Top 5 Esports Tournaments to Bet On

When it comes to esports, there are so many tournaments to bet on it may be daunting for newcomers visiting esports betting sites. In this guide, we outline the top five esports tournaments available to bet on for Australian punters.

Esports Tournaments

With the rise in esports popularity, it’s no surprise to see a surge in the number of tournaments taking place each and every day. Esports tournaments are competitive events where professional players or teams compete in video games, often with substantial prize pools, live streams, fan engagement and betting activity.

Some of the most popular esports tournaments include The International for Dota 2, offering one of the largest prize pools in the industry, and the League of Legends World Championship, which attracts millions of viewers globally. The CS:GO Major Championships are also a staple in the esports community, celebrating Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players. Other major tournaments include Overwatch League, and Call of Duty League.

Top 5 Esports Tournaments

Below, we highlight the top five esports tournaments to bet on. As well as being the most popular games, they offer the most markets and esports live streams so fans can enjoy the action.

Dota 2 The International

The International (TI) is the premier Dota 2 tournament, featuring top teams worldwide.

Tournaments for Dota 2 (TI)

Regional Qualifiers: Teams from various regions (North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, CIS, South America) compete to qualify.
Group Stage: 18 teams are divided into groups to determine seeding for the Main Event.
Main Event: A double-elimination bracket, with the top two teams competing in a best-of-five final.
Prize Pool: Often exceeds $40 million, with fan contributions.

Betting Markets for The International:

Match Winner: Bet on a team to win a specific match.
Outright Winner: Bet on the overall tournament winner.
Total Map Handicap: Bet on the total maps played with handicaps applied.
First Blood: Bet on the team to get the first kill.
Total Kills: Bet on the total number of kills.
Special Markets: Bets on player markets, like first to destroy a tower.

Betting Strategies for The International:

Follow the Meta: Teams that adapt well to patches often perform better.
Team Form and Momentum: Teams on a winning streak may continue strong performances.
Historical Performance: Experienced teams like OG, Team Liquid, or Virtus.pro are often reliable.
Draft Strategy Analysis: Team drafts influence the game’s outcome.
Underdog Bets: Upsets are common, especially in the lower bracket.
Live Betting: Betting based on in-game events, such as team control of Roshan.

League of Legends (Worlds)

The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) is the top LoL esports event, with the best teams from regional leagues competing for the title.

Tournaments for League of Legends World Championship (Worlds)

Regional Leagues: Teams qualify via their regional leagues (LCS, LEC, LCK, etc.).
Play-In Stage: Lower-ranked teams compete for a spot in the main event.
Group Stage: 16 teams battle in round-robin to determine top two from each group for the knockout stage.
Knockout Stage: The top eight teams compete in a single-elimination bracket.
Grand Finals: The two final teams face off in a best-of-five series.
Prize Pool: Over $2 million, increased through in-game purchases.

Betting Markets for League of Legends World Championship:

Match Winner: Bet on the winner of a specific match.
Outright Winner: Bet on the tournament winner.
Total Kills/Deaths: Bet on the total number of kills or deaths.
First Blood: Bet on which team gets the first kill.
First to 10 Kills: Bet on the first team to reach 10 kills.
Player and Team Prop Bets: Bet on individual player or team actions (e.g., number of kills, tower destruction).

Betting Strategies for League of Legends World Championship:

Team Form and Momentum: Teams with strong recent performances are often favorites.
Champion Pool and Draft Analysis: Teams that adapt well to the meta have an advantage.
Early Game Focus: Teams with strong early-game strategies tend to win.
Upset Potential: Underdog teams with momentum or unique strategies can surprise.
Map Control and Objectives: Teams that control key objectives (e.g., First Dragon, First Baron) often win.
Live Betting: Betting on in-game events like First Blood or team fights.
Head-to-Head Stats: Teams with historical dominance over certain opponents may be favored.

CS:GO

The CS:GO Majors are the top events in competitive CS:GO, where the best teams fight for the title and a $1-2 million prize pool.

Tournaments for CS:GO Major Championships

Regional Qualifiers: Teams from different regions compete for spots in the Major.
Challengers Stage: 16 teams compete in a Swiss-system format for a spot in the Legends Stage.
Legends Stage: The top teams from the Challengers Stage and direct invites compete in another Swiss-system format.
Champions Stage: The top 8 teams face off in a single-elimination bracket with best-of-three series.
Grand Final: The final two teams compete in a best-of-five for the title.

