The past year was packed with record-breaking esports events. While global headlines focused on the biggest tournaments, many unique and captivating competitions flew under the radar. These include the world championship for a cult-favorite Japanese mobile RPG, one of China’s largest franchise leagues with intense regional rivalries, and even a World Championship in... Microsoft Excel, showcasing data-editing wizardry as a competitive sport. Esports Charts has compiled a list of these standout events worth revisiting.
Monster Strike
Monster Strike, a mobile RPG that may not be widely recognized internationally, has firmly established itself as a cultural phenomenon in Japan, where it has captivated fans for over 11 years. As one of the country’s highest-grossing mobile games, it has inspired anime adaptations, manga and collaborations with major franchises like One Piece and Evangelion. Despite nearly 12 years of success, its popularity shows no signs of slowing. Anniversary events continue to fill venues and draw hundreds of thousands of online viewers.
The game’s esports scene is equally engaging, with Japanese fans following it with great enthusiasm. The Monster Strike Grand Prix, with a $200,000 prize pool, consistently attracts hundreds of thousands of viewers. Although last year’s tournament saw slightly fewer viewers than the 2023 edition, it still garnered significant attention, with viewers cheering as team AMiiiiDA claimed victory.
Trackmania
Trackmania is another niche esports title that has carved out a unique space in the competitive gaming world, particularly in France, where it enjoys a passionate and sizable fanbase. Events organized by developers, as well as by popular content creator Adrien "Zerator" Nougaret, often draw massive crowds, showcasing the game’s strong cultural foothold in the region.
The highlight of the 2024 TrackMania season was the Trackmania World Cup, the grand finale of the Trackmania World Tour circuit, held in Paris during the renowned Paris Games Week. The tournament brought together the best racers from Europe, Oceania, and North America, competing in high-speed, precision-driven races. In a result that surprised few, Carl Jr. from team Solary claimed victory, further cementing his legacy as one of the most decorated players in Trackmania history. As the game’s highest earner and a dominant force in the scene, Carl Jr. added yet another trophy to his already staggering collection.
World of Tanks
World of Tanks has cemented its status as a beloved niche game, boasting a dedicated and passionate fanbase that spans the globe, from China and Japan to Europe and beyond. While it thrives as a casual favorite, the game also supports a thriving esports scene, drawing thousands of viewers to its competitive tournaments.
The highlight of 2024 was the World of Tanks Championship International, held in Chengdu, China, with a prize pool of 1,000,000 yuan (around $138,000). The event brought together the top teams from regional leagues and qualifiers, culminating in an electrifying final between Poland’s Hit and Run and China’s OneOne. After a fiercely contested match, the Polish squad claimed victory, securing their second consecutive championship title. Their previous win came in 2023, when they defeated their Polish rivals, OPUR, in another thrilling finale. This back-to-back success solidified Hit and Run as a dominant force in the World of Tanks esports scene.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yu-Gi-Oh! has long been one of the leading collectible card games that has expanded into the esports realm. The Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship stands as its most prestigious event, where players worldwide compete for the ultimate title. The 2024 edition, hosted in Seattle, marked a significant moment for the series, with multiple formats such as TCG, Duel Links, and Master Duel adding variety to the competition.
Ruben Penaranda, representing the United States, took home the championship title in a fierce final match. The event's excitement was amplified by a wide range of deck strategies, with Fiendsmith Yubel being a dominant choice. His victory, following another American win in 2023, highlights the strong competitive presence in North America and the ongoing development of Yu-Gi-Oh! esports on a global scale.
The 2024 Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship drew over 35,000 concurrent viewers during the final, with notable viewership from Japan and the U.S. While it didn’t break the highest viewership records for the series, the numbers still demonstrate the event's strong draw. This year's Championship reaffirmed the franchise's prominent position in the esports industry.
Gran Turismo
The GT World Series 2024 Nations Cup Grand Final was a thrilling showcase of elite sim racing talent, bringing together the best drivers from around the globe to compete in Gran Turismo 7’s premier esports event. Held at the prestigious venue in Amsterdam, the event drew a worldwide online audience, with viewership spanning from Japan to Russia and peaking at over 33,000 concurrent viewers.
The competition culminated in a dramatic final, where Japan’s Takuma Miyazono emerged victorious. Other standout moments included strong showings from drivers representing Brazil, Italy, and Spain, highlighting the global reach and competitive depth of the Nations Cup.
What else was noteworthy?
Throughout the year, there were a number of notable esports events that may not have had global appeal, but certainly captured the attention of specific communities. For example, there were esports tournaments for popular American sports sims like NBA 2K and Madden NFL. In January 2025, Las Vegas hosted the very first World Championship for the newly launched Smite 2.
Another interesting highlight was the osu! World Cup. This rhythm game, often used by League of Legends and Dota 2 pros to sharpen their reflexes, also attracted a global audience for its competitive edge.
One of the standout events of the year was the 2024 King Pro League Grand Finals, which took over from the Honor of Kings International Championship for the Chinese Honor of Kings scene. Most of the viewership was from China (a region we don’t track in detail), but thousands tuned in across Western platforms too. What made this event particularly remarkable was its huge prize pool: 70 million yuan (around $9.6 million). Over $3 million of that went to AG Super Play, who triumphed in a thrilling final against Wolves.
And then, there was the Microsoft Excel World Championship 2024. While it may have drawn only a few hundred viewers, the quirky event made major headlines in gaming and beyond, proving that esports can go beyond traditional games.
The world of esports is incredibly diverse, as demonstrated in our selection. Even tournaments that might initially seem minor can attract a sizable regional audience and showcase exceptional production quality. Esports Charts is committed to collecting statistics for all such gaming and esports events worldwide, and you can explore them in our tournaments section.
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