2021 Esports figures that show how BIG it is..

Esports is an incredibly popular sport that has been able to emerge recently into the mainstream and it is rather clear and easy to understand just how big it has become.

One instance which highlights how huge the industry has become is in regard to its inclusion in the 2022 Asian Games, where a total of eight games will see medals be awarded. The eight games to be played at the Games are:

• Arena of Valor, Asian Games version
• Dota 2
• Dream Three Kingdoms 2
• EA Sports FIFA branded soccer games
• HearthStone
• League of Legends
• PUBG Mobile, Asian Games version
• Street Fighter V

Another instance that has helped to highlight just how popular esports has become around the world is in regard to the amounts of bets being placed on it, as well as the viewing figures that have been recorded, with 2021 seeing millions continuing to tune in and break previous records that have existed.

Many have been able to find popular options online that they can use when it comes down to placing a wager on what they witness, with suggestions that many are now watching others play some of the most competitive video game action ever seen before. A reason for this is due to the number of benefits that they are able to experience by wagering on this particular activity compared to traditional sports, including shorter times and more frequent events.

What were the most-watched esports of 2021?

As mentioned, the viewing figures to have been recorded in regard to the esports being played are incredible, with many of them continuing to set new records in the process. This shows that the industry is continuing to grow and showing that perhaps esports can finally enter the mainstream market in the near future.

So, what were the viewing figures of the biggest esports to have been played last year? Let’s take a look at them in ascending order:

• Free Fire World Series 2021 Singapore – peak viewership of 5.41m and an average viewership of 2.08m
• 2021 League of Legends World Championships – peak viewership of 4.01m (excluding Chinese viewers). The game also holds the record for the most hours watched by an esports tournament ever recorded (174.82m)
• PUBG Mobile’s Global Championship Season 0 – 3.80m peak viewership
• M3 World Championship – peak viewership of 3.19m
• M2 World Championship – peak viewership of 3.08m

What were the biggest prize funds available in 2021?

To further highlight how popular esports has become, and perhaps how competitive they have also gone on to be, you only need to take a look at the amount of prize money that has been made available to win when playing certain titles.

Indeed, 2021 was a huge year in regard to prize money, with the “Dota 2” video game providing a prize money pool of approximately $47.2 million; more than double the second-highest! Here is the breakdown:

• Dota 2. – Around $47.2 million
• CS: GO. – Around $21 million
• PUBG: Battlegrounds. – Around $16 million
• PUBG Mobile. – Around $14.5 million
• Arena of Valor. – Around $12.3 million
• Fortnite. – Around $9.5 million
• League of Legends. – Around $7.3 million

Some seriously impressive figures!