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

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
https://youtu.be/V9xy8cUlsLE
https://youtu.be/-zBnQYXEGfY
https://youtu.be/DtgdElyQpIQ
https://youtu.be/uqa83h0X4hU
https://youtu.be/_NHY2SM6ZYw?list=PLc04j0shLOEcayIZ5czCmgTgVqUDNf-kC

Dota Cinema
https://www.youtube.com/user/DotaCinema
https://youtu.be/g5wwEeu1T8E
https://youtu.be/Qjs8DLFhFd4

Dota Trade
https://www.youtube.com/user/dota2itemstrade
https://youtu.be/iw1wfxMfijc

Perfect World (Dota 2 Asia Championship Trailer found via Dota Recap Daily)
https://youtu.be/9ldE_QbLVV0

ESL (via DOTA 2: The Kiev Major YouTube channel)
https://youtu.be/M9l6I05oovA
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxLqXFmxrDVtvfasK9x-Ew?spfreload=5

Abthrax
https://youtu.be/enrhRf26_OQ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoVNae9rg7Ebl9lLb8J3DsA

H0lyhex0r
https://youtu.be/mmUS-osxPLs
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1YCxISkweN5vLsOJ0zElZQ

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