Participants of The International 2024 shared their thoughts on the tournament's prize pool. Their comments were compiled in a video posted by the YouTube channel GosuGamers.
Trent 'Trent' Mackenzie expressed that the focus at TI has always been about winning the Aegis and making a name for oneself rather than the prize money, which no longer has the same life-changing impact.
Natalie 'NatTea' Mahoney noted that the prestige of the tournament is still the primary draw, with the goal being to etch one's name on the Aegis displayed on stage and in the game.
Tal 'Fly' Aizik emphasized that while he did not start for the money, he still finds it more enjoyable when the prize pool is higher, though the primary motivation remains the prestige of winning TI.
Matthew 'Whitemon' Filimon stated that the prize pool is not a major concern for him; the most important aspect is winning the title.
Vladimir 'No[o]ne' Minenko remarked on the decline in the prize pool, noting that it feels strange given the previous high amounts.
Filipe 'Astini' Astini commented that, as someone working in the industry, nothing has changed, but as a fan, he finds it disappointing. He lamented that he can no longer boast about the prize pool in conversations.
Nicholas 'Gunnar' Lopez maintained that TI is still TI and winning the Aegis remains crucial for him.
Remus Go 'ponlo' Zhixian did not feel much had changed but noted this is his first TI, although he has heard from other players that the level has declined.
Eljohn 'Akashi' Canonigo Andales focused on the historical significance of participating in TI, stating that the prize pool is not a major consideration.
Du 'Monet' Peng felt that the smaller prize pool meant less money to take home, and he worries it might lead to reduced viewership and attention.
Clinton 'Fear' Loomis said that the size of the prize pool does not matter to him as much as the unique experience of TI.
Zhao 'XinQ' Zixing acknowledged that while the prize pool has been smaller in recent years, TI remains TI.
Ted 'PyrionFlax' Forsythe admitted that while everyone would prefer a higher prize pool, a reduction was expected. He anticipated that Valve might try different approaches to the season finale in the future.
Airat 'Silent' Gaziev compared the experiences of winning two TIs, noting that while the first was exhilarating, the second was more of a pleasant feeling.
Owen 'ODPixel' Davies recognized that the prize pool could not continue growing indefinitely and anticipated it might increase again in the future as Valve explores different approaches.
Georgiy 'swedenstrong' Zaynalabidov acknowledged that while the prize pool is smaller compared to previous TIs, it remains substantial compared to other tournaments.
Alexander 'TORONTOTOKYO' Hyrtek noted that players might feel less motivated, though this could reduce pressure for some.
Kevin 'Purge' Godec observed that for teams finishing between 8th and 16th, the reduction in the prize pool is a significant negative change, making it just another tournament. However, the top 6 teams will see a notable change in their income, but will likely continue as long as they are sponsored.