Top-20 Most Anticipated Esports Events [2020]

Top-20 Most Anticipated Esports Events 2020
BlizzCon 2020 is top on our list of the most anticipated esports events in 2020.

Since esports began gaining momentum in the late 20th century, it had emerged as one of the fast-rising sporting events in the world majorly dominated by teenagers. The rise of video games and it corresponding acceptance into the daily routine of average teenagers have made esports events not just an event which attracts a whole lot of tech-inclined young individuals seeking to prove their dominance in esports, but an established sports event with stakes high. This has inspired our edition of the most anticipated esports events in 2020.

Unlike the first esports event held in 1972 which rewarded the Victor with an entire year subscription of the Rolling Stone Magazine, esports events offer significant financial rewards which have helped turn gamers into millionaires overnight such as 16-years old American, Kyle Giersdorf, who won $3 million after claiming the title of Fortnite World Cup Champion.

Though esports video games have long attracted thousands of participant, the positive media review of esports events in recent years has made participants in these events run into hundreds of thousands. As esports stakeholders seek to expand the reach of esports events and establish esports as a valid sport, we can hope in the nearest future, gamers will battle for Olympics Medals in esports. Sportytell has gone on to collate 20 of the most anticipated esports event to be held in 2020.

The Top-20 Most Anticipated eSports Events [2020]

20. CEO Fighting Game Championship: Dates (26–28 Jun 2020)

CEO Fighting Game Championship
(Image credit: CEO Gaming/Youtube)

Community Effort Orlando (CEO) fighting championship is one of the widely anticipated esports Championship held in Florida. Since the first edition of the event held in June 2010, the event had featured intense fighting video game actions. As a way to further improve the event, wrestling has been added to the ever-growing catalogues of fighting video games. The event will be held between June 26–28.

19. VSFighting: Dates (21–23 Aug 2020)

Another fighting video game event which is opened to all gamers with no sort of criteria, VS Fighting often held in the United Kingdom, had its first edition in 2010. The tournament sees several video gamers compete in various video fighting games such as Super Street Fighter II X. The tournament which is organized by Electronics Dojo is part of several video fighting esports tour events. Registration is currently underway with discounts given to early birds. VSFighting will be held in August 2020.

18. ONE Esports Dota 2 World Pro Invitational Jakarta: Dates (17–19 Apr 2020)

Set to go down in April 2020, the esports event will see 12 teams from around the world converge in Jakarta to compete for the ultimate glory of being champion in the Dota 2 Jakarta Invitational. As a way of promoting Valve Promotions multiplayer video game, Dota 2, gamers will compete till a player emerge victorious in the game. The winner of the tournament which will be held in the Indonesian Convention Exhibition will be awarded the prize money of $500,000.

17. Dota Pro Circuit: Dates (29 Mar–28 Jun 2020)

Currently underway, the DPC is another esports event which revolves around the Dota 2 video game. The tournament organized by Dota 2 developers, Valve, is a prequel to the prestigious The International esports event. Whichever team emerges victorious in the DPC event, will secure a direct invitation to The international event and also will be given the prize money of $1 million.

16. CS:GO Majors: Dates (11–24 May 2020)

The name Valve keeps coming up. Aside from being a wonderful game developer, they also organize some of the most amazing esports events which include the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championships widely known as the Majors. The tournament also features a minor event but the majors are widely seen as the main event. Since 2013 teams have competed in the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive created by Valve. In 2020, 24 teams will battle to victory in the first-person multiplayer shooting game. The stakes in the event are often high and players have sometimes resorted to cheats which have seen several earned lifetime ban. Set to take place in Rio de Janeiro from 11–24 May 2020, the winner walks away with $1 million.

15. Apex Legends Global Series: Dates (13–15 Mar 2020)

Apex Legends - EA Sports
Apex Legends – EA Sports

Newly established esports event, the Apex Legends Global Series will feature several Majors events which will see several esports teams compete in the EA Apex Legend video game to emerge victoriously and thus claim the prize money of $500,000. Several Majors are to be held but players have to compete in Online tournaments to secure a place in the Majors. The entire prize pool for the event is $3 million and the Majors will go down in Esports Stadium Arlington, Texas, the United States from 13–15 March 2020.

14. DreamHack Masters 2020: Dates (12–13 Jun 2020)

In the World of gaming, DreamHack is a widely celebrated name. The company which hosts one of the world largest electronic gaming festivals features esports events during the festival. During DreamHack Summer 2020, teams will compete for the $250,000 prize money with the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive video game. The event will be held from June 12 to June 13 in Jonkoping, Sweden.

13. Evolution Championship Series: Dates (20 Jul–2 Aug 2020)

One of the world’s best esports event where the best in action video games such as Mortal Combat, Smash Bros, Tekken 7 and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition are determined, the event attracts lots of fans who get the opportunity to play against some of the best gamers in the world. The 2020 event will be held between July 31 and August 2nd in Mandalay Bay resort in the US. The prize money runs into hundreds of thousands.

