Many fans are eagerly waiting for professional gamers to show off their skills on TV as they compete against each other in various digital games, known as "esports" or electronic sports, which are becoming increasingly popular over time.
It is predicted that the number of esports viewers will continue to rise in the coming years. In 2021, 13.4% of internet users in the United States will watch esports. League of Legends tournaments are very popular; in 2021, the total prize pool for these events worldwide will reach over 7.82 million USD.
As per the latest Statista data here are the top 10 most-watched Esports tournaments in the world:
1. League of Legends 2023 World Championship: 6.4 Million Viewers
Riot Games developed and released the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game known as League of Legends. The game allows users to purchase in-game items with real money and operates on a freemium business model. League of Legends, one of the most popular eSports games worldwide, has more than 178 million active players per month. The World Championship 2023 was competed in San Francisco, California, and the South Korean crew DRX won. The team defeated T1, the Chinese team, 3-2 in the championship match.
2. Free Fire World Series 2021 Singapore: 5.41 Million
Free Fire is a mobile battle royale game created and published by Garena. This game also allows users to pay real money for in-game products and has a freemium business model. One of the most popular mobile games globally is Free Fire, with over 500 million active users per month. The Free Fire World Series, the largest competition in the sport, takes place annually. The 2021 World Series was won in Singapore by Indonesian Team Evos Esports. They defeated Brazilian Fluxo 4-2 in the end.
3. League of Legends World Championship 2022: 5.15 Million
The League of Legends World Championship 2022, which took place from September 29 to November 5, drew global attention, with 5.15 million global viewers watching the Esports event in four cities around North America, as 24 teams battled in the striking Sumner. They fought it out for the cup. Underdogs from South Korea, DRX, shocked everyone by pulling off a T1 upset in a highly anticipated 3-2 final. It was an amazing dream come true. The League of Legends tournament victory led DRX into history, secured its place as one of the most viewed esports events ever and provided fans with incredible memories. won both the U.S. title and the tournament with $2.3 million in prizes. Just like these gamers you can also make money from games like live casino real money by just staying at your home.
4. Mobile Legends M5 World Championship: 5.07 Million
One of the world's most popular esports tournaments, the Mobile Legends M5 World Championship, took place in December 2023 and attracted a phenomenal 5.07 million viewers globally. The top Mobile Legends teams participated, with the Philippine AP Brain squad coming out on top. Being the current world champions, they were the first team to win the competition on home ground, making their victory historic. Undoubtedly, the intense rivalry between the Indonesian dominant team ONIC Esports and AP Brain's significant victory contributed to breaking viewership records, demonstrating the excitement of the competitive situation and establishing Mobile Legends' worldwide popularity.
5. Mobile Legends M4 World Championship: 4.27 Million
Although the M5 World Championship drew a large audience, the M4 World Championship in January 2023 did not let down, drawing an incredible 4.27 million viewers worldwide to this intense rivalry. Blacklist International was ultimately defeated 4-0 by ECHO Philippines, which is the best team in the Philippines. With this victory, the Philippine team established their supremacy in the Mobile Legends esports scene by winning the world championship for the third time. Due to intense rivalry, passionate supporters and unparalleled achievement, Mobile Legends fans worldwide will never forget the M4 World Championship.
6. League of Legends World Championship 2021: 4.02 Million
In a month-long competition that saw 22 teams from across the globe battle for the prize Summoner's Cup, the 2021 League of Legends World Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland, proved itself as the leading esports event, drawing a viewership of 4.02 million viewers. In an exciting 3-2 series, Chinese LPL giant Edward Gaming overcame DWG KIA, the current South Korean rivals, to win the crucial final. With this, their first World Championship win, Edward Gaming established his legacy in League of Legends. The huge fan base of League of Legends esports can be viewed as extremely competitive, international rivals, as well as rewarding. These aspects bring attention to the game's complex strategy and fascinating story to the audience.
7. League of Legends World Championship 2019: 3.99 Million
The 2019 League of Legends World Championship, which was held in Berlin, Madrid, and Paris, received 3.99 million views worldwide. 24 teams from different regions battled for the prize Summoner's Cup throughout the month-long competition. In an exciting match, Chinese team Funplus Phoenix defeated European favourites G2 Esports 3-0.
The remarkable achievement not only secured FunPlus Phoenix's place in League of Legends history but also brought them their first World Championship triumph and indicated the power of the Chinese esports sector. The outstanding crowd and exciting action at the 2019 World Championship will make it an unforgettable event in the history of esports.
8. League of Legends World Championship 2020: 3.88 Million
Despite a global pandemic, the League of Legends World Championship 2020 took place in Shanghai and received an amazing 3.88 million views, showcasing the remarkable esports event when top League of Legends teams from all around the world participated in the competition despite challenges. The renowned Sumners Cup was ultimately won by the South Korean squad Damwon Gaming. Their achievements established South Korea's reputation in the competitive League of Legends scene and marked an immense change for the region. Despite these disadvantages, the huge viewership shows that League of Legends esports remain enjoyable and popular around the world.
9. PUBG Mobile Global Championship Season 0: 3.8 Million
A record 3.8 million people watched the first PUBG Mobile Global Championship Season 0, which took place between November 24, 2020, and January 26, 2021. This made the event a historic esports occasion and showed that the game was the most well-known of the twenty-four top teams in the world. After a tough match, RRQ Athena won quickly and established their place as the top rivals in the PUBG Mobile market and possibly contributed to the success of notable, high-budget professional games. The PUBG Mobile esports organizations saw a big change with Season 0, which attracted a worldwide audience and set the way for future events that would be even bigger and more thrilling. During the pandemic, India banned PUBG in their country and then people got introduced to the same game with another name called BGMI which got big fame in India. India gives also the best BGMI players like Jonathan, Mortal, Scout and many more.
10. Mobile Legends MLBB Southeast Asia Cup 2023: 3.65 Million
The 2023 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) showcased its immense success with an impressive 3.65 million viewers, solidifying its position as a prominent regional esports tournament. While it didn't quite reach the heights of the M5 World Championship, the event captivated viewers with top talent from Southeast Asia and beyond. In the lively Cambodian setting of June 2023, ONIC Esports from Indonesia emerged as the victors, claiming the highly coveted championship title. The intense grand finale, which saw ONIC defeat Philippine powerhouse Blacklist International, was a testament to the fierce competition and remarkable skill that kept audiences on the edge of their seats. These incredible viewer numbers shows that how much excitement Mobile Legends continued to attract in Southeast Asia as well as to its that lasts appeal.
Conclusion
The esports industry is growing with real excitement. Every day, millions of passionate viewers gather on television screens to watch the intense battles between professional gamers. Even while League of Legends tops the viewership numbers, mobile games like Mobile Legends and Free Fire are gaining a lot of popularity and attracting large numbers of players numbers. This shows the huge opportunity for change in the industry as well as the rapid growth of the Esports sector. Beyond the historically dominating championships, the rise of regional competitions such as the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup shows the growing interest in Esports worldwide. These developments show that esports have a very bright future, as a many variety of games and storylines will attract gaming fans from everywhere around the world.
The world of Esports is expected to expand rapidly as accessibility and technology continue to progress, opening the door for innovative and unusual growth.
