Gaming

The Dota 2 rich list

How Dota 2's highest earners made it to the top.
Written by Joshua Nino De Guzman
4 min readPublished on
Na'Vi

Na'Vi

© Natus Vincere

Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games make up the most popular eSports genre in the world. Spearheaded by the likes of Dota 2 and League of Legends, tournaments are so well attended that they rival major sporting events. There are great rewards for the best players as not only do they earn big bucks through winning tournaments but they also attract sponsors just like international sports stars.
Valve's The International 2013 Dota 2 tournament boasted the largest prize pool for an eSports tournament with a whopping $2.8 million shared among the winners. Since 2011, The International alone has contributed over $6 million to the community and such rewards have made Dota 2 a viable career path for the very best players. The following five gamers in particular have reaped more rewards than any other. Thanks to figures from esports earnings, we can compile a Dota 2 rich list. Here's how the best players made it to the top.
1=) Danil 'Dendi' Ishutin (Ukraine)
Dota 2 earnings: $451,610
Danil 'Dendi' Ishutin

Danil 'Dendi' Ishutin

© lazygamer.net

Member of Ukranian eSports powerhouse Natus Vincere, Dendi's unparalleled success has established him as one of the greatest solo middle lane players in the world. Dendi is feared for his deadly precision with Pudge's Meat Hook, a demanding skill requiring exceptional talent and painstaking hours of practice to master. The stand out moment in his early Na'Vi career came in 2011 at Valve's inaugural Dota 2 tournament, The International, where the team scooped a cool $1 million for first place; the lion's share of the record-breaking $1.6 million prize pool. Two consecutive runner-up finishes at subsequent editions of Valve's yearly series, several gold accolades and an unmatched number of podium finishes has earned Dendi just shy of half a million dollars in prize money alone.
1=) Oleksandr 'XBOCT' Dashkevych (Ukraine)
Dota 2 earnings:  $451,610
Oleksandr 'XBOCT' Dashkevych

Oleksandr 'XBOCT' Dashkevych

© YouTube

Another Na'Vi player, XBOCT assumes the Carry role for his team. Early shortcomings in power are gradually redeemed through scaling skills and items, evoking the Hero's true potential in the later stages to become the primary slayer of opposing Heroes. Such pressure is a responsibility that XBOCT has relished throughout his Dota 2 campaign and his aggressive Carry play style provides a theatrical display of slaying for fans to savour. The nature of his duty generally includes farming gold for the team, a task most suitable for Carry players given their long-term approach to gaining experience and money for items. His achievements and winnings mirror that of teammate Dendi, the pair having sided with each other throughout Dota 2.
3) Clement 'Puppey' Ivanov (Estonia)
Dota 2 earnings: $449,410
Clement 'Puppey' Ivanov

Clement 'Puppey' Ivanov

© getdota2.ru

Puppey completes a trio of Na'Vi players to feature in this top five. The captain debunks the idea that each member should bear a specific role, believing that the ultimate team can only be built from every individual having a knowledge of all aspects of the game. This Total Dota 2 ethos is reflected in his own play style and Puppey is admired for his willingness to employ a range of Heroes and strategies, though his staple responsibilities are shared between Support and Jungler. Marshalled by the Estonian, Na'Vi would advance through The International in convincing style to establish the team’s dominance on yet another major eSports title. Puppey joined the team at practically the same time as Dendi and XBOCT, but he ranks in third place, just marginally behind his colleagues.
4) Jonathan 'Loda' Berg (Sweden)
Dota 2 earnings: $346,708
Jonathan 'Loda' Berg

Jonathan 'Loda' Berg

© [unknown]

Loda's mercenary antics have seen him compete for 12 different teams during his Dota career. Failure to meet expectations in the short-term is often enough for the Swede to jump ship in his search for the holy grail of rosters. This has not undermined his ability as a player, though and Loda's vast experience has equipped him with an unmatched insight into the top flight competition. One might even sympathise with his approach following his draft into Swedish team The Alliance, who would defeat Na'Vi in the finals of The International 2013. A champion prize purse of $1,437,204 split between the group was certainly worth the wait. In addition to podium finishes at tournaments, Loda's accolades include recognition and awards from various eSports organisations and websites as one of the best Carry players in the game.
5) Joakim 'Akke' Akterhall (Sweden)
Dota 2 earnings: $341, 476
Joakim 'Akke' Akterhall

Joakim 'Akke' Akterhall

© YouTube

Former classmate and long-term teammate of Loda, Akke's history in gaming is equally as rich as his friend's, dating back to 2004 where he triumphed in the Nintendo Swedish Championships. Both began their Dota 2 crusade in eXperience Gaming, founded by Loda, who soon received attention from Counter Logic Gaming following their qualification for the Dota 2 Replays Brawl. The pair temporarily separated after Loda left for Team Zenith, a decision which would see him miss out on a fifth place finish at The International 2012. Nevertheless, they reunited in No Tidehunter before joining The Alliance and together embarked on a successful campaign at The International 2013.