A new global study has ranked Team Liquid as the most successful esports team of all time, cementing its legacy at the very top of competitive gaming. The December 2025 report, published by digital entertainment platform JB, analysed the world’s biggest esports organisations using a detailed Success Index that combines competitive results, earnings, viewership, and social reach.

The research paints a clear picture of how far esports has evolved, from small online competitions into a global industry that rivals traditional sports in scale, professionalism, and prize money.

How The Rankings Were Calculated

The study examined leading esports teams from around the world and scored them using a Success Index ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate stronger overall performance across several key metrics.

These included total tournaments played, all time prize money, earnings during 2025, peak viewership in 2025, number of matches played that year, and follower counts on YouTube and Twitch. This approach allowed the research to balance long term legacy with recent competitive impact.

You can access the complete research findings and methodologies here.

Team Liquid Takes The Top Spot

With a perfect Success Index score of 100, Team Liquid stands alone at number one. Founded in 2000, the Dutch organisation has competed in an astonishing 2,977 tournaments over 25 years, more than any other team in the study.

Across that period, Team Liquid has earned over US$56 million in prize money, the highest total of all teams analysed. In 2025 alone, they competed in 570 matches and brought in close to US$2.4 million, while also reaching a peak viewership of 2 million fans during major events.

Their dominance across multiple esports titles and consistent presence at the highest level were key factors behind their top ranking.

Team Falcons Surge After A Huge 2025

Second place belongs to Team Falcons, following an outstanding 2025 season. The Saudi Arabian organisation earned nearly US$2.8 million during the year, competing in 54 tournaments and playing 543 matches.

Team Falcons also recorded a 2025 peak viewership of 1.8 million and boasts one of the largest YouTube audiences in esports, with around 3.8 million followers. Their recent success highlights the rapid growth of esports in the Middle East.

Team Spirit’s Efficiency Pays Off

In third place is Team Spirit, a team known for making the most of fewer appearances. Since forming in 2015, Team Spirit has only entered 307 tournaments, yet has already earned more than US$36 million in prize money, the second highest total overall.

Their peak viewership in 2025 reached 1.7 million, with a growing fanbase that includes over 400,000 YouTube subscribers. Despite a smaller tournament footprint, their high impact performances pushed them into the global top three.

Team Vitality Leads France’s Esports Charge

France’s Team Vitality takes fourth place after a strong year on the international stage. Founded in 2013, Team Vitality has competed in 524 tournaments and earned roughly US$13.4 million in total prize money.

In 2025 alone, they collected nearly US$3.1 million, matching Team Spirit’s earnings for the year. The organisation also continues to grow its audience, with over 290,000 followers on Twitch and more than 417,000 on YouTube.

FaZe Clan’s Social Media Power

Rounding out the top five is FaZe Clan, the most followed esports brand in the world. FaZe Clan boasts 8.5 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 600,000 Twitch followers, giving them unmatched reach on social platforms.

While their competitive results in 2025 were quieter, earning around US$226,000, their long term success is undeniable. Since 2010, FaZe Clan has entered 801 tournaments and accumulated more than US$21 million in prize money.

The Top 10 Most Successful Esports Teams

Esports Now Rivals Traditional Sports

Commenting on the findings, JB’s CEO emphasised how outdated perceptions of esports have become. He noted that modern esports organisations operate like professional sports franchises, employing coaches, analysts, and support staff, while signing players to contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

He also pointed to Team Falcons winning US$7 million in a single tournament during 2025, a prize pool larger than what many traditional sporting events offer to their champions.

The post Team Liquid Crowned The Most Successful Esports Team In The World appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Esports prize pools hit a new high in 2025

Esports prize money reached new territory in 2025, with more than $270 million awarded across competitive gaming worldwide. According to data compiled by Esports Charts, the total prize pool grew by around 15.5 percent compared to 2024, driven by heavier investment from publishers, tournament organisers, and global events like the Esports World Cup.

The dataset spans more than 10,500 tournaments across over 100 esports titles, covering events that concluded in 2025, even if they began earlier. From long-standing PC esports to booming mobile scenes, the year delivered one of the most diverse and lucrative competitive calendars the industry has ever seen.

Counter-Strike leads the way in 2025

Counter-Strike was the biggest winner of the year, finishing as the highest-earning esports title by total prize money. More than $32.2 million was awarded across CS tournaments in 2025, a massive 41.5 percent increase year over year.

