How to Get Free Prizes for Accurate Esports Match Predictions

Who doesn’t love getting valuable gifts for free? Especially when all that’s required from you is the ability to predict the outcomes of your favorite esports matches. If you’re confident in your knowledge of CS2, Dota 2, or other esports disciplines, you’re just one step away from turning your insights into real rewards. In this guide, we’ll tell you where you can make predictions on esports matches, what prizes different platforms offer, and — most importantly — how to increase the accuracy of your predictions to win!

Is It Possible to Make Predictions and Get Prizes for Free?

Let’s answer your question right away — yes, it’s real. In esports today, you can not only cheer for your favorite teams but also win real prizes, just by making accurate predictions on matches. And you don’t need to invest money or have any special status for this. All it takes is understanding the scene and a bit of analytical thinking.

There are several popular participation formats that let you win rewards without investments. Each of them offers different approaches and opportunities:

Fantasy leagues — team management is in your hands: You build a virtual lineup out of real players, and track how they perform in real matches. The better your picks play, the higher you rise in the rankings. Platforms like FanClash and Esports One support fantasy tournaments for CS2, Dota 2, LoL, and other disciplines. It combines strategy, intuition, and knowledge of the meta.
Free predictions with bonuses — minimal barriers, maximum thrill: It’s simple: pick the winner, get points. No investment. Platforms like PickR let you participate for free, collect team stickers, and use boosters to increase your points. Guessed the match outcome? Grab exclusive stickers, achievements, or climb the leaderboards for cool rewards!
Crypto quizzes and Web3 tournaments — digital tech at the service of esports: If you’re into NFTs, tokens, and Web3, you’ll appreciate a format where esports knowledge connects with digital rewards. Guess the outcome — get XP, NFTs, or cryptocurrency. On Arcadeum, PlotX, and Satori, you can find everything: from quizzes to tournaments with prizes in tokens.

Each format has its own advantages: fantasy modes require strategic thinking, classic predictions — quick reactions and accuracy, and Web3 — an interest in new technologies. The nice thing is, you don’t have to choose just one — you can try different formats and combine them depending on your mood and goals.

However, there’s one more format that hasn’t been mentioned yet. It appears only at the biggest tournaments, is supported by the organizers themselves, and every time attracts the attention of tens of thousands of participants. For many, this was the starting point on the path to prizes for predictions.

We’re talking about Pick’em — a time-tested format that has earned a cult status. And now we’ll tell you about it!

What Is Pick’em and Why It’s So Popular in Esports

Pick’em is not just a guessing game, but almost a sacred ritual for esports fans. It all started in 2013, when Valve introduced the Pick’em Challenge at the CS:GO Major DreamHack Winter. For the first time, viewers had the chance not just to watch, but to predict: who will get out of the group stage, who will win the trophy. Guess right — get points, earn trophies, unlock souvenir skins. It was the first time analytics and fandom became part of one game, and people loved it.

Then it went even further. Through the Compendium came Dota 2’s Pick’em, and later Riot Games introduced Worlds Pick’em for League of Legends. And when it became clear that esports was here to stay, third-party platforms began to appear, allowing participation in Pick’em independently from the game client. Pick’em became more than just fun — it’s a battle of minds among those who truly know their stuff!

Top Pickem Platforms That Reward You for Accurate Predictions

As we’ve discussed, the Pick’em format was born inside the games themselves. You could only participate through official tournaments — for example, in CS:GO by Valve. To access the Pick’em Challenge, you had to buy a Viewer Pass, which cost about $10. In Dota 2, everything revolved around the Compendium — its base version started at $7.49, and extended editions went up to $30. Fun? Yes. But far from free. That’s why third-party platforms emerged, where you can participate without spending a dime. Here are the three most interesting ones:

bo3.gg — a convenient platform with a huge selection of CS2 tournaments and support for over 10 languages.
MyPickem.io — an independent international service with CS2 predictions, a minimalist interface, and skin rewards.
Melbetpickem.com — a platform localized for Mongolia with CS2 and Dota 2 tournaments, gorgeous design, and valuable prizes beyond just skins.

