You'd be surprised just how big 'e-sports' is getting

Valve Software's marquee computer game, Dota 2, will have a record $US 11 million (and counting) in prize money on offer for those competing in its fifth annual world championship event in Seattle, and is expected to be viewed by more than 20 million people worldwide

Set to take place in a sold-out Key Arena, the fifth edition of 'The International' broke its own record this week when its prize-pool bubbled above the $US 11 million dollar mark after another surge in funding support from fans. That number could balloon to as high as $US 15 million on current trends before the tournament takes place in August - a staggering amount of money indeed.

To put that in context, Golf's US Masters paid out $US 10 million this year, while tennis's French Open will pay competitors across both men's and women's fields $US 36 million. It's still nothing compared to an event like Fifa's World Cup, but it's a statement for the 'e-sports' scene that should rattle more established players.