ESL Impact League Season 8 sees viewership dip as series bids farewell
The Global Finals of the ESL Impact League Season 8 were held at the Stockholmsmässan as part of DreamHack Stockholm from November 28 to 30. It was the last installment in the popular women's Counter-Strike 2 series, which is taking an indefinite break after four years, and the event peaked at around 6,200 viewers.
This CS2 competition pitted eight top female sides against each other as they battled for a $123,000 prize pool. There was also the chance to clinch a win and call themselves the final champions of a series that has contributed immensely to the growth of the women's game and esports in general.
The European roster of BIG EQUIPA eventually prevailed in the Grand Final, beating MIBR Female 2:1 in the Grand Final. It was the maiden ESL Impact trophy for the women's team of the popular German esports organization BIG.
Viewership statistics from the ESL Impact League Season 8
This Counter-Strike 2 tournament peaked at 6,198 viewers during the Group Stage, Day 1 clash between Imperial Valkyries and NIP Impact. This was a clash between two of the more popular sides in the legendary shooter's female esports scene, with the latter sneaking a 13:11 win.
The Grand Final was only the seventh-most popular game of the ESL Impact League Season 8 with 4,083 Peak Viewers (PV). The early exits of fan-favorites Imperial Valkyries and NIP Impact undoubtedly played their part.
As with many other esports titles, the female CS scene depends heavily on the top sides doing well to attract higher viewership. If the above two sides had met in the decider, it would have generated additional buzz for the final match of the competition.
The absence of FURIA Fe, champion at the record-setting ESL Impact League Season 7, also affected the viewership. The Brazilian side attracts massive crowds wherever it plays, and its failure to qualify dampened interest in an event already reeling from an uncertain future.
Moreover, the competition clashed with the second Counter-Strike 2 Major of the year in Budapest. With this top-tier event starting on November 24, many top community streamers preferred to divert their attention to the happenings in Hungary.
One good example is the iconic Brazilian co-caster Alexandre "Gaules" Borba. The former CS2 professional player livestreamed one game of the ESL Impact League Season 8 before shifting his focus to the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025.
With the conclusion of the last tournament in the ESL Impact League, women's Counter-Strike 2 esports faces an uncertain future. Teams and organizations will be waiting with bated breath for news on how this massive void will be filled. Streams Charts will keep readers informed on any developments in this matter, which they can access in our news section.
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