Each platform has its own perks. For example, bo3.gg stands out for its tournament variety and frequent updates. MyPickem had a great skin prize pool, and although it got a bit smaller in 2025, for a free platform, it’s still very respectable. MelBet Pickem impresses in every way: interface, rewards, visuals.

How Does Pickem Work: Mechanics of Participation

The mechanics of participating in Pick’em CS2 and Dota 2 tournaments are intuitive, yet allow plenty of room for analytics and excitement. To understand how it works, let’s look at a specific example — IEM Katowice CS2 Pick’em 2025. This tournament has already taken place, but it perfectly illustrates the step-by-step mechanics:

Pick 8 teams in the Play-In stage: Participants had to select 8 out of 16 teams that would advance to the group stage. Contenders included teams like FaZe Clan, GamerLegion, and Virtus.pro — making the right picks required serious analysis.
Predict 6 teams to reach the playoffs: After the group stage, you needed to pick 6 teams to make it to the final phase. This was harder — Play-In teams could surprise, while favorites could underperform.
Predict the tournament champion: The final step was to choose the one team that would lift the trophy. For IEM Katowice 2025, many picked Team Vitality — and rightly so: they confidently made it through the playoffs and defeated Team Spirit 3:0 in the grand final.

That’s how it all works — simple, logical, and yet demands a thoughtful approach. But keep in mind: the Pick’em format can vary depending on the game and tournament structure. Sometimes there’s no Play-In stage, or the number of teams may differ. So it’s always worth checking the specific rules before you start.

What Can You Win by Making the Right Predictions?

Now for the most enjoyable part — the prizes. After all, that’s why many people participate in free Pick’em challenges. On platforms like bo3.gg and MyPickem.io, the usual reward is CS2 skins. Typically, three prize places are awarded, with the top participant receiving a skin worth around $100. It’s simple: make the most accurate predictions — win the prize. But the limited number of winners reduces most people’s chances.

However, Pickem MelBet offers a completely different approach. First of all, here you can take part not only in Pick’em CS2 predictions, but also in Pick’em Dota 2, which means that the skins are awarded for the game whose tournament you chose. Secondly — and this is important — the number of winners is much larger: often, 10 or more participants receive prizes. This opens the door to victory not only for the top predictors but also for those who just understand the tournament bracket well and are a bit lucky.

And the most impressive part — the prizes themselves. In addition to skins, MelBet Pick’em raffles off 144Hz monitors, gaming wheels, mice, keyboards, and sometimes even PlayStation 5. This is no longer just a digital trophy, but a real item you can get without spending a cent. Just make accurate predictions — and win like a true pro!

How to Make More Accurate Predictions: Key Tips

Accurate predictions aren’t about luck, but about attention to detail, analysis, and a bit of common sense. Especially if you’re playing not just for fun, but to really compete for prizes. Successful Pick’em participants aren’t always analysts, but they’re always people who follow the scene and can think critically. Here are 5 short but powerful tips to help you predict better:

Follow team form: Even favorites can lose if a team is in a slump or coming off a losing streak.
Track roster changes: New players can either strengthen the team or disrupt its synergy.
Check head-to-head records: Some teams consistently lose to specific opponents, regardless of status.
Consider the meta and patches: One update can change weapon or hero strength, especially in CS2 and Dota 2.
Understand motivation: For some, the tournament is everything; for others, just a warm-up. That makes a difference.

🎯 And remember: even the best make mistakes. The main thing is to make informed choices based on facts, not hype. Then your predictions will no longer be random, but accurate!

Start Now: Choose a Tournament and Claim Your Prize

Stop just watching — start playing smart! Participating in Pick’em challenges is completely free, and the prizes are real: from skins to gaming gear and even a PS5. All you need is to choose a platform, find an upcoming tournament, and make your predictions. It’s fun, engaging, and requires no investment. So why not try it right now? Choose the nearest tournament, the best Pickem platform, and get in the game. Your insights could bring you not just satisfaction… but a real prize!

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Author Bat-Erdene Ganbold

Pick'em and analytics expert for esports tournaments. In the scene since 2017, known for over 75% prediction accuracy and consistently ranking high in CS and Dota Pick'em challenges. Writes guides, tracks underdog teams, and plays in an amateur CS2 squad.