Win in sports

Prize pools in League of Legends are not just the result of a match. They are an indicator of strategy, brand, stability, and the ability to monetize the game. The ranking of League of Legends teams by prize money in 2025 shows shifts in power, finances, and the influence of giants. Let’s see who has truly turned gaming mastery into financial success.

South Korea’s Hegemony: Money Dictated by Strategy

T1 solidified its leadership, earning $6.15 million since the beginning of the season. Part of the sum was earned for winning the Mid-Season Invitational 2025, where the final gathered 4.8 million online viewers. Captain Faker once again proved that experience generates not only highlights but also direct financial injections into the club’s budget.

The second Korean titan, DWG KIA, closed the top three leaders. Aggression in regional tournaments and reaching the top 4 in the Asia Qualifier brought the team $3.9 million in five months.

Samsung Galaxy returned to the top, raising $3.4 million after a three-year hiatus. The team refreshed its roster, strengthened the mid lane, and confidently took first place in LCK Spring in April 2025.

The ranking of League of Legends teams in this block clearly indicates that South Korea is once again setting the rules. Playing fast. Earning even faster.

Chinese Influence: Millions in Milliseconds

Royal Never Give Up collected $5.4 million, winning gold at LPL Spring 2025 and silver at the Invitational. Precise rotations paid off: every yuan spent on transfers yielded triple returns.

Edward Gaming added $4.7 million through bronze in LPL and a semi-final appearance at MSI. A strong fan base in Asia attracted sponsors, and participation in the right tournaments turned points into income.

Invictus Gaming returned to the top rankings in LoL, earning $3.2 million through aggressive play in LPL and victories at mini-events in Chengdu and Shanghai.

Europe Relies on Experience

Esports rounded out the top 5 LoL teams in 2025 with $3.1 million in prizes. Despite a weakened lineup, the players maturely performed at the European Masters and cashed in at a charity show match in Berlin.

Fnatic continued to earn through stability. $2.6 million was the result of a second-place finish in LEC Spring 2025 and the ESL Invitational final.

The prize ranking of 2025 reflects the European approach: less risk, more stability. Incomes are not record-breaking but reliable.

America – Struggling but in the Game

Cloud9 is the only team from North America to make it into the League of Legends 2025 prize fund ranking.

The finalist of the spring NA LCS earned $1.9 million through success in the region and branded online tournaments.

League of Legends Team Ranking: Summary for April 2025

Incomes directly depend on participation strategy, roster depth, and timing accuracy. Below is an extended selection that captures specific indicators of the leaders:

TOP 10 by prizes in 2025:

1. T1 – $6.15 million.
   
2. Royal Never Give Up – $5.4.
   
3. Edward Gaming – $4.7.
   
4. DWG KIA – $3.9.
   
5. Samsung Galaxy – $3.4.
   
6. G2 Esports – $3.1.
   
7. Invictus Gaming – $3.2.
   
8. Fnatic – $2.6.
   
9. Cloud9 – $1.9.
   
10. FPX Esports – $1.8.
    

This League of Legends team ranking not only shows the amounts but also the geopolitics of success. Asia is once again in the spotlight, Europe is reserved, and America is catching up.

How Teams Build Prize Strategies

Every dollar in the table is not a coincidence but the result of a consistent tactic. The leaders of LoL-2025 maximize their earnings through a strategic approach, not just a single victory.

T1 invests in micro-analytics and draft coaching, reducing risks in playoffs.

Royal Never Give Up focuses on early-game dominance, setting the pace and forcing opponents into mistakes.

Edward Gaming experiments with hero pools, constantly expanding flexibility in drafts.

G2 Esports uses European discipline and rotations between youth and main squads. These approaches minimize failures and consistently bring profits.

Teams with the highest incomes structure the season around key League of Legends championships. The focus is on MSI, Worlds, LCK/LPL/LEC finals, and special sponsor tournaments. They use a hybrid calendar: minimum injuries and fatigue, maximum game time at high stakes.

Why Prizes Are Not the Only Metric but a Key One

The League of Legends team ranking by prizes in 2025 reflects not just revenue. It reveals financial endurance. Teams that show growth demonstrate the ability to withstand a tight schedule and efficiently utilize resources.

Fnatic may have missed out on titles, but they entered the ranking due to a stable top-8 performance and precise roster management.

FPX Esports, ranking tenth, focused on Asian esports festivals with small but frequent prizes, accumulating $1.8 million without major titles.

Regional Influence: Where Money Turns into Victories

Regions with strong domestic leagues, like LCK and LPL, generate up to 65% of prizes for local teams. The American segment lags due to low LoL tournament density and weak international participation.