12. Intel Extreme Masters (IEM): Dates (1 Jan–3 Mar 2020)

From January 2020 to March 2020, the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) which is the world’s longest-running pro gaming esports tour event will be held. The Masters which holds several Electronic Sports League sanctions events will see player compete in various video game such as Quake Live, Hearthstone, League of Legends and Starcraft II. The Prize pool of the prestigious event is about $500,000 with the victor walking away with 250 grand. 

11. The International: Dates (18–23 Aug 2020)

Valve esports event The International is the most prestigious esports event ever established by the game developer. The tournament features winners from regional qualifiers held in Europe, North America, South America, China coupled with others along with the DOC winner tussle for the championship. The event features as much as 9 tournaments will millions up for grabs. In 2019, the prize pool was about $25 million and in 2020, there are plans for it to go up as high as $34 million. The event will be held between August 18 and 23 in Stockholm. 

10. PUBG Global Series: Dates (31 Mar–12 Apr 2020)

PUBG Global Series 2020

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is probably the most popular battle Royale game after Fortnite. The event which features various regional champion battles for the title of ultimate Champion has a revenue-sharing formula which sees teams that participate in the finals receive financial incentives. The Championship prize tag is valued at $2.5 million with a guaranteed payment of $20,000 or more per events. The event will take place in Berlin and will begin on the 31st of March and end on the 12th of April 2020.

9. Overwatch League: Dates (8 Feb–9 Aug 2020)

In a bid to promote the Overwatch video game, the Overwatch League an esports tournament which features several teams globally compete for the top spot in the league. The league is one of the most financially rewarding esports events with a prize pool of about $5 million. The season begins in February 2020 and ends in August 2020. The outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has already affected the league but the league is still underway.

8. League of Legends World Championship: Dates (13 Jan–Sep 2020)

One of the most widely followed and watch esports events in the world. The event feature several teams battle out for the ultimate glory in the League of Legends video game. The event has attracted lots of attention with about 99.6 million people viewing the final in 2018. The success of the event is one of the reasons why esports is being considered as a possible event in the 2024 Olympics. Winner of the event is given the Summoner’s Cup and $1 million cash prize. The tournament will be held in Shanghai in 2020.

7. FIFA eWorld Cup: Dates (7–9 Feb 2020)

The largest esports video game as recognized by Guinness World Records, the FIFA eWorld Cup attracts millions of players annually. The tournament which reduces the competitors in the grand finals to 32, has prize money of $250,000 with a trip to the Best FIFA awards where the winner meets his football idol.

6. Call of Duty League: Date (26 Jan–?? 2020)

For years CoD fans have played in several CoD leagues which are unofficially recognized. But in 2020,  the Call of Duty League was established which operates just like the Overwatch League model. The playoffs format is used during the CoD League. The league which began in January has about 12 teams competing in the league.

5. Rocket League championship: Dates (10–16 Mar 2020)

Rocket League championship
Rocket League Championship

Since Rocket League creator Psyonix noticed a large number of individuals who watched Rocket League matches online, an esports league dedicated to the Rocket League video game was created. For a place in the tournament, players have to emerge as regional winners. In 2019, the prize money was $1 million. In 2020, the league will begin in March 2020.

4. International eSports Federation World Championships: Dates (11–15 Dec 2020)

In a bid to make esports a recognized sport, various esports leagues from Asia and Europe came together to create the International eSports Federation. Yearly World Championship is often held in Asia, with prize money valued at $2.7 million. The organization which was founded in 2008 comprises of 54 member Nations. The 11th edition of the Esports World Championship will hold in Seoul, South Korea from 11–15 December 2020.

3. Fortnite World Cup: Dates (?? 2020)

Perhaps the most popular esports event in the world, the esports event is based on the Fortnite video game. In 2019, over 2.3 million people bought tickets to view the final event while about 10,000 attended the final in New York. The prize pool for the competition is about $30 million. The Fortnite World Cup 2020 events schedule do not have an official date yet.

2. Capcom Cup: Dates (25 Apr–12 Jul 2020)

One of the most widely publicised fighting esports events, Capcom Cup features several fighting video games such as Street Fighter X Tekken,  Super Street Fighter and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom. To qualify for the event, players have to participate in some of the most recognized esports events such as the EVO Championship and the DreamHack Masters.

1. BlizzCon 2020: Dates (30–31 Oct or 6–7 Nov 2020)

BlizzCon 2020
BlizzCon 2020

No one in the world of esports is oblivious of BlizzCon, one of the most popular gaming conventions which feature esports events where most of the best action games created by Blizzards are often played. At BlizzCon, any controversy concerning the best in video games such as World of Warcraft, Starcraft II and others are settled as regional champions battle one another at the event. BlizzCon takes fans into consideration with several events organized with the fans in focused. Some of these events are not organized by BlizzCon but are totally worth attending. Also along with tickets, in-game materials are handed. BlizzCon 2020 is set to go down in October or November 2020 in California. 


There you have it—our curated list of the Top-20 Most Anticipated Esports Events in 2020. What do you think? Please share with us in the comments section below.

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