North American game publisher Motorsport Games has announced it has secured $2.5m (~£1.8m) as part of a recent strategic investment.

The investment was led by Delaware-based technology company Pimax, which specialises in virtual reality (VR) headsets.

According to a release, the funding will be used to improve Motorsport Games‘ ‘cash position, fund working capital and general corporate expenses. Additionally, it will also help the company ‘accelerate future product development.’

The investment is for 1.8 million Class A common stock and a pre-funded warrant for an additional 377,836 shares prices at $1.10 (~£0.83) and $1.09 (~£0.82), respectively.

Motorsport Games is the publisher of sim racing title Le Mans Ultimate which launched in early access in February 2024. Developed by Studio 397, the title is the official racing game of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“We have been very happy with the response to our very public desire to seek further investment in the company and after comprehensive talks with Pimax, we are delighted to conclude their investment in Motorsport Games,” said Stephen Hood, CEO of Motorsport Games.

“We are excited to have Pimax as partners and believe that it represents excellent value to shareholders as we solidify the company’s financial position to give greater confidence in our ability to excel.”

The financial situation of Motorsport Games has been a hot topic of conversation in the sim racing sector. The publisher had the rights to develop a game for single-seater series IndyCar but the agreement was terminated after the publisher struggled with payments.

For Motorsport Games, this recent investment opens the door for the publisher to provide VR offerings within Le Mans Ultimate. The racing simulator is expected to release fully in 2025.

Alongside Le Mans Ultimate, the publisher is also responsible for racing sims rFactor 2 and Kartkraft.

What does it take to become the highest-paid esports player in history? How does a 16-year-old win $3 million in a single tournament? And why do some games offer prizes bigger than the Super Bowl? The world of competitive gaming has created overnight millionaires, legendary rivalries, and jaw-dropping prize pools, but behind every record-breaking paycheck is a story of skill, teamwork, and relentless dedication. 

From Dota 2’s millions in crowdfunding to mobile games’ meteoric rise, esports has rewritten the rules of success. If you’ve ever wondered who the highest-paid esports players are, how they reached the top, and what the future holds for gaming’s biggest paydays, this is your guide to the top esports earners.

Before that, a quick disclaimer. Almost all of the top paid esports players are filled with Dota 2 players, thanks to its inflated prize pools relative to other esports. The back-to-back TI champions OG and two-time winners from Team Spirit take the top spot, followed by a long list of fellow Dota 2 players. 

The inflated prize pool for Dota 2’s annual tournament is due to crowdfunding from the compendium or its battle pass. For variety’s sake, we’ll only include the esport once to take a better look at the highest-paid esports players.

N0tail’s journey is the stuff of esports legend. Starting as a young prodigy in Heroes of Newerth, he shifted to Dota 2 and co-founded OG (formerly Monkey Business). Known for his unshakable positivity and innovative drafting, he led OG through one of the greatest underdog stories in esports: winning The International 2018 after barely qualifying, then repeating in 2019 with an even more dominant performance. 

Beyond trophies, N0tail’s legacy is his leadership, turning a group of misfits into champions and forever changing how Dota is played. N0tail and his championship team (JerAx, ana, Ceb, and Topson) remain the richest esports players in history, with his $7.18 million earnings setting the benchmark for the highest esports earnings.

At just 16, Kyle ‘Bugha’ Giersdorf shocked the world by winning the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Solo Finals, claiming the $3 million prize with a performance so aggressive his score nearly doubled the runner-up. The Pennsylvania teen had quietly worked for months, and he was the first to qualify for the tournament. After winning, he transformed into an overnight sensation. Bugha became Fortnite’s golden boy, an esport icon who was a media sensation.

Bugha continues to prove he isn’t a fluke, like winning the Fortnite Champion Series three times. With 4.7 million subscribers on YouTube and 5.5 million followers on Twitch, he is the richest Fortnite player and the face of Fortnite esports.

Dupreeh’s career defines CS:GO longevity and consistency. The Danish entry fragger and rifler began all the way back in 2012, grinding through early rejections before forming Astralis’ legendary core. Dupreeh, dev1ce, Xyp9x, gla1ve, Magisk, and coach zonic would go on to create one of esports’ most successful dynasties, setting records that no other team could ever match.

After Astralis’ era ended, he proved doubters wrong by winning another major with Vitality at 29 – an age many consider ‘old’ in esports. His achievements and earnings stand as a testament to staying at the top of your game for more than a decade.

HuaHai’s rise mirrors Honor of Kings’ explosive growth in China. He debuted in 2019 with eStar Gaming and immediately won the King Pro League. During his explosive KPL League debut, HuaHai scored a pentakill on Arli, making him the first player to do so.

That same year, HuaHai won the World Champion Cup with a prize pool of approximately $4.5 million.

But HuaHai wasn’t a one-hit wonder: his 2022 International Championship run, where his team won $3.5 million of the $10 million prize pool, made him one of the highest-paid esports players of all time. HuaHai was crowned as the FMVP for his stellar performance in the grand finals. He’s still going strong.

