Worlds 2024 reached 3 million viewers: Koreans made up for the outflow of Brazilian and Spanish audiences

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2024 Worlds hit over 3 million concurrent viewers, breaking the record for group-stage viewership (for the second time at the event) during the highly anticipated match between T1 and G2 Esports. A major factor behind the increase in viewership is the Korean audience, whose enthusiasm surged with the resumption of the Swiss Stage. Their support played a crucial role in offsetting the decline in viewership from Brazilian and Spanish broadcasts after the elimination of paiN Gaming and MAD Lions KOI.

T1 and G2 updated the Worlds group stage audience record

After the exit of paiN and MDK, Portuguese and Spanish viewership took a significant hit: average viewership dropped by 36% and 73%, respectively. However, the matches FlyQuest vs. HLE and Top Esports vs. Dplus attracted larger audiences on the English and Korean streams, with Korean viewership soaring by 148%. As a result, the overall average audience for Worlds actually saw a slight uptick.

On October 11, fans tuned in for one of the most anticipated matches of the Swiss Stage between T1 and G2 Esports. This match was key for determining which team would move on to the Knockout Stage, so interest was at a peak. The matchup once again drew a huge audience for both Korean and English broadcasts, setting a new record for the Worlds groups.

THE SECOND MOST POPULAR T1 vs G2 EVER! ?

Thank you @T1LoL and @G2League for the mega bangers across the years. ? pic.twitter.com/Lb14Dc0NuG

— Esports Charts ?? (@EsportsCharts) October 11, 2024

T1 vs. G2 Esports game drew over 3 million viewers, making it the second most-watched match between these two teams. The only match that attracted more viewers was during Worlds 2019 semifinals, when over 3.8 million people tuned in for the game.

The drop in viewership following the exits of MAD Lions KOI and paiN Gaming affected only certain language demographics and didn’t significantly impact the tournament’s overall numbers. English- and Korean-speaking audiences remain the primary viewership base for Worlds, continuing to engage closely with the matches. With teams from Europe, South Korea, and China still competing for playoff spots, viewership is expected to keep rising.

T1 advancing to the later stage of the tournament is also a promising factor for breaking new viewership records. As the reigning world champion and the most popular team in the scene, T1 has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to attract millions of fans to its matches.