The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, Counter-Strike’s first-ever Major in China, has made a significant mark in the esports world by attracting a peak viewership of 1.3 million. This milestone positions the event as the seventh-most viewed Major in Counter-Strike history according to Esports Charts—though it must be noted that Chinese viewership data was not included in this figure.
Highlights from a Historic Event
The Perfect World Shanghai Major was notable for being the first Counter-Strike Major held in China, with all RMRs taking place on location in Shanghai. This marked a historic moment for Asian representation in the game’s competitive landscape. Despite this, global viewership numbers faced challenges, largely attributed to time zone differences that made it difficult for European and North American fans to tune in live.
- Peak Viewership: 1.3 million, ranking seventh in Major history.
- Average Viewership: 316,000, with 32.8 million hours watched during the tournament.
- Exciting Finals: The grand final between FaZe Clan and Team Spirit pulled the largest audience of the tournament.
- Language Diversity: The event attracted audiences across English (537,000), Russian (516,000), and Portuguese (162,000) broadcasts, showcasing its global appeal.
A Comparison to Previous Majors
While the Shanghai Major’s numbers represented strong engagement, they fell short compared to the year’s earlier Major, the PGL Copenhagen Major, which saw a peak of 1.85 million viewers and an average of 552,000. With a comparable air time, the Danish event achieved a staggering 58 million hours watched versus Shanghai’s 32.8 million. A key factor here was the favourable time zones for key Counter-Strike regions during the Copenhagen Major, unlike Shanghai, which had matches during early mornings for Europeans and overnight for North Americans.
Community Engagement and Fan Highlights
Fans still turned out in force for the Shanghai Major, showcasing their enthusiasm across social media platforms. The event was a particular hit during FaZe Clan and Team Spirit games, which drew the most attention throughout the tournament:
- FaZe Clan led the way with 8.9 million total hours watched.
- Team Spirit followed closely with 7.5 million hours watched.
The grand final between the two teams was the tournament’s most-watched match, sealing its status as the highlight of the Major.
Looking Ahead in Esports
Despite challenges with time zones and fluctuating engagement, the Perfect World Shanghai Major remains the second most popular Counter-Strike event in 2024, just behind the Copenhagen Major and surpassing all non-Major tournaments like IEM Cologne.
The Counter-Strike esports scene looks ahead to an exciting 2025, with major events such as the ESL One Rio Major and the PGL Major Stockholm. Organisers aim to address time zone disparities and enhance the viewing experience with more interactive features, behind-the-scenes content, and expanded regional tournaments.
With a focus on inclusivity and audience engagement, the next chapter in Counter-Strike Major history promises to build on the legacy of tournaments like the Shanghai Major, continuing to grow esports audiences across the globe.