Faker’s name is synonymous with League of Legends. Discovered as a solo queue prodigy in 2013, he debuted with SKT T1 and immediately redefined the mid lane. His Zed outplay against Ryu became one of the most iconic clips in esports history, winning the reverse sweep, and the OGN Champions Korea 2013 Summer immediately made the play legendary.

Now part-owner of T1, Faker transcends gameplay, he’s a cultural icon. His $1.8 million in earnings only includes known prize pools. Riot Games sets minimum salary standards for professional players in its esports leagues. Add the revenue share from his nine in-game skins, brand deals, and investments like a literal business complex building named after him; he can comfortably retire anytime.

The first International took place in Cologne, Germany, way back in 2011. Valve’s inaugural tournament for Dota 2 featured a million-dollar prize pool, won by the Ukrainian team Na’Vi. Back then, that kind of money for one esports tournament was unheard of, and it helped set the commercial potential for years to come.

Fast forward to 2021, Team Spirit has won the biggest prize pool in The International, earning $18 million of the total $40 million. In the same year, more and more esports offered huge prize pools. The PUBG Global Championship offered $4.4 million, the Shadowverse World Grand Prix was $2.2 million, and the Honor of Kings World Champion Cup awarded approximately $7.6 million. Esports has bounced back from online tournaments and canceled events from the pandemic.

However, in 2024, The International’s prize pool went down to $2.7 million. While it’s still one of the highest-paying esports, the difference between its peak is a stark contrast. However, that doesn’t mean the bubble has popped; it shows a shift toward sustainability rather than volatility. 

The Esports World Cup 2024 had a prize pool of $60 million distributed throughout more than 20 games. Mobile esports like Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile now command prize pools rivaling PC titles, particularly in Asian markets where smartphone gaming dominates. Meanwhile, Riot Games’ partnership model provides a healthy ecosystem where pro players, partners, sponsors, teams, and leagues expect predictable income for long-term sustainability.

The future trend of esports prize money and the industry looks more profitable for everyone involved. Industry analysts believe the global esports market is in an upward trend, thanks to factors like sponsorships and the high viewership numbers from Twitch and YouTube Gaming. 

The lesson of the past decade is clear: esports isn’t abandoning big prizes but rather diversifying its revenue streams to ensure long-term viability. Competitive gaming has matured from a niche curiosity into a global entertainment industry, one where financial success is measured not just in tournament winnings but in lasting cultural impact and commercial infrastructure.

Esports has evolved from basement LAN parties to a billion-dollar industry. These fortunate players prove that esports is a viable career path, similar to pro athletes, where skilled players have the chance to win big. These top esports players show that the path to success isn’t just from one tournament but from consistency in winning.

Tournaments with huge prize pools are a spectacle that encourages more pro players to join their competitive scene. And with the esports industry moving towards sustainability and long-term growth, we’re going to see less of these career-defining earnings. That means now, more than ever, it’s a great time to get into esports. Even outside of being a pro player, there are new and specialized careers dedicated to fostering talent and managing organizations.

The opening Major of the 2025 Halo Championship Series (HCS) season takes place this weekend and while the best teams in the world compete, viewers watching can earn a range of exclusive rewards throughout the tournament.

From weapon charms, emblems and armour coatings, here’s a detailed guide on everything you can earn by watching the upcoming HCS Major Arlington event and information on how to claim the items.

All of the rewards are available to claim throughout the tournament, which takes place from April 18th to 20th, 2025. Ahead of the tournament, the HCS revealed the items that are available to claim.

Viewers on Twitch will have the ability to claim the rewards. Below is a list of all the drops on offer and the criteria needed to obtain them:

Viewers can claim the rewards by linking their Halo Waypoint profile to their Twitch accounts along with watching the official tournament broadcast or watch parties organised by co-streamers.

HCS Major Arlington is the first event of the 2025 HCS season. This season will feature four Majors throughout the year followed by the season-ending Halo World Championship taking place from October 24th-26th, 2025.

Alongside the drops available throughout HCS Major Arlington, the HCS has also revealed that the Year 2 Launch Bundles for five of its partner teams will return to the in-game store for players to purchase.

Below are the following esports organisations that will have a bundle for sale:

The opening international event of the 2025 Halo Championship Series, HCS Major Arlington, is taking place this weekend.

In addition to seeing household names within North American esports, HCS Major Arlington 2025 also plays host to an open bracket providing an opportunity for amateur teams to compete against the best in the world.

Here is everything you need to know about HCS Major Arlington, taking place from April 18th-20th, 2025, at Esports Stadium Arlington.

HCS Major Arlington 2025 follows four qualifying tournaments that have taken place across North America, Europe, Mexico, and Australia. A total of 12 teams from North America and Europe have secured a place in four pools of four teams, with the final slots determined by teams competing in the open bracket.

A maximum of 64 teams will compete in the open bracket with the top two from the upper and lower brackets advancing to pool play alongside the 12 teams that have already qualified.

Pool play will see each team in the pool play each other once. The top two teams from each group advance to the championship bracket and qualify for the upper bracket.

