Over $100,000 was expected in prizes, including $35,000 for Counter-Strike, but as of publication none of the players or teams that GotFrag has spoken with received any of the cash. Complexity is the largest organization owed with $25,000 between its CS team and Q4 winner Socrates.

“We have not yet been paid a dime from the TransAtlantic Finals where both CS and Quake4 took first place,” said Jason Lake, owner of Complexity.

Prize money has become an increasing concern for teams and stronger action could result. Lake commented that if prize money situations weren’t resolved that his team could go so far as to boycott those events.

“If prize promises are not honored in a timely manner we will be forced to consider skipping future events,” said Lake.

Lake’s counterpart Craig Levine, owner of Team3D, also worried about the situation as his team is owed $5,250 from the Transatlantic Showdown. He continues to expect a resolution.

“We want to work with GGL to receive payment and look forward to competing in this year's Ziff Davis DigitalLife tournament. I think that the prize payment issue has gotten a bit out of hand,” said Levine, “At the DirecTV Championship Gaming Invitational we received our $10,000 check as soon as we walked off stage. That's the first time I ever got a check at an event that we could actually bring to the bank. I understand all of the paperwork and documentation that has to be done immediately after an event but I don't see why any prize payment should take more than 30 days to send out for ANY tournament.”

GGL’s payment for Transatlantic Showdown is currently at nearly five months past due. GGL recently released an article stating that they spent over $5 Million developing the Chinese competitive gaming market. GotFrag attempted to contact GGL about the issues calling three separate executives but none were available.

GotFrag was able to reach Tim Takeuchi, Consumer Campaign Strategy Manager for Gaming at Intel. Takeuchi confirmed that Intel as the title sponsor met all of their commitments to the GGL.

“All of our commitments to the GGL have been fulfilled,” said Takeuchi.

He explained that Intel and GGL hosted the event at the Intel DuoZone event in the 5th Floor Atrium in the Time Warner Center, New York City. The goal was to create more interest around the event and in return Intel gave cash and hardware to the GGL. Takeuchi said he’d take an active role in helping to sort out the situation.

“It really doesn’t bode well for eSports that these prizes haven’t been paid out,” said Takeuchi.

Recent reports from both teams, coL and 3D, say that GGL as a result of the research of this article has begun actively seeking a resolution. GotFrag will stay on the lookout of resolutions to this story and will update the community with any news on the subject.

The entire issue highlights a growing concern for teams who often rely on prize money to operate their team, taking a small percentage of the winnings for team operations. One organization posed to deal with this issue is the G7. The G7 is an organization of top teams including the likes of SK, fnatic, mousesports and others but also includes Team 3D and newly added Complexity. Levine commented that the G7’s currently looking at solutions for the issue.

“Prize payment is one of the projects G7 is currently working on,” said Levine, “We're in discussions to determine what the best path is to rectify this problem and hopefully work with tournament organizers to put this problem to rest for once and for all.”

UPDATE: Levine has stated in the comments below that:

As an update, we received word earlier today (before the article was published) that our payment has been sent out to us today. We should be paid by Friday.

UPDATE 2: Two North American Q4 TDM players released statements to GotFrag.
Sabian "Clamp-ok" Hayblum, a former member of Blackdragons:

At the event, the GGL told me that I would recieve the money in two to three months. Since the event I have sent the GGL's financial department numerouse e-mails and haven't gotten as much as a response. We have still yet to be paid to this date.

Mike 'mik3d' Prusisz, also of Blackdragons, one of their earliest members:

Basically 3 months ago I got a email from GGL requesting AGAIN our tax forums. Instead of ALL of us filling out the tax forums a GGL admin told me I could get our check and just distribute it. That same day I went to fax the form to GGL and it was a wrong number. After continuing to trying to get help to fax the tax form AGAIN, no one helped me and hasnt since.

UPDATE 3: F-Player and iCE cLIMBERS starter Magnus "fox" Olsson:

iCE cLIMBERS have yet to recieve anything from TAS as well. The GGL havent as much as replied to an e-mail. It took us a good 10 months to get the money from the previous cup, EC11 in Almere.