ESL announced changes to the prize pool distribution system in their tournaments. From now on, prize money will be divided into two categories: rewards for players and financial support for clubs. This decision is aimed at stabilizing the esports ecosystem and creating better conditions for professional teams.

With the departure of Dota Pro Circuit (DPC), the Dota 2 ecosystem has evolved into a separate ecosystem, and ESL is actively contributing to its development. However, this also means that teams have lost some direct monetization mechanisms that were previously available.

In response, ESL has updated the prize distribution rules. From now on, the total winnings at each ESL Pro Tour tournament will be divided into two categories: cash prizes for players and rewards for clubs. This change is aimed at creating a more stable financial situation for teams and individual players.

The prize distribution system among participants has also been revised to increase financial stability for teams that qualify and to encourage more players to reach the professional level without excessive financial pressure.

Besides the changes in Dota 2, a similar system has been implemented in Counter-Strike 2, demonstrating ESL's commitment to creating a fairer environment for all professional esports organizations and their players.

These innovations will apply to all future ESL tournaments, including ESL One Raleigh and DreamLeague Season 26, as well as subsequent tournaments, such as DreamLeague Season 27.

ESL is confident that such changes will bring long-term benefits to the entire esports ecosystem, ensuring a more sustainable financial position for teams and creating favorable conditions for players. The next tournament to be held under the updated rules will be DreamLeague Season 25, which will take place from February 16 to March 2.