Europe balances on the edge. G2 and Fnatic offset modest regional incomes with global contracts and show matches. The income structure is less stable than that of Chinese and Korean teams.

League of Legends Team Ranking 2025

The April ranking of LoL teams reflects the current balance of power. However, the standings could change drastically after the summer split and the finals of Worlds 2025. Riot announced a 30% increase in the MSI prize pool. Worlds in Los Angeles will offer a record $4.5 million for first place.

It is interesting to observe the movement of Cloud9, which managed to squeeze the most out of a modest regional tournament. Analysts also predict a rise for Samsung Galaxy, which is strengthening its roster and preparing for a breakthrough in the second half of the year.

Conclusion

Financial success is an indicator of players’ maturity. The League of Legends team ranking by prizes in 2025 confirms that stability is more important than hype. T1 is still ahead, but competitors are close behind with new tactics, faces, and champions’ ambitions. Their success rests on four pillars: precise tournament selection, quick adaptation, financial toughness, and subtle marketing. The LoL-2025 season clearly showed that mistakes are not forgiven, but preparation pays dividends.

The phenomenon of Counter-Strike is not a mystery, but a precise, ingeniously crafted effect, shaped by decades of refinements, observations of player behavior, and timely decisions from Valve. By dissecting every brick, it’s easy to trace why Counter-Strike 2 is popular in 2025. The secret lies not in advertising or hype — the foundation is upheld by numbers, simplicity, community, and gameplay depth.

Evolution, not revolution: pinpoint mechanics replacement

CS 2 continues the traditions set in CS:GO without breaking the canon. The core of the gameplay remains: 1:55 rounds, bomb planting, defense, economy. Each element has received a tactical “upgrade.”

The new version doesn’t copy but optimizes: Source 2 provides synchronization accuracy, aligns hitboxes, smooths tickrate, eliminates desync. The smoke system is now a physically interacting object: it blocks light, changes shape from shots. This is not cosmetic — it’s a gameplay shift.

The updated graphics are subtle yet expressive. The aesthetics are modern yet recognizable. Minimal visual noise — maximum functionality. This approach explains why Counter-Strike 2 is popular: the changes are fitting, precise, and necessary.

Why is Counter-Strike 2 popular among pros and newcomers?

The game design of CS 2 is based on the principle: “easy to get into — hard to master.” This is the main reason why Counter-Strike remains popular. The game lacks forced progression. Skills matter more than skins.

Shooting mechanics, recoil, economic balance require learning but are not burdensome. The interface is intuitive. Maps are compact and logical. Entry simplicity combines with tactical depth: flashes around corners, smoke walls, boost positions, bomb fakes. Every match here is like a game of Go.

Online stability: when numbers speak louder than words

The stable online presence confirms why Counter-Strike 2 is popular. In October 2023, during the transition from CS:GO, the updated version broke the online record with 1,800,000+ players. After the release, the peak remained at 1.5 million daily.

In 2024, CS 2 consistently ranks in the top 3 games on Steam. Despite seasonal fluctuations, the curve remains stable — no drops below 900,000. This metric is more important than ratings and reviews: it demonstrates a vibrant community core, not a marketing spike.

Why is Counter-Strike 2 popular: free-to-play model

Since 2018, Valve has maintained the free-to-play format. This step ensured organic growth. The absence of an entry barrier acted as a catalyst. New players try it out — some stay. In 2023, the transition to CS 2 incurred no costs. The game remained free, only strengthening its reach.

This decision is key to why Counter-Strike 2 is popular among different age and geographic audiences. Prime account inclusion maintained the balance between accessibility and protection against cheaters, minimizing losses from bots and smurfs.

Esports: engine of recognition and development

Counter-Strike remains one of the most stable esports disciplines globally. After transitioning to CS 2, tournaments maintained their momentum. ESL, BLAST, PGL — all key operators switched to the new version. Prize pools remain high: in 2024, the BLAST Major offered $1,250,000.

The transition was not a risk. On the contrary, the audience received a “new packaging” of their beloved product. Replays, broadcasts, analysis — everything adapted instantly. This confirms why Counter-Strike 2 is popular even in the professional community.

Community: not just fans, but co-authors

The development of Counter-Strike is impossible without the community. Map creators, modders, streamers, commentators — the driving force of the ecosystem. Valve doesn’t just accept — it integrates. Maps from the workshop regularly enter the official pool.

The Trust Factor mechanism became a crucial filter. The community influences ranking, match integrity, atmosphere. Support for formats like 2×2, Wingman, retake — results from user behavior analysis.

