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The 2020 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour was the penultimate proving ground for the best shuttlers in the world. Consisting of 27 tournaments, the 2020 World Tour is where the best players battle for a spot in the World Tour Finals. However, besides bragging rights, ranking points, and medals, the 2020 World Tour awarded the best prize money that you and I can only dream of making. How much was the BWF World Tour prize money in 2020?
In 2020, the total prize money for the World Tour was a staggering $14,000,000. The BWF distributed the prize money across the five levels that comprised the World Tour. The World Tour Finals had the most prize money allocation, awarding victors a total of $1,500,000. Not too far behind were the Super 1000 tournaments, where the total prize pot was at least 1,100,000. Super 750 and Super 500 tournaments awarded players on the podium $750,000 and $400,000, respectively, while those who placed in Super 300 tournaments took their share of $170,000.
These amounts are more than enough to have any ambitious shuttler sharpening their skills for the next Swiss Open or World Tour Final. Join me as we delve into the ins and outs of the World Tour Prize money for 2020!
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BWF World Tour Prize Money and World Tour Tournaments in 2020
Before we talk about how much cash sponsors and the BWF splashed on the World Tour, allow me to give a disclaimer. As you know, 2020 was the year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. After the COVID-19 Pandemic declaration in March 2020, it wasn’t long before the BWF canceled many World Tour events.
The cancellation of these tournaments led to several developments, like rescheduling. Some of the tournaments like the 2020 World Tour Final were postponed to the following year.
Besides postponed events, canceled World Tour tournaments also meant fewer tournaments to allocate prize money to. As a result, you’ll find that the total prize money distributed amounted to just over $9,000,000 instead of the $14,000,000 announced at the beginning of the year.
Nevertheless, some tournaments took place as scheduled during the early quarter of 2020 — and these tournaments were in one of the following levels of the World Tour.
Level | Category | Minimum World Tour Prize Money for 2020 | Number of Tournaments |
| 1 | World Tour Finals | $1,500,000 | 1 |
| 2 | Super 1000 | $1,100,000 | 3 |
| 3 | Super 750 | $750,000 | 6 |
| 4 | Super 500 | $400,000 | 7 |
| 5 | Super 300 | $170,000 | 11 |
| 6 | Super 100 | $90,000 | 10 |
The Super 100 isn’t part of the World Tour, but tournaments at this level are still opportunities for players to bag some cash and win ranking points to qualify for the World Tour.
This is why you still see some fierce badminton action in the Super 100!
2020 World Tour Tournaments and Sponsors
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Besides the BWF, badminton fans have sponsors to thank for making the World Tour possible.
Without these sponsors, we wouldn’t be treated to the intense action we see on the World Tour. Check out the table for more information on each tournament and their sponsors.
Let’s begin with level 1, 2, and 3 tournaments!
Level | 2020 World Tour Tournament | 2020 Prize Money | Sponsor |
| 1 | World Tour Finals (New Date) | $1,500,000 | HSBC |
| 2 | All-England Open Badminton Championships | $1,100,000 | Yonex |
| 2 | China Open (Canceled) | $1,100,000 | Victor |
| 2 | Indonesia Open (Canceled) | $1,300,000 | BliBli |
| 3 | Japan Open (Canceled) | $750,000 | Yonex and Daihatsu |
| 3 | Denmark Open | $750,000 | Danisa |
| 3 | French Open (Canceled) | $750,000 | Yonex |
| 3 | Denmark Masters (Canceled) | $750,000 | Victor |
| 3 | Fuzhou China Open (Canceled) | $750,000 | none |
| 3 | Malaysia Open | $750,000 | Celcom Axiata |
As you can see, most events on the World Tour’s top three tiers were canceled. Sadly, tournaments in levels 4 and 5 also suffered from the event cancellations brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, players would have made some serious money had these events taken place.
Level | 2020 World Tour Tournament | Prize Money | Sponsor |
| 4 | Malaysia Masters | $400,000 | Perodua |
| 4 | Indonesia Masters | $400,000 | Daihatsu |
| 4 | Singapore Open (Canceled) | $408,000 | none |
| 4 | Korea Open (Canceled) | $400,000 | none |
| 4 | Hong Kong Open (Canceled) | $400,000 | Yonex |
| 4 | Thailand Open (Canceled) | $400,000 | Toyota |
| 4 | India Open | $400,000 | Yonex |
| 5 | Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters | $170,000 | Toyota |
| 5 | Barcelona Spain Masters | $170,000 | none |
| 5 | German Open (Canceled) | $170,000 | Yonex |
| 5 | Swiss Open (Canceled) | $175,000 | Yonex |
| 5 | Australian Open (Canceled) | $170,000 | Crown Group |
| 5 | U.S. Open (Canceled) | $170,000 | Yonex |
| 5 | Taipei Open (Canceled) | $500,000 | Yonex |
| 5 | New Zealand Open (Canceled) | $170,000 | Barfoot and Thompson |
| 5 | Macau Open (Canceled) | $170,000 | none |
| 5 | India International (Canceled) | $170,000 | Syed Modi |
| 5 | Gwangju Korea Masters | $200,000 | none |
Lastly, we’ve got the Super 100 tournaments. These tournaments aren’t part of the World Tour, but they present additional earning and ranking opportunities to shuttlers.
Like the tournaments in the higher tiers of the World Tour, most Super 100 events were canceled in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Level | 2020 Super 100 Tournament | Prize Money | Sponsor |
| 6 | Orleans Masters (Canceled) | $90,000 | none |
| 6 | Canada Open (Canceled) | $90,000 | Yonex |
| 6 | Russian Open (Canceled) | $90,000 | none |
| 6 | Hyderabad Open (Canceled) | $90,000 | none |
| 6 | Akita Masters (Canceled) | $90,000 | Yonex |
| 6 | Lingshui China Masters (Canceled) | $90,000 | none |
| 6 | Vietnam Open (Canceled) | $90,000 | none |
| 6 | Indonesia Masters (Canceled) | $90,000 | none |
| 6 | Dutch Open (Canceled) | $90,000 | Yonex |
| 6 | SaarLorLux Open | $90,000 | none |
What is the BWF World Tour Finals?
The best players from all over the world duke it out to secure a spot in one event — the World Tour Final.
The World Tour Finals is the grand finale to an eventful World Tour season. Here, eight of the best shuttlers and teams from all disciplines battle it out for ultimate badminton supremacy. Besides bragging rights and medals, the World Tour Final also awards the most prize money to winners.
In 2020, the World Tour Finals was rescheduled and took place the following year.
The Most Prestigious World Tour Tournament: The All England Open
Sure, few tournaments can match the pageantry and spectacle of the World Tour Final. However, when it comes to being the most prestigious World Tour tournament, the World Tour Final can’t hold a candle to the All England.
The All-England Open Badminton Championships dates back to 1899. With a legacy spanning more than a century, only the who’s-who of badminton have won this prestigious tournament.
Winning in the All England doesn’t just get you paid seven digits — it automatically places you as one of the sport’s greats. Victory in this competition secures your spot in the history books.
Aren’t You Glad 2020 is Over?!
No doubt, the BWF spared no expense in organizing and holding 2020’s World Tour events. However, with the mass cancellations of events, badminton fans didn’t see as much action that year.
As we speak, badminton has returned to full action — and so have the sponsors.
Aren’t you glad 2020 is over? I am!
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