ESL have officially announced changes to the Club Reward structure ahead of the 2026 season. The adjustment affects IEM China, which will become the final event of the year in the ESL Pro Tour calendar and will receive a significantly increased total prize pool.
Context of the decision: a Major in Cologne shifts the balance
The key reason for the adjustment is that IEM Cologne will hold Major status in 2026. As a result, the prize structure and team payouts are fully determined by Valve, and the Major itself does not include a separate Club Reward for participating organizations.
Consequently, the $250,000 that had previously been allocated as Club Reward for IEM Cologne has been reallocated by ESL to IEM China — the final tournament of the season.
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What changes for IEM China
As a result of this decision:
- The total prize pool of IEM China increases from $1,000,000 to $1,250,000
- The Club Reward component rises from $700,000 to $950,000
This makes the Chinese event one of the most significant tournaments of the season in terms of direct financial support for clubs.
Prize money and Club Reward distribution at IEM China 2026
- 1st place: $125,000 prize money + $235,000 Club Reward
- 2nd place: $50,000 + $160,000
- 3rd place: $30,000 + $130,000
- 4th place: $20,000 + $100,000
- 5th–6th places: $12,500 + $75,000
- 7th–8th places: $7,000 + $47,500
- 9th–12th places: $5,000 + $20,000
- 13th–16th places: $4,000 (no Club Reward)
Third year of ESL in China
IEM China 2026 will mark the third consecutive ESL tournament in China since the region’s return to the Tier-1 scene. The event will take place from November 2–8, 2026, and will feature 16 of the world’s best teams. The specific city and venue will be announced at a later date.
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Why it matters
For clubs, this decision means:
- greater financial stability at the end of the season;
- increased value of qualifying for and attending IEM China;
- a logical compensation for the absence of Club Reward at the Cologne Major.
In effect, ESL are maintaining their annual level of investment into clubs ($3,800,000 across seven events), simply redistributing it in line with the new tournament landscape of the 2026 season. More details regarding IEM China and the ESL Pro Tour calendar are expected in the coming months.