Betting Markets for CS:GO Majors:

Match Winner: Bet on the winner of a specific match.
Outright Winner: Bet on the overall champion.
Total Rounds Played: Bet on the total rounds in a match.
Map Handicap: Bet on a team with a specific map advantage.
First Kill: Bet on the team to get the first kill.
Total Maps Played: Bet on how many maps will be played in a series.
First Team to X Rounds: Bet on which team reaches a round milestone first.
Player Performance Props: Bet on individual player achievements like kills or aces.

Betting Strategies for CS:GO Majors:

Team Form & Momentum: Bet on teams with strong recent performances.
Map Pool Knowledge: Analyze team strengths on specific maps.
Roster Changes & Player Form: Monitor player changes and form leading up to the event.
Upset Potential: Look for teams that could upset higher-seeded teams.
Study the Meta: Bet on teams that adapt well to the current game meta.
Live Betting: Capitalize on momentum shifts during matches.
Focus on Objectives & Key Rounds: Bet on pivotal rounds or objectives.
Head-to-Head Analysis: Review historical matchups for insights.

Overwatch

The OWL Grand Finals are the season finale, where the top two teams battle for the title and a significant prize pool.

Overwatch League Grand Finals Tournaments

Regular Season: Teams earn points over multiple stages to qualify for the playoffs.
Playoffs: The top teams compete in a tournament-style bracket.
Grand Finals: The top two teams face off in a best-of-seven series to crown the champion.

Betting Markets for OWL Grand Finals:

Match Winner: Bet on the winner of a specific match.
Outright Winner: Bet on the overall Grand Finals champion.
Total Maps Played: Bet on the total maps in a series.
Map Handicap: Bet on a team with a specific map advantage.
Total Kills: Bet on the total number of kills in a match or series.
First Team to X Kills: Bet on which team reaches a kill milestone first.
First Control Map Winner: Bet on the team to win the first control map.
Player Performance Bets: Bet on individual player achievements.

Betting Strategies for OWL Grand Finals:

Team Form & Momentum: Bet on teams performing well in the playoffs.
Hero Pool & Composition: Study teams’ hero choices and compositions.
Map Pool & Performance: Consider teams’ strengths on specific maps.
Roster Changes & Player Form: Monitor roster changes and player form.
Upset Potential: Watch for underdog teams with potential to surprise.
Map-Control & Objective Focus: Bet on teams that excel in objectives.
Live Betting: Place bets during the match based on momentum shifts.
Head-to-Head Analysis: Review how teams perform against each other in previous encounters.

Call of Duty

The CDL Championship concludes the competitive season, where top teams compete for the title and a large prize pool.

Call of Duty League (CDL) Championship Tournaments

Regular Season: Teams earn points through matches across different regions.

Major Tournaments: These events impact overall rankings and playoff qualification.

Playoffs: Top teams compete in a double-elimination format to qualify for the Championship.

Championship Weekend: The final event features a single-elimination bracket, with the best teams competing in a live setting. Matches are typically best-of-five.

Prize Pool: The winning team receives a large portion of the prize, usually in the millions.

Betting Markets for CDL Championship:

Match Winner: Bet on the winner of a specific match.
Outright Winner: Bet on the overall champion.
Total Maps Played: Bet on the total maps in a series (e.g., 3-5 maps).
Map Handicap: Bet with a handicap on one team’s performance.
First Kill/First Blood: Bet on which team gets the first kill in a map or series.
Player Performance Props: Bets on individual player performance (e.g., number of kills).
Total Kills: Bet on total kills in a match or series.

Betting Strategies for CDL Championship:

Team Form & Momentum: Bet on teams with strong recent performances.
Team Composition & Playstyle: Understand each team’s playstyle and game mode strength.
Map Knowledge: Some teams perform better on certain maps or modes.
Player Performance: Key players can influence match outcomes.
Look for Upsets: Lower-seeded teams may surprise with unique strategies.
Live Betting: Bet during the match to capitalize on momentum shifts.
Focus on Objectives: Betting on objectives in game modes like Hardpoint or Control can be profitable.
Head-to-Head Performance: Analyze historical matchups for betting insights.