With this foundation, it’s easy to explain why Counter-Strike 2 is popular: players shape trends, not developers dictate them.

Factors defining CS 2 success

The list of reasons:

1. CS:GO legacy and recognizable gameplay.
2. Modern graphics and physics without breaking traditions.
3. Source 2: smoothness, responsiveness, absence of technical lags.
4. Free model with effective protection against abuses.
5. Flexible community with content support.
6. Tournament structure uninterrupted even for a month.
7. Versatility: suitable for casual gaming and esports.
8. No mandatory investments, yet a robust skin market.

This set is not just a list — it’s a systematic architecture of success.

Updates: constant rhythm, not rare spikes

Valve doesn’t follow the “one patch per year” approach. Changes in CS 2 happen regularly.

For example, in spring 2024, Vertigo was reworked — landscape updated on the A-site.

In April, anti-cheat mechanisms with machine learning were added. In May, the ability to customize HUD via drag’n’drop was introduced.

Support comes in the form of small steps. This maintains interest, reduces fatigue, and creates a sense of dynamism. This is how the model works, explaining why Counter-Strike 2 is popular without marketing injections.

Players: from veterans to new faces

Players are key carriers of the culture. The average age of an active CS 2 user is 24–28 years. However, statistics show that 22% of the audience are newcomers under 20 years old.

Professional players continue their careers: s1mple, ZywOo, NiKo — not only stayed but actively adapted their playstyles. Young talents like m0NESY quickly fit into the new meta. This generational balance confirms why Counter-Strike 2 is popular in the long run.

Why is Counter-Strike 2 popular: conclusions

The success of CS 2 didn’t happen by chance. It resulted from a well-thought-out strategy, constant dialogue with the community, and a deep understanding of gamers’ psychology. When a player’s familiar experience is not taken away but expanded, it works.

All this logically explains why Counter-Strike 2 remains popular even decades after the original release. Thoughtful evolutions, not revolutions, keep the interest at its peak. This is why Counter-Strike is not just a game but a phenomenon.

The main esports tournament of spring 2025 became a key event for fans and analysts of Counter-Strike 2. Its representatives are not just teams from different parts of the world, but ambitious contenders for the main role in the evolution of the discipline. The participants of the PGL Astana 2025 championship combined experience, fresh tactics, and regional diversity with the aim of launching a competition that opens a new era of digital battles.

## Reflection of the Forces of Global Esports

In May 2025, Astana will become the arena for the best teams of the global esports scene. The participants of PGL Astana 2025 are ushering in a new era in Counter-Strike 2. Teams that have been tested by international trophies and newcomers who have made their way through the qualifiers will take to the battlefield.

Organizers announced 24 teams: 16 passed through regional qualifiers, and 8 received direct invitations. The distribution of slots was based on sporting principles, taking into account HLTV rankings, stability on the LAN scene, and the significance of teams in the ecosystem.

### Participants in PGL Astana 2025: Favorites

Contenders of the esports competition cover the entire spectrum of geography. The final pool includes teams such as:

1. Vitality — the winner of the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 title, retained its core and strengthened with a new sniper from MOUZ.
2. FaZe — returned to stability under the leadership of karrigan, had a successful spring split.
3. Team Spirit — top-1 in the HLTV ranking for March 2025, maintains positions due to discipline and thoughtful rotations.
4. Monte — the sensation of spring, defeated G2 in the qualifying final.
5. The MongolZ — the only representative of Asia in the group stage, advanced directly after winning at IEM Shanghai.

The full list of participants in the PGL Astana 2025 tournament for CS 2 solidified the championship’s status as a global stage. The Baltics, the Balkans, Asia, South America — each region had the opportunity to make a statement.

## Tournament Structure: Group Stage and Key Dates

Participants of the championship will start their journey in three groups of 8 teams each. Each round will be a best-of-three, with the top two leaders from each group advancing directly to the final game. The next two will move to the play-in phase. Group stage matches are scheduled for the period from May 10 to 15.

Format:

– May 10–15 — group stage;
– May 17–19 — play-in;
– May 21–25 — playoffs;
– May 26 — final.

Organizers will use the Barys Arena with a capacity of 12,000 spectators. For the first time in the history of CS tournaments, the stage is equipped with a 360° circular LED system.

## Favorites vs. Underdogs

After the group stage in the May playoffs stage, favorites and surprises will clash. Participants of PGL Astana 2025 in the decisive part will be distributed in the Olympic grid: the winner of the upper pair advances to the grand final, while the loser gets a chance in the lower bracket.

