By 2020, the esports industry was reported to have surpassed a net worth of $1 billion and it is anticipated to be worth around $3 billion by 2023. There are millions of players playing top esports titles like League of Legends, Fortnite, Dota 2 and CS:GO. FIFA etc.
Top 10 countries with the most legendary Esports players.
- SOUTH KOREA
South Korea is widely regarded as being the country that kickstarted the whole esports sensation. They have been broadcasting esports events on public television for nearly 20 years and they have government supported academies, to develop future professional gamers. They have also recognized esports as sports.
Famous South Korean esports star “Faker” are a big reason why games like League of Legends have enjoyed such a high level of popularity. He alone has won over $1.2 million in Esports prize money. Other South Korean stars like “Bang” and “Wolf” have also made a name for their country as being home to the world’s best gamers. Both compete in League of Legends, and both have each won nearly $1 million in esports prize money.
Korean players alone have won over 20 million in Starcraft 2, with notable stars like Rogue and Maru earning more than a million each. Additionally, PUBG superstar Pio, arguably one of the best PUBG players, has also earned over a million dollars just in the past two years alone.
- CHINA
The Chinese government was initially fairly opposed to competitive gaming, but in 2019 esports was formerly recognized as sports and its growing popularity in the country led to predictions that China would soon become the second-largest esports market after the US. China also has one of the most diverse esports ecosystems with players competing for both the famous titles globally and for locally developed esports like FreeFire, CrossFire and Honor of Kings.
China has also established a dedicated esports town in Hangzhou to develop the next generation of competitive gaming talent. Cities like Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou quickly followed suit and established their own esports support programs. China’s esports and gaming industry has become the world’s largest by number of gamers. According to iResearch report, nearly half of China’s population, which is around around 600 million, play games on phone, PC, or console.
China’s Dota 2 player “Somnus” has almost reached prize winnings of $3 million, while League of Legends superstar “Uzi,” has earned over $545,000 in prize money. Chinese players, “JackeyLove” and “Ning” have remained in the spotlight for League of Legends game. JackeyLove and Ning are among the top ten players with the highest earnings as of May 2021, according to Statistica.
- DENMARK
The Danish Esports scene has garnered fans across the globe, notably for their undisputed victories across many esports events. Denmark’s CS:GO team, Astralis, has been a long-standing champion in consecutive CS:GO majors up till the Berlin Major 2019. Danish League of Legends players like Bjergsen, Broxax, Caps, Wunder have all become notable superstars within the esport scene. There is also Dota 2 superstar N0tail, and his fellow countrymen Cr1t and MiSeRy.
Denmark has a tendency to produce some of the highest earning and most recognized talents in esports. The Danish government has also taken notice of the talents within their country since 2019 and made efforts to nurture the Esports scene further.
- USA
USA has produced some of the best Esports stars in the world. From multi-millionaire celebrity Fortnite gamer “Ninja”, to ‘sneaky with his incredible achievements as a League of Legends player; USA has given us some spectacular gamers. Jonathan “Fatal1ty” Wendell is the most important player produced by the USA in terms of prize money; he is the single highest earner in esports history and he has appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, 60 Minutes and MTV’s True Life series.
Dota 2 gamers like Universe, ppd, and Fear have also gone up the global highest earning list in recent times. In 2019, Fortnite gamer Bugha, got the record title as the highest-earning US player, with his Fortnite World Cup Solo win.
- SWEDEN
Sweden is one of the most successful gaming nations of all times. They have nurtured esports since the 90s and have always been a driving force in European esports. It’s the home to the hugely influential DreamHack esports tournament in Jönköping, where some of the most memorable esports moments have happened.
From Dota 2 talents like s4 and ZAi to some of the best CS:GO players like Olofmeister, f0rest and KRiMZ. Patrick ‘f0rest’ Lindberg is one of if not the greatest counter-strike players of all times. He is also one of Sweden’s most valuable CS:GO players.
Sweden’s gamers has the ability to put in spectacular performances in a variety of different games. From the stunning efforts of “Armada” in Super Smash Bros, to the skills of “Toxjqs” in Quake 4, they have put Sweden on the map as one of the leading nations with talented esport gamers.
- GERMANY
Germany’s Dota2 gamer ‘kuroKy’ has won over $5 million in prize money. Going by career winnings, Germany has earned a place in the successful esport gaming nations with the best esport gamers. Staple German esports organizations SK Gaming, mousesports, BiG and MeetYourMakers have also amassed combined forty millions in prize winnings over the past 20 years.
Also, Dota 2’s “FATA”, SMITE’s “NinjaDimi,” as well as “ShoWTimE”’s showcased abilities in StarCraft II, has put Germany as one of the Nations producing some truly exceptional competitive gaming stars.
- FINLAND
Two-time Dota 2 International champs, “JerAx” and “Topson”, hold records as the highest-paid Dota 2 players globally. They have earned over $6m and $5m respectively. They have even been recognized by the Finnish president himself, who invited them to the Independence Day’s celebration at the castle. Finland is also home to another International Dota2 champ, “MATUMBAMAN” who has earnings of over $4m.
Serral has also earned over $1m as a Starcraft gamer and Team ENCE in CS:GO and PUBG also showcased their talents during the Katowice Major 2019 grand finals and follow-up events.
- PHILIPPINES
From the highest earnings to the best fanbases, Philippines deserves a spot in best Esports countries. The region’s growing esports scene has become so popular in recent years that it also took over the mobile gaming sensation.
In classic Esports titles like Dota 2, Filipino players and teams are not the highest earners, gamers like ‘KuKu’, DJ and Tims have earnings slightly below $1m, however; Filipino players are becoming the dominant force in mobile esports. From King of Glory, Wild Rift to PUBG Mobile, every game has plenty of esports teams competing boosting up the country as one of the most important rising esports markets in the world.
- BRAZIL
Brazil is considered a talent base for several esports titles. The likes of Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo and Marcelo “Coldzera” David have dominated CS:GO for years and have each earned over $1m in prize money. FalleN has won over 30 titles and in 2016 he became the 2nd best player in the world. Also legendary teams, mibr and FURIA both hail from Brazil.
Fer, TACO and 22 year old Psycho have all been showing exceptional skills in recent years. Psycho has earned about $349,000 in prize money and won the Brasileira Rainbow six.
Brazil has also produced some serious gaming talent in FPS games, Valorant and PUBG.
- RUSSIA
Russia made the list due to legendary Russian esports teams like Virtus.pro. Gamers like ‘Miposhka’, ‘CoLLapse’ and ‘TORONTOTOKYO’ are all leading esports gamers and have each won nearly $3.7 million USD on esports tournament in 2021.
Russia tends to dominate titles like World of Tanks, with gamers like ‘Inspirer’, ‘LeBwa’, ‘Nuclear’ and ‘Neskwi’. Also gamers like ‘Solo’ wins big on Dota2 while ‘flamie’ provides master-class in CS:GO. Together they are all proving that Russia is to be reckoned with, when it comes to esports development.
Source: http://www.esports.net
