesy Valve Corporation
twitch.tv/dotati
youtube.com/user/dota2

Additional Footage Credits:

PGL
https://www.youtube.com/user/PGLeSport
twitch.tv/dotamajor
twitch.tv/pgl_dota

Dota Cinema
https://www.youtube.com/user/DotaCinema

Dota Trade
https://www.youtube.com/user/dota2itemstrade

Perfect World (Dota 2 Asia Championship Trailer found via Dota Recap Daily)

ESL (via DOTA 2: The Kiev Major YouTube channel)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxLqXFmxrDVtvfasK9x-Ew?spfreload=5

Abthrax

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoVNae9rg7Ebl9lLb8J3DsA

H0lyhex0r

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1YCxISkweN5vLsOJ0zElZQ

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