The first Big LAN event of 2022, IEM Katowice saw unprecedented success in terms of viewership. Taking place with a crowd in the Spodek Arena for the first time since 2019, IEM Katowice’s hype was unreal. Featuring the biggest teams and players, the event did not disappoint and became the most-watched non-major CSGO event with 1.12 million concurrent viewers.
According to escharts.com, IEM Katowice 2022 Grand Final – G2 vs FaZe Clan had 1.12 people watching the game, on different streams. This was followed closely by the G2 vs NaVi game which clocked 979k viewers at its peak. The previous record for the most-watched non-major CSGO event was also held by IEM Katowice, in the 2020 edition where NaVi reigned supreme albeit without a crowd, as the tournament peaked at 1 million viewers.
IEM Katowice 2019, which was a CSGO Major event still holds the record for being the most-watched Intel Extreme Masters event, having 1.2 million viewers watching the game.
The G2 vs FaZe Grand Final delivered in more ways than one, as the game was a nail-biter throughout, despite FaZe clean sweeping G2 3-0. The round difference between the 2 sides was a minute 10 rounds, over 3 maps. The first map was an overtime loss 19-15, the second went to a mammoth 5 OTs and G2 lost out 31-27 and dust2 was closed out in regulation with the closest possible scoreline of 16-14.
Still, a long way away from being the most-watched event, IEM Katowice 2022 still broke into the top 5 of most viewed CSGO events. The throne was overtaken by PGL Stockholm Major 2021 – the first CSGO Major in 2 years with a 2.7 million peak, which was more than twice its closest competitor – ELEAGUE Atlanta Major 2017.
The top most-viewed CSGO events following are listed below:
- PGL Major 2021 — 2,748,850
- ELEAGUE Major 2017 — 1,331,781
- ELEAGUE Major 2018 — 1,329,096
- IEM Katowice 2019 — 1,205,103
- IEM Katowice 2022 — 1,122,015
