According to
Esports Charts, the Mid-Season Invitational 2025 grand final played on Saturday between
T1 and Gen.G peaked at 3,448,289 viewers, setting a new record not only for this yearâs edition but for the entire history of the competition. This milestone marks a major success for
Riot Games, which continues to see its international events reach new heights in viewership year after year, solidifying
League of Legends as one of the most-watched esports in the world.
Since 2017, viewership has only continued to grow. Back in 2017 and 2018, it didnât even break the one million mark. Then came the COVID-19 era, and esports exploded. By 2021, the peak viewership had doubled, along with total hours watched. Over two million people tuned in to watch the 2022 final, marking T1âs big return to the international stage against
Royal Never Give Up. This yearâs edition has now surpassed the 3 million mark. While the MSI stands as one of the biggest esports events in the world, it remains a tier below the numbers consistently reached by Worlds every year.
Worlds operate on an entirely different level. Over 6.8 million people watched the 2024 grand final between T1 and BLG, and more than 6.4 million tuned in for T1 vs. Weibo Gaming in 2023. Since 2022, Worlds has consistently been the most-watched esports event across all titles. These numbers are also largely driven by the narrative Riot Games builds around its flagship tournamentâoften at the expense of other events. This year, Worlds will return to China for the first time since 2020, though it was without a live audience. The last time the tournament was held in front of a Chinese crowd dates back to 2017, with the iconic final between SKT T1 and Samsung Galaxy.