The 2025 IEM Katowice Group Stage Has Already Outpaced the 2024 Viewership Numbers.
IEM Katowice 2025 has already surpassed the peak viewership figures recorded during its 2024 tournament. The Counter-Strike 2 event, organized by ESL FACEIT Group, reached a peak of over 1 million viewers on February 3rd, 2025. This milestone, reported by Esports Charts, marks an increase of 31,366 compared to last year’s peak of 972,312, set during the Grand Final between FaZe Clan and Team Spirit.
With the Play-In and Group Stage phases now complete, this peak viewership is expected to climb even higher as the tournament moves into its final rounds. So far, Brazilian esports organization FURIA has attracted the highest average viewership, with 377,800 viewers. Close behind, Ukrainian team NAVI holds the second spot, drawing an average of 356,900 viewers.
In terms of total hours watched, Team Spirit leads the rankings with 4.4 million hours, while FaZe Clan follows closely with 4.1 million. Notably, Team Spirit recently secured the top position in the Valve Regional Standings after Valve’s latest update in February. These statistics underscore the growing popularity and competitiveness of the event.
Following the conclusion of the Group Stage, the tournament now shifts to the Playoffs at the renowned Spodek Arena. Here, the remaining six teams will battle for the championship title and a share of the impressive $1 million (~£797,810) prize pool. The quarter-finals will feature Virtus.pro facing Team Spirit, while The MongolZ will compete against Eternal Fire. Significantly, this marks the first time a Turkish team has reached the IEM Katowice Playoffs, highlighting a historic moment for the region.
After topping their respective groups, Team Vitality and NAVI have secured direct spots in the semi-finals. These matches, set for February 8th, 2025, promise intense competition. Moreover, IEM Katowice 2025 is part of the Intel Grand Slam, offering an additional $1 million prize for any Counter-Strike 2 team that wins four events within a ten-tournament window.
As the tournament progresses, excitement continues to build. With record-breaking viewership and thrilling matchups, this year’s IEM Katowice is shaping up to be one of the most memorable editions in the event’s history.
Disclaimer
NextNews strives for accurate tech news, but use it with caution - content changes often, external links may be iffy, and technical glitches happen. See full disclaimer for details.