The Dreamhack e-sports computer game tournament has increased the amount of the prize money this year for women. While this may seem like a step toward equality, even with the larger award, women still stand to earn less than the men at this event. The award money in the main event where only men participate is SEK 872,000 while the award money for women stops at SEK 140,000.

Citing old habits and practices from most other sports as the reason that women don’t compete in the main event that brings the biggest award, CEO, Joakim Stenberg, of ESEN ESports, hopes that more sponsors and big brand involvement will change the perception of women in gaming.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Swedish digital festival DreamHack is reportedly the largest of its kind in the world. It's a local area network gathering with live concerts and competitions in digital art and eSports that was first held in Malung in 1994, Sweden, more recently held in Jönköping. Next opportunity to play, regardless of gender will be DreamHack Winter 2017 at the Elmia Fair, Jönköping on Nov. 30 - Dec. 3. For more info, see www.dreamhack.se