Austin Major Breaks Counter-Strike Viewership Records

24 Jun

Thales Costa

The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 delivered one of the most spectacular matches in Counter-Strike history for millions around the world, cementing the tournament's status as a landmark event for the esports community.

Austin Major 2025: Record-Breaking Numbers

The grand final between Team Vitality and The MongolZ reached a peak viewership of 1.79 million viewers during the decisive moments of the series, making it the most-watched match of the entire tournament. This impressive figure represents the culmination of what became the number one Counter-Strike event in history by watched hours and fourth by peak viewers, with the Austin Major recording 76.1 million hours watched across its 135-hour runtime.

The viewership crescendo built up throughout the best-of-three series. The opening map, Mirage, attracted over 1.57 million peak viewers as The MongolZ dominated Vitality with a commanding 13-5 victory. However, the audience reached its absolute peak during the second map, Dust2, where viewership climbed to 1,715,362 concurrent viewers as Vitality responded with their own dominant 13-4 performance.

Credit: Esports Charts

Global Appeal and Cultural Impact

The match's global reach was particularly evident in Mongolia, where The MongolZ's historic run captured the hearts of an entire nation. An estimated 2.45% of Mongolia's population tuned in to watch the grand final live, with approximately 85,375 Mongolian viewers following the action despite the 5 AM local broadcast time. This extraordinary engagement demonstrates the tournament's ability to transcend traditional esports audiences and create genuine cultural moments.

Team Vitality's involvement proved crucial to the viewership success, as the French organization featured in three of the five most-watched matches throughout the tournament. Despite their prominence in the most popular matches, The MongolZ actually recorded the highest total viewership hours with 13.4 million hours watched, compared to Vitality's 11.4 million.

A Major to Remember

While the Austin Major achieved the highest total viewership in Counter-Strike history, the 2021 Stockholm Major still holds the record for peak concurrent viewers at 2.7 million. The Austin Major's 1.79 million peak places it as the fourth-highest peak viewership for any Counter-Strike tournament, showcasing the continued growth and evolution of the competitive scene.

This viewership triumph represents more than just numbers—it validates the decision to bring a Major championship back to North American soil after seven years, and demonstrates the enduring appeal of elite Counter-Strike competition on the global stage.

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Feature image credit: BLAST.tv