The team that finished third qualifies for the first round of the championship bracket but begins in the lower bracket. The team that finishes fourth is eliminated from the tournament.

The 12 teams that have qualified for the event are as follows:

Shopify Rebellion heads into the tournament as the top team in North America after winning the North American qualifier in March.

OpTic Gaming almost took victory after managing to force a bracket reset in the Grand Final but were defeated 3-1 in the second best-of-five series to secure second place and a spot in pool play.

From a European perspective, Team Nemesis is the team to beat. The team features HCS veterans Michael ‘Snipedrone’ Juchau and Norwen ‘SLG’ Le Galloudec who are no strangers to contending against the North American powerhouses.

A $250,000 (~£188,853) prize pool is on offer for the opening HCS Major of the season. The money is split between the top 16 teams as follows:

The event will be shown across the Halo Twitch and YouTube channels.

Viewers watching the action on Twitch are eligible to claim a variety of viewership rewards ranging from exclusive weapon coatings to new emblems and weapon charms.

League of Legends professional player and esports legend Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok has collaborated with Wild Rift to teach new players his iconic champion Ryze.

Earlier today, Riot Games published a masterclass video with Faker on the official Wild Rift YouTube channel. In it, Faker discusses Ryze gameplay and explains the champion’s strength.

“In Wild Rift, the controls are intuitive, so you’ll adapt quickly. Plus, the game tempo is fast so you can scale fast and take over the Rift,” Faker explained at the start of the masterclass.

Ryze is notoriously known for being a strong late-game carry, thanks to his kit revolving around spamming abilities in quick rotation. In the desktop version of League of Legends, however, the champion often requires too much time to scale up, which is why he hasn’t been a meta champion throughout the years.

With the implementation of Fearless Draft, however, Ryze also made some appearances in professional play, with 40 picks recorded in the tier-one competitions, according to the data platform Games of Legends.

In Wild Rift, Ryze’s kit has been heavily changed compared to the PC version. The champion is great at farming thanks to his ability Spell Flux, which spreads damage across multiple targets.

The basic trading combo is Spell Flux, Rune Prison, Overload, Spell Flux and Overload. This allows you to maximize the champion’s damage output while ensuring you can land the skillshots on a rooted target with Rune Prison.

Additionally, Ryze’s Overload ability gives him extra movement speed when he chains spells, allowing him to kite better during trades and decisive teamfights.

The champion’s ultimate, Realm Warp, is similar to the traditional one but with an added effect. Upon landing, Ryze and teleported allies will all gain extra movement speed, making it perfect to execute ganks and team-coordinated plays.

“You can TP from mid to Dragon lane for a surprise gank or get a huge edge in split-pushing,” Faker added.

Overall, Ryze has immense potential, but this champion might be hard to master for newcomers due to the need for strong mechanical skills to pull off his combo trades. Faker reminded players of this aspect: “Ryze scales hard with skill, so the better you get, the stronger he becomes.”

Faker is currently competing with T1 in the LCK Rounds 1-2, which will determine the top two teams going to the Mid-Season Invitational. Last week, Faker broke an incredible milestone, playing his 1000th game in the LCK and further establishing his legacy in League of Legends and in the esports ecosystem.

The champion is set to appear in Wild Rift after Patch 6.1 drops, which is scheduled for April 17th. Ryze will be released alongside two other champions, Nocturne and Zilean.

The UK’s political betting markets have been rocked by a scandal that’s raising tough questions about integrity, privilege and the future of wagering on politics.

The Gambling Commission has charged 15 individuals, including former Conservative MP Craig Williams, senior party officials and a police officer, with offences under the Gambling Act 2005, following an explosive investigation into bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election.

At the heart of the case is the allegation that these individuals used confidential, advanced knowledge of the election date, announced unexpectedly by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in May 2024, to gain an unfair edge in betting markets.

While it’s legal for politicians to place bets on elections, using insider information to do so is a criminal offence under Section 42 of the Gambling Act, carrying penalties of up to two years in prison or a hefty fine.

The investigation began after a flurry of suspiciously timed bets were placed just days before Sunak’s rain-soaked announcement of a July 4th election, a move that blindsided much of Westminster and the public, who had expected a fall poll.

Among those charged are not just Williams, who admitted to placing a £100 bet on a July election, but also Russell George, a Welsh Senedd member; Laura Saunders, a former candidate; her husband Tony Lee, the party’s campaign director; and Nick Mason, the Tories’ former chief data officer. Several other party staffers and a former police officer are also facing charges.

The fallout has been swift. The Conservative Party has suspended all staffers charged in the scandal, emphasizing a zero-tolerance stance on integrity breaches.

The case has reignited debate over whether political betting should be allowed at all, given the unique access to sensitive information enjoyed by insiders.

Here’s a list of all those charged:

All 15 accused are set to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 13. As the UK grapples with the implications, the scandal is sure to fuel calls for tighter regulation or even a ban on political betting, as the line between fair play and foul advantage grows ever blurrier.