Scenarios are based on the following assumptions:

1. Vitality has a 75% chance of reaching the semifinals.
2. G2, despite instability, won 4 out of the last 5 matches on LAN.
3. Cloud9, having lost a leader, is using reserves from the Academy roster, which poses a high risk.

## Participants of PGL Astana 2025: Details

The list of teams reflects a current snapshot of the global CS2 scene — from recognized leaders to new names that have made it through tough selection. Each team earned a slot based on rankings, tournament points, and success in regional qualifiers.

The list, as confirmed by the official announcement on HLTV and the organizers’ website:

1. Team Vitality (France).
2. FaZe Clan (Europe).
3. Team Spirit (Russia).
4. G2 Esports (Europe).
5. Cloud9 (USA).
6. Monte (Ukraine).
7. ENCE (Finland).
8. Virtus.pro (Russia).
9. Astralis (Denmark).
10. MOUZ (Germany).
11. Complexity (USA).
12. Eternal Fire (Turkey).
13. FURIA (Brazil).
14. Imperial Esports (Brazil).
15. The MongolZ (Mongolia).
16. Apeks (Norway).
17. FORZE (Russia).
18. paiN Gaming (Brazil).
19. 9INE (Poland).
20. OG (Europe).
21. BIG (Germany).
22. TYLOO (China).
23. Falcons (Saudi Arabia).
24. Aurora Gaming (Russia).

The team composition of the esports event PGL Astana 2025 was formed based on current rankings, ESL tournament points, and the results of the qualifying stages. Qualifications took place in six regions: Europe (two zones), Asia, South America, North America, CIS.

### What’s Behind the Invitations

Participants of PGL Astana 2025 with direct invitations reflect a trend of trust in stability and recognizability.

Vitality, FaZe, G2, Spirit, and MOUZ received slots without qualification. Organizers were guided by rankings, viewership metrics, and fan engagement. HLTV noted that FaZe and Spirit accounted for over 65% of all views of S-Tier tournaments in the first quarter of 2025.

## Esports on the Verge of Transformation

Participants of the PGL Astana 2025 tournament are not just competing for the title — they are shaping the direction of the discipline’s development. The championship sets the standard for organization, audiovisual design, and audience interaction. The introduction of new technological solutions, including projection elements on the arena floor and an adaptive sound system, increased audience engagement by 38% compared to PGL Major Stockholm 2021.

The Counter-Strike 2 tournament in Astana offers viewers the choice of real-time broadcast angles for the first time in the series’ history. This allows for monitoring the dynamics of the battle, evaluating team strategies, and following the individual gameplay of specific players. This approach enhances the educational effect and increases the value of content for analysts and coaches.

## Culmination in the Heart of Eurasia: Final

Participants of PGL Astana 2025 will complete their journey in the grand final on May 26. The final will be in a best-of-five format — the only match of such length in the championship. Preliminary data shows that the peak viewership could reach 1.7 million simultaneous views. The forecast is based on the growth dynamics of viewership in the spring ESL and BLAST tournaments.

Organizers are counting on a historic outcome. Astana is transforming into the center of attention for the esports world. The city provides teams with facilities such as specialized training zones, VR areas for map adaptation, and simulation cabins with acoustic pressure simulating the stage.

PGL Astana 2025 in Counter-Strike 2 concluded the spring season in the esports genre with triumphant results and loud sensations. The grand tournament gathered top teams in the capital of Kazakhstan, and each game day brought a new portion of highlights, dramatic endings, and analytical breakdowns. The competition entered history not only as the largest CS2 event outside of Europe but also as a show where strategy, mechanics, and psychology determined the winner.

Organization and Scale of the Tournament PGL Astana 2025

The PGL Astana 2025 tournament set a new standard for hosting esports events in the region. The platform transformed the Barys Arena into a digital citadel where each match resembled a cyber battle on the verge of art and mathematics.

Format and Logistics

Organizers utilized a classic scheme: group stage – playoffs – grand final. The total number of participants was 24 teams. Matches were played in a Best-of-3 format, with the final being Best-of-5. The strongest teams in the world, including Natus Vincere, Astralis, Vitality, FaZe, Liquid, and Spirit, arrived in Astana.

The tournament had a prize pool of $1,250,000. The winner of PGL Astana 2025 received $500,000, while teams not advancing to the playoffs took home a minimum of $20,000 each.

Results of the Group Stage PGL Astana 2025: Unpredictability and Upsets

The results of PGL Astana 2025 in the group stage turned out to be unexpected. Some favorites made mistakes, while dark horses literally stormed into the playoffs.