That growth was fuelled by an expanded top-tier calendar, including new PGL events and the debut of the BLAST Bounty series. The Chinese Counter-Strike scene also made a strong comeback, highlighted by major events such as the Asian Champions League, CS Asia Championships 2025, and IEM Chengdu.

CS2 also dominated at the team level. Team Vitality stood out as one of the year’s top earners, collecting roughly $4 million in prize money while lifting trophies at several S-Tier events, including a Major victory in Budapest.

Dota 2 slips to second, but remains a giant

Dota 2 finished second in the 2025 rankings, with total prize money sitting at approximately $23.1 million. While that figure was largely unchanged from 2024, it marked a shift after Dota topped the standings last year.

The International 2025 remained the centrepiece of the season, accounting for around one-tenth of Dota 2’s annual prize pool. Beyond TI, prize money was spread across a packed calendar of million-dollar events such as PGL Wallachia, BLAST Slam, FISSURE PLAYGROUND, and DreamLeague.

That crowded schedule has created challenges for teams, with some forced to skip tournaments due to calendar overload, a growing issue as more organisers enter the ecosystem.

Honor of Kings holds strong in third place

For the second year running, Honor of Kings secured a spot in the top three. The TiMi Studio Group MOBA awarded $21.7 million in prize money across 2025, with nearly half coming from the King Pro League Grand Finals.

Unlike other titles, Honor of Kings operates within a tightly structured competitive system. As a result, total prize growth was limited to just 3.8 percent, with much of the increase influenced by currency fluctuations, as most prize pools are paid in Chinese yuan.

Fortnite and PUBG Mobile round out the top five

Fortnite climbed to fourth place in 2025, awarding $15.6 million in prize money, up 14.6 percent from the previous year. The boost came from changes to the competitive format, including the split of North America into NA West and NA Central, alongside new events like the FNCS 2025 Pro-Am.

PUBG Mobile followed closely in fifth with $15.3 million awarded. While that figure represented a slight year-over-year decline, the change was largely attributed to currency adjustments and a redistribution of prize pools across regions, particularly within the Chinese Peacekeeper Elite League.

League of Legends and Valorant see major growth

League of Legends recorded one of the biggest percentage jumps of any major esport. Total prize money rose to nearly $15 million, a 59 percent increase compared to 2024. Riot Games significantly boosted international events, with the Mid-Season Invitational jumping to a $2 million prize pool and Worlds increasing to $5 million. The addition of new events like First Stand and a larger Esports World Cup presence also played a key role.

Valorant climbed to seventh place with $11.2 million in prize money, up 23 percent year over year. The game’s inclusion in the Esports World Cup proved pivotal, with teams competing for more than $1.2 million in Riyadh, where Team Heretics claimed the title after defeating Fnatic.

Rocket League, Rainbow Six, and PUBG close out the top 10

Rocket League enjoyed a strong year, with prize money rising 45 percent to $9.7 million. Growth came from increased payouts at majors, Saudi eLeague events, and a near-doubling of prize money at the Esports World Cup. The introduction of RLCS 1v1 tournaments also added new earning opportunities.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege placed ninth with $9.4 million, a modest decline of 2.3 percent due to small changes in the seasonal format.

Rounding out the top 10 was PUBG: Battlegrounds, which awarded $7.8 million in 2025. The PUBG Nations Cup doubled its prize pool, and the year featured more A-Tier events, including two Twitch Rivals tournaments.

Top esports games of 2025 by prize pool

TOP esports games of 2025 by Prize Pool 📈

1️⃣ @CounterStrike
2️⃣ @DOTA2
3️⃣ @HonorOfKings
4️⃣ @Fortnite
5️⃣ @EsportsPUBGM
6️⃣ @LeagueOfLegends
7️⃣ @VALORANT
8️⃣ @RLEsports
9️⃣ @R6esports
🔟 @PUBG

Read the full report:

➡️ https://t.co/YnFHD8mInH pic.twitter.com/SAmuBCFfv4

— Esports Charts 🇺🇦 (@EsportsCharts) December 17, 2025

A foundation for even bigger years ahead

With the Esports World Cup distributing more than $70 million across 25 tournaments and publishers continuing to invest heavily, 2025 has set a new benchmark for competitive gaming. The growth of mobile esports, the resurgence of Counter-Strike, and expanding international circuits suggest prize pools could climb even higher in 2026.

For players, teams, and fans alike, esports is no longer just growing, it is scaling fast.

The post Counter Strike Dominates as Esports Prize Money Passes $270 Million in 2025 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.