According to
Dot Esports [
via Mashable], Counter-Strike: Global Offensive professional eSports player Nikolas "Niko" Kovac has transferred from Mousesports to FaZE Clan. And in order for that transition to happen, FaZE Clan paid Mousesports $500,000 USD to get Kovac out of his contract.
This would break the previous record (the $160k team Titan paid
G2 eSports to acquired Adil "Scream" Benrlitom in 2015) by a fairly sizable amount. Check out Niko's CS skills on display in the video below (where he single-handedly powers Mousesports to a last-second victory) and decide for yourself if the amount was warranted.
Also, here's a breakdown of the top prize pools in annual Counter Strike tournaments, which will further help put the $500k figure into perspective.
1. »
World Electronic Sports Games 2016 (CS:GO) : Prize pool sum of $1,500,000.00
2. »
ELEAGUE Season 1: Prize pool sum of $1,410,000.00
3. »
ELEAGUE Season 2: Prize pool sum of $1,100,000.00
4. »
ELEAGUE Major 2017: Prize pool sum of $1,000,000.00
5. »
ESL One: Cologne 2016: Prize pool sum of $1,000,000.00
6. »
MLG Major Championship: Columbus: Prize pool sum of $1,000,000.00
7. »
Esports Championship Series Season 1 - Finals: Prize pool sum of $765,000.00
8. »
Esports Championship Series Season 2 - Finals: Prize pool sum of $660,000.00
9. »
ESL Pro League Season 4: Finals: Prize pool sum of $580,000.00
10. »
ESL Pro League S3 Finals: Prize pool sum of $513,130.00