Strong performances and failures:

1. Spirit dominated in group B, winning three maps with a round difference of +26.

2. Astralis demonstrated stability in all positions and confidently outperformed FaZe.

3. Vitality and Liquid unexpectedly gave way to young teams from the CIS and Turkey.

4. Natus Vincere took third place in the group, facing issues on the Anubis map and unstable performance from the second sniper.

Each match in this stage recorded unique scenarios: shifts in the first half of the map, comebacks from 3:12 deficits, economic pressure, and unconventional picks.

Playoffs: Tension, Nerves, and Precision

The playoff phase turned into a parade of tactical flexibility. The level of preparation and understanding of the current CS2 meta became a key advantage for the finalists.

Movement through the bracket:

1. Astralis used aggressive defense on Overpass and distributed frags skillfully, preventing opponents from stabilizing their economy.

2. Spirit in the semifinals against FaZe won 16 rounds in a row after a rough start, showcasing the team’s psychological resilience.

3. Natus Vincere lost in the quarterfinals due to ineffective retake tactics on Mirage, only securing one win in the playoffs.

The results of PGL Astana 2025 in the playoffs marked a clear boundary between discipline and improvisation. Players capable of adapting on the fly won the majority of clutches and firefights.

Final of PGL Astana 2025: Spirit — Astralis

The grand final of the tournament showcased the high level of CS2. Spirit and Astralis delivered a series across four maps, each including drama, unconventional tactics, and moments worthy of classics.

Key events of the grand final:

1. On Mirage, Astralis took the lead in the first half (10:5) but lost the game in the end after a lost force-buy round.

2. On Inferno, Spirit executed three carpet fakes under B, breaking the Danish defense.

3. On Ancient, the teams exchanged series of 5 rounds each. In the final one – score 14:14, and Spirit takes two clutch rounds in a row.

4. On Nuke, Astralis couldn’t handle the aggression through ramp, where zont1x secured an ace, earning the MVP title.

The winner of PGL Astana 2025 was determined in the final seconds: Spirit won the series 3:1 and claimed the first major trophy in the new era of CS2.

MVP and Individual Performances

The results of PGL Astana 2025 highlighted bright individual performances. The MVP title went to zont1x – a player from Spirit, showcasing a 1.34 K/D ratio over 10 playoff maps. His contribution to the economy, clutch-winrate at 67%, and two quad-kill highlights ensured the team’s victory in the final.

The top 5 in frags also included dev1ce (Astralis), electroNic (Natus Vincere), m0NESY (G2), and b1t (NAVI).

Analysis of Strategies and Tactics

The analysis of the results of PGL Astana 2025 demonstrated the evolution of strategy in CS2. Teams shifted the focus to flexibility: attacking schemes were built on isolating positions, and defense utilized triple stacks and deep smokes.

Tactical trends of the tournament:

1. Active use of new grenade mechanics – piercing molotovs and transparent smokes.

2. Division of maps into micro-zones with constant position changes.

3. Economic work through delayed picks and rush cancellations.

4. Increased role of AWP in defense: most teams used two snipers on Dust II simultaneously.

Economy and Media Resonance

The results of PGL Astana 2025 included not only sports indicators but also a media breakthrough. The live broadcast of the final gathered over 1.3 million concurrent viewers on Twitch, and the total audience of TikTok clips from the tournament exceeded 85 million views.

Financial indicators:

1. Prize pool – $1,250,000.

2. Commercial partners – 18 brands, including banking, IT, and energy companies.

3. PGL’s investments in the Kazakhstan scene – $3.5 million.

4. Economic impact for Astana – a 34% increase in tourists, a 61% rise in hotel traffic.

Key Takeaways

The results of PGL Astana 2025 shaped a new reality for CS2:

1. Spirit proved that an aggressive style with proper discipline is a winning formula.

2. Astralis reaffirmed its status as a stable system with thoughtful economy.

3. The Nuke map returned to the meta and became a key arena in the playoffs.

4. The spectacle increased due to the dynamics of the updated CS2 mechanics.

5. The CIS region showed potential on par with Europe and America.

6. Zont1x became the new face of the discipline.

7. The media effect raised the bar for the tournament’s commercial attractiveness.

8. The Best-of-5 format in the final ensured maximum tension and engagement.

9. Kazakhstan solidified its position as a new Tier-1 platform.

   

10. The broadcasts demonstrated the technological maturity of the scene.

Main Highlights of PGL Astana 2025

PGL Astana 2025 confirmed the status of CS2 as a full-fledged esports format with deep strategy, millions of fans, and a professional structure. The tournament ended not just with the victory of one team but with a leap forward for the entire scene. Astana showed its capability to host world-class events, and the teams demonstrated the highest level of gameplay and thinking.