IMAGE CREDITS: RIOT GAMES
The EMEA Masters Summer 2023, a highly anticipated event in the world of competitive gaming, unfolded between August 14th and September 8th, capturing the attention of esports enthusiasts worldwide. This edition of the tournament witnessed a remarkable surge in peak viewership, distinguishing itself from its predecessors.
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Data analytics provided by Esports Charts revealed that the EMEA Masters Summer 2023 boasted a peak viewership of approximately 296,000, a substantial increase when juxtaposed with the figures from the previous EMEA Masters Spring, which garnered 108,000 peak viewers. This year’s competition experienced nearly three times the number of spectators compared to its spring counterpart. Upon closer examination of the Esports Charts statistics, the primary catalyst for this surge in viewership can be attributed to the participation of Karmine Korp, a renowned French esports organization, which not only took part in the tournament but ultimately emerged victorious. Furthermore, the finals were hosted in France, further amplifying the event’s popularity.
The tournament also exhibited an upswing in average viewership, peaking at 65,000, as compared to the 42,000 during the Spring edition. Additionally, it accumulated a staggering 1.5 million more total hours of viewership than its spring counterpart. In terms of viewership metrics, Summer 2023 unequivocally outperformed its predecessor.
In a comparative analysis with the viewership statistics from Summer 2022, the numbers showed striking similarity. However, the 2023 edition did exhibit a slight improvement in terms of viewership. The previous year registered 280,000 peak viewers and 60,000 average viewers throughout its 94-hour duration.
As previously highlighted, the substantial regional fan base and following of Karmine Korp played a pivotal role in elevating the viewership of the EMEA Masters Summer 2023. This esteemed organization emerged as the most-watched team during the tournament, amassing a staggering 2.4 million hours of viewership. The runners-up, Spanish organization Movistar Raiders, garnered 1.4 million hours in comparison.
What is truly noteworthy is that the top five most-watched matches of the tournament all featured Karmine Korp, further solidifying their status as a crowd favorite. Another French team, GO, secured the third spot in terms of viewership, and their match against Karmine Korp claimed the title of the second most-watched clash of the entire tournament.
Predictably, the most prominent language of viewership was French, with a peak viewership of 156,000, followed closely by Spanish, which amassed 81,000 peak viewers, and English rounding out the top three with just over 32,000 viewers.
The EMEA Masters, a sanctioned tournament series for League of Legends encompassing Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, provided the backdrop for this thrilling competition. Teams hailing from various regional leagues vied for a prestigious prize pool of €150,000 (approximately £128,000). This tournament has earned a reputation for its captivating matchups and propensity for upsets, endearing itself to smaller teams and organizations that have successfully cultivated regional followings and secured sponsors.
The substantial growth in viewership serves as a testament to the profound influence a single team can exert on the overall appeal of a tournament. In this case, Karmine Korp clinched their fourth EMEA (EU) Masters victory, solidifying their position as a dominant force in the world of competitive League of Legends.
