The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Katowice 2025 shattered records, becoming the most popular non-Major event in Counter-Strike history. Team Vitality’s dominant 3-0 victory over Team Spirit in the Grand Finals drew 1.29 million peak viewers, setting a new benchmark for viewership in the game’s competitive scene.
Vitality’s Grand Finals Victory Hits Nearly 1.3 Million Viewers
The highly anticipated showdown between Team Vitality and Team Spirit reached a peak audience of 1,299,747 viewers. The bulk of the audience came from English-language streams, which amassed 573,383 peak viewers, followed by 386,845 Russian viewers. Despite the series ending in the shortest possible fashion (3-0), the event still broke records.
This wasn’t the only match to surpass one million viewers—the semifinal between Team Spirit and NAVI also peaked at 1,036,326 viewers, further highlighting the tournament’s incredible reach. Had Team Spirit extended the Grand Finals to more maps, the peak viewership could have surpassed the 1.3 million mark.
Image via Esports Charts.
Viewership Growth and Broadcast Expansion
According to Esports Charts, IEM Katowice 2025 saw a 33.7% increase in peak viewership compared to last year. Additionally, the tournament’s average viewership rose by 32.6%, a testament to its growing popularity. The expansion of broadcast channels from 108 to 153 (a 41.6% increase) played a crucial role in the tournament’s viewership growth.
The event recorded an impressive 30,667,137 total hours watched, making it one of the most-watched CS tournaments of all time.
Image via Esports Charts.
Finals Recap: ZywOo Outshines Team Spirit
Team Vitality’s Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut delivered a standout performance in the Grand Finals, helping his team secure the title with a dominant 3-0 sweep over Team Spirit.
- Map 1 – Dust 2: Vitality crushed Spirit, who failed to reach double digits.
- Map 2 – Nuke: Another dominant showing from Vitality, with Spirit struggling to find rounds.
- Map 3 – Mirage: Spirit put up their strongest fight, securing 11 rounds, but it wasn’t enough to stop Vitality.
With this victory, Team Vitality claimed the $400,000 grand prize, while Team Spirit took home $180,000. Spirit, the reigning IEM Katowice 2024 champions, will undoubtedly seek revenge in their next encounter.
Image via ESL.
Conclusion
IEM Katowice 2025 cemented its place in Counter-Strike history, not only as the most-watched non-Major tournament but also as an event that showcased some of the best talent in the game. With viewership skyrocketing and new rivalries forming, the future of competitive CS looks brighter than ever.
Team Vitality Sweeps Team Spirit to Claim IEM Katowice 2025 Championship