Dota 2: The International prize pool hits $20M, still growing

Dota 2: The International is ridiculously lucrative this year.

Dota 2: The International has reached a significant milestone, as crowdufnding of its prize pool continues throughout the competition this week.

At time of writing the total up for grabs is $20,105,453 - a whopping target for anyone gunning to take Dota 2: The International's largest eSports prize pool record.

With this kind of money on the line, the winning team is set to take home over $8 million. Even after the team and management crew takes a slice that's a pretty tasty amount spread over the five players in a Dota 2 roster.

Dota 2 doesn't have a professional league with player salaries like League of Legends does, which means its players are reliant on prize money and sponsorship to earn a living from the game. It takes constant practice to reach professional level, let alone start taking home prize money. This may comfort you a little when you're gazing at your pay cheque this month wondering if you chose the wrong career.

There are loads of ways to tune into Dota 2: The International 2016 if you want to watch players battle it out for $20 million. Now in its sixth year, The International is Dota 2's global championship, and caps out a year of competitive play.

The majority of Dota 2: The International's prize money comes from purchases of the Battlepass, which provides various in-game goodies and activities for Dota 2 players. Valve keeps 75% of the purchase prize, but also ponies up a base amount for the pot, covers competitor expenses and, you know, throws a huge event in Seattle's Key Arena every year.