What? How could you get this utterly, exactly backwards?
In 2010 when Dota 2 beta was first revealed, Valve also announced The International tournament with a prize pool of $1.6 mil USD.
And then a few days later Riot was like "We have a bigger $2M prize!" which was 'misleading' since it was $2M was for the entire year, not one tournament like Valve's.
This year Valve brilliantly crowd-sourced their prize pool for the first time. On top of the $1.6 mil, if you buy an electronic compendium (amazing value on its own), 25% of the proceeds go to the prize pool.
It's been an explosive success. A triple win-win-win for audience, company, and pro teams.
The prize pool is currently at $2,559,322 USD now. Valve hasn't increased jackcrap since 2010- they put up the same $1.6mil prize pool.
Where did Valve make such claim? So far Valve's been minding their own business, never directed a single comment towards LoL or Riot. I even remember a childish ad from Riot on Garena platform. It said something like 'Why play Dota? REAL MEN PLAY League of Legends."
At least get the facts straight or base it on a non-fabrication.
[edit]
Oh and uh.. people think it's creepy and masturbatory how Riot pays LoL's pro teams.
Riot is literally paying people to play their game. The gamers are employees, even the casters are employees of Riot. No real 'grassroots' growth from real audience, sponsors, or third-parties (similar to other eSports games like Starcraft, Quake, CS, or Dota 1 & 2).
This is scary. And it's been discussed many times that it's terrible for eSports scene.