Jonno is a writer for Esports Insider and has been part of the team since 2019. Over the past ten years, he's written for several outlets including Gfinity, GGRecon, and Radio Times. As an avid sim racer, he aims to provide insight on one of the fastest growing sectors in esports.
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Image Credit: ESL Viewership is frequently used to determine whether a notable esports tournament is a success or a failure. High figures often grab the headlines, with some tournaments peaking at several million viewers, matching or exceeding those of traditional sporting spectacles.
Between June 19th and 21st, 2026, Counter-Strike ’s IEM Cologne Major filled the iconic LANXESS Arena as thousands watched the world’s best teams battle for Valve’s first-person shooter’s most prestigious trophy. Over the same weekend, the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) headed to London’s Copper Box Arena for its second Masters event of 2026.
As the dust settles on both tournaments, viewing figures have sparked fierce debate as both communities defend their preferred title in the viewership war between Counter-Strike and VALORANT.
Image Credit: ESL Following the conclusion of the Cologne Major, Esports Charts reported the title’s first tentpole tournament of the year hit a peak of 2,752,353 viewers, becoming the most-watched Counter-Strike tournament of all time. The Grand Final between Team Falcons and FURIA surpassed the previous peak of 2,748,434 reached at the Stockholm Major in 2021.
There are several factors as to why the Cologne Major hit a record number. Legendary rifler Nikola “NiKo” Kovač finally got his hands on the trophy after 16 previous attempts to win Counter-Strike’s biggest prize. His victory was met with a huge outpouring of support from fans and the wider industry, and even saw Major League Baseball reference the achievement across its social media channels.
The Grand Final also featured a battle between Finn “Karrigan” Andersen and Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo , two of Counter-Strike’s legendary in-game leaders. Karrigan’s superior mid-round calls proved the difference, with Team Falcons sweeping FURIA 3-0. The Dane also set a new record, achieving the worst rating for a Major Grand Final.
Team Falcons’ victory wasn’t a surprise result either. The Saudi Arabian organization successfully navigated its way past the powerhouse rosters of Team Spirit and Team Vitality to secure a place in the Grand Final alongside FURIA, which bested 9z and Aurora Gaming on its way to the championship showdown. Besting Team Spirit and Team Vitality is a notable achievement in itself, given the incredible talent representing both teams.
Image Credit: Riot Games Compared to the record-breaking Cologne Major, VALORANT’s VCT Masters London recorded a peak almost three times lower. Although the peak was significantly smaller than its rival, Masters London still surpassed one million viewers, becoming the fifth most-watched Masters event in history.
The event may not have reached the dizzying heights of Counter-Strike’s biggest tournament, but it did surpass the peak viewing figures of Masters Santi…