The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has captured the spotlight in the esports arena, achieving the distinction of becoming the fifth most-watched Counter-Strike event in history. With a staggering 1.5 million viewers tuning in during its 137-hour broadcast, this Major has left an indelible mark on the esports landscape.
Record-Breaking Viewership
Reports suggest that the Grand Final showdown between Team Vitality and FaZe Clan reached an impressive peak of 1,554,419 viewers. This achievement positions the Budapest Major above the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 and the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 in terms of peak viewership. Despite an 8% decrease from the BLAST.tv Austin Major earlier this year, the Budapest event has still managed to captivate a massive audience.
Teams and Matches in the Spotlight
Team Vitality, featuring prominently in the event, was part of two of the top five most-watched matches, each exceeding 1.2 million viewers. Surprisingly, FaZe Clan, the runners-up, emerged as the most-watched team of the tournament, amassing over 19 million hours of viewership from Stage 1 to the Grand Finals. This Major also marked a milestone for StarLadder, setting a new record for the tournament organizer with its peak viewership.
What Next For StarLadder?
Following the success of the Budapest Major, StarLadder has set its sights on the future, announcing the StarLadder StarSeries Season 20 for 2026. Scheduled from September 16th to 20th, this event will see eight teams compete for a share of a $250,000 (~£186,728) prize pool. Although an event planned for Spring was canceled due to a scheduling conflict, anticipation is high for what StarLadder has in store next.