IEM Katowice 2025 Group Stage has already surpassed 2024 viewership

Jonno Nicholson
IEM Katowice 2025
Image credit: ESL FACEIT Group, Enos Ku

IEM Katowice 2025 has already managed to surpass peak viewing figures that were set during its 2024 tournament.

The Counter-Strike 2 tournament run by ESL FACEIT Group hit a peak viewing figure of over 1m on February 3rd, 2025, according to esports data platform Esports Charts.

The figure is an increase of 31,366 compared to last year’s IEM Katowice event which recorded a figure of 972,312 during the Grand Final between FaZe Clan and Team Spirit.

The 2025 edition recently concluded its Play-In and Group Stage phases. As a result, this peak figure will likely increase as the tournament enters its latter stages.

So far at IEM Katowice 2025, Brazilian esports organisation FURIA has the most average viewers at 377,800 with Ukrainian organisation NAVI having the second-highest figure at 356,900.

In terms of the teams with the most hours watched, Team Spirit tops the charts with 4.4m. The Russian team recently topped the VRS following Valve’s February update. FaZe Clan is the team with the second-highest amount of hours watched, recording 4.1m.

Following the conclusion of the Play-In and Group Stage, IEM Katowice 2025 heads to the Spodek Arena for the Playoffs where the six remaining teams will compete for a chance to become champion and secure a lion’s share of its $1m (~£797,810) prize pool.

The quarter-finals see Virtus.pro play Team Spirit while The MongolZ takes on Eternal Fire. The event marks the first time a Turkish team has qualified for the IEM Katowice Playoffs.

After winning both groups, Team Vitality and NAVI have already secured a place in the semi-finals of the tournament which takes place on February 8th, 2025.

IEM Katowice 2025 forms part of the Intel Grand Slam. An additional $1m reward is offered to Counter-Strike 2 teams that win four competitions within a ten-event window.

Jonno is a freelance news writer for Esports Insider and has been part of the team since 2019. When he's not sim racing, he enjoys reporting on Call of Duty esports and sim racing's impact on the wider industry.