In a remarkable exhibition of talent and tactics, Chinese competitive video game players reasserted their supremacy globally in 2021, garnering a combined $37 million in winnings and concluding a three-year period of United States dominance.
A recent analysis from Safe Betting Sites emphasizes this power transfer, disclosing that Chinese esports income escalated dramatically to $37 million in 2021, firmly establishing their leading position. This achievement signifies a substantial change in the competitive arena, as China had lagged behind the US for the preceding three years.
The US, while remaining a significant contender, now holds the second spot with a total of $22.8 million in earnings. Esports Learnings statistics indicate that this is the first instance since 2017 that China has attained the coveted top ranking. From 2018 onward, American gamers had consistently out-earned their Chinese rivals, making this victory even more momentous.
The surge in Chinese earnings is particularly striking, with overall prize funds for their esports competitors more than doubling from $17.9 million in 2020 to an impressive $37.1 million in 2021. Concurrently, the US witnessed a decline in winnings. American players had secured an astounding $43.6 million in 2019, but this number dwindled to $23.1 million in 2020 and further contracted to $22.8 million in 2021. This downward trajectory aligns with a year-over-year reduction in the number of American players participating at the highest echelons of esports since 2019.
Introducing another element of fascination to the standings, Russian esports competitors have climbed to third place, trailing only the US. This ascent is even more remarkable considering they were not even among the top ten contenders in 2019. While Russian players obtained a respectable $440,000 in winnings in 2020, their earnings escalated dramatically to an impressive $21.9 million in 2021, propelling them to the third position.
Meanwhile, South Korea, a country renowned for its esports expertise, encountered a minor setback, finishing in fourth place with a total of $11 million in prize funds.
The People’s Republic of China reigned supreme in the competitive gaming arena in 2021, amassing an impressive $21.7 million in winnings. Trailing closely behind was Canada, capturing the second position with $20.2 million. The United States, previously holding the championship title in 2019 and 2020, descended to third place with $14.4 million. Ukraine astonished many by claiming fifth place with $10.3 million, a significant jump given their absence from the top ten in both 2019 and 2020.
Completing the top ten were esports giants Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Denmark.
This reshuffling, notably the triumphs of China and Ukraine and the downturn of American teams, has been linked to the continuing effects of the global health crisis and the evolving terrain of professional gaming.