The Top 10 eSports Events We're Excited For In 2022

The eSports world has hit us with a bang and from the ESL Masters in Katowice to the PUBG Global Invitational, there are already plenty of huge esports events we’re excited for this year in the field of competitive gaming. Although many are yet to come, you can bet we’re already hyped for them — so what comes next? There’s a lot dotted throughout the calendar from first party Nintendo events to the World Cup being hosted in Qatar and, of course, some of the biggest esports tournaments we have seen to date. With this in mind, we’ve picked out 10 of our most anticipated esports events scheduled for 2022…

ESL Pro League Season 15 (CS:GO)

When: Tues 23rd Nov 21 – Sun 10th April 22

Location: Online

Prize Pool: $850,000

We’ve almost arrived at the 15th season of the ESL Pro League, ESL’s premier league for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. With the big final tournament scheduled for Spring 2022, we’re excited to see which team will be crowned champion. This tournament is open to European teams and includes a Group Stage, with four single round-robin format groups; the winners of these then proceed to the Play-In, with winning teams then advancing to the Semifinals. The Semifinals occur in the Playoffs, eventually finishing with an epic best-of-five Grand Final. As international competitions go, this is one not to be missed.

DOTA2 Pro Circuit (Dota2)

When: 17-27 Feb; 11-17 May; 4-14 Aug

Location: TBA

Prize Pool: TBA

The DOTA2 Pro Circuit is starting up again in 2022. Three tournaments are planned until August – leading up to the long-awaited eSports tournament, The International. It will be an exciting watch to see how the best DOTA2 teams from around the world battle to qualify for The International. The majors will be organized by PGL and One eSports. DOTA2 is a household name in esports events so we are expecting the prize money to match the excitement building around this.

VCT Champions Series (Valorant)

When: Stage 1 Challengers – Feb

Masters – Apr

Stage 2 Challengers – May/June

Masters & Qualifier – Aug/Sept”

Location: Online

Prize Pool: $350,000

Valorant’s first Champions esports tournament was held last year in 2021 and the first champion team, Ascend, won the $350,000 prize. This year, Riot Games is switching up the tournament formats upon announcing VCT 2022.

RLCS: Rocket League World Championships (Rocket League)

When: July 2022

Location: Online

Prize Pool: $6,000,000

Rocket League eSports will have its 2021-2022 season World Championships (RLCS) this July.  In 2022, the World Championship will have two exciting main stages for the first time: the new World Championship Wildcard and the World Championship Main Event. The league has separate competitions in Fall, Winter, and Spring, and each of these seasonal events has regional events leading into an international major. Points gained from the Regional and Majors are used towards achieving the Rocket League World Championship. If you like competitive gaming but are new to the esports scene this could be one for you. This is possibly one of our most anticipated esports events for this year.

Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Championship (Apex Legends)

When: July 2022

Location: South America

Prize Pool: $5,000,000

The inaugural Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Championship in 2021 was the first of its kind, bringing together nearly 200 of the best Apex Legends teams all over the world. In 2022, the highly anticipated eSports event will return with qualifiers and challengers circuits leading to Split Playoffs, Pro League Splits, and Championship rounds.

League of Legends World Championship 2022 (LoL)

When: Autumn 2022

Location: Mexico City, New York City, Toronto, San Francisco

Prize Pool: TBA

League of Legends’ biggest tournament, the LoL World Championship, is returning in 2022 for the 12th time, with tournaments in Mexico City, New York City, Toronto, and San Francisco. This tournament is the pinnacle of the League of Legends competition, where 12 teams from diverse regions will compete for the coveted world champion title. Twenty-four teams from Riot Games’ 12 professional leagues will participate in the monthlong tournament.

2022 Asian Games (PUBG, Valor, Dota2, LoL, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, Hearthstone, Street Fighter V)

When: 10-25 September

Location: Hangzhou, China

Prize Pool: Varies

Another big diary entry for eSports events that we are super excited for this year is the 2022 Asian Games. Eight popular eSports games will be featured in the tournament, according to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Those eight medal games are: FIFA (made by EA SPORTS), an Asian Games version of PUBG Mobile and Arena of Valor, Dota 2, League of Legends, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, HearthStone and Street Fighter V. This will feature professional players and teams competing across multiple online tournaments for various amounts of prize money in front of a live audience. We will look to report on this esports tournament closer to the time and report the total prize money and results.

The International 11 (Dota2)

When: TBA

Location: TBA

Prize Pool: TBA

The International is not only the largest but one of the most anticipated eSports events of the year for DOTA2 players. The 2020 International was cancelled and one year later, the 2021 International took place. Though no formal announcement about 2022 dates has been made, the Winter Regional League goes into 2022 and this league is one of the precursors to The International. Gaming tournaments like this are what is putting esports events on the map.

LCS 2022 Championships (League of Legends)

When: TBA

Location: TBA

Prize Pool: TBA

The LCS Championships is a major professional League of Legends tournament. The winner of this League of Legends Championship will represent North America at the World Championship. The LCS, or League Championship Series, is the top level of professional gameplay in the U.S. and Canada, and the tournament will return to North America in 2022 for the first time since 2016, where competitors gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Legends players will be marking this as one of their “not to be missed” esports events for this year.

FIFAe World Cup (FIFA)

When: TBA

Location: Online

Prize Pool: TBA

Hosted in various places around the world, the FIFAe World Cup is a tournament organized by FIFA and Electronic Arts. It features representatives of clubs and the regions have been split even further into ten different regions in 2022. After a league model online qualification, the best clubs and organizations meet at the FIFAe Club World Cup to compete for their world champion title.

With world championships and gaming tournaments like these around the corner we certainly have lots to look forward to. These are some of the biggest esports tournaments but there are also lots of regional events happening everyday so whether you are heading for the world championship, happy to make the group stage or just spectating; there is something for everyone.