The European Regional Major Ranking (RMR) B tournament at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 has set a new record in esports viewership. Breaking previous records for RMR tournaments, this milestone marks a significant achievement in the world of competitive gaming. As the final chapter for the RMR format, which is expected to retire after this year, the European RMR B has not only impressed with its numbers but also with the captivating storylines and surprising results.

A Historic Event

The European RMR B tournament served as the curtain call for a competitive format that has been a staple in the esports world for several years. During the event, 3DMAX, a team that had last participated in a major back in 2015, made a spectacular return, earning a spot at the Shanghai Major in China. Another notable achievement was the Ukrainian squad, Passion UA, which qualified for its first-ever Valve major, making history and bringing even more excitement to the event.

However, the tournament wasn’t just about underdog victories. There were also intense clashes between top teams that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Teams like Astralis and Eternal Fire, while expected to do well, faced unforeseen challenges and ultimately fell short of securing spots in the top eight. Despite their strong efforts, these teams couldn’t make it into the coveted top rankings, creating a more competitive and unpredictable tournament.

Viewership Surges

One of the most remarkable aspects of the European RMR B was its viewership statistics. The tournament peaked with 531.9K concurrent viewers, setting a new record for RMR events. This high engagement was primarily driven by two key matchups: the match between Eternal Fire and Astralis and the exciting faceoff between G2 Esports and Team Spirit. The latter match quickly became the most-watched in the tournament, even ranking fourth among all RMR matches ever played.

Another key factor in this viewership surge was the linguistic diversity of the streams. European RMR B featured a higher number of Russian-speaking players than the European RMR A, leading to a 26.5% increase in viewership on Russian-language broadcasts compared to the earlier tournament. Meanwhile, English-language streams also saw a notable increase in viewership, with a rise of 18.7%, largely driven by the intense following of G2 Esports. Speculation had begun that the Shanghai Major could be the last tournament for G2 Esports before a potential roster overhaul, further increasing interest in their matches.

Russia’s Strong Influence

The viewership numbers further illustrate how much Russian-speaking fans are shaping the esports landscape, particularly in the Counter-Strike scene. The European RMR B tournament witnessed a particularly strong performance from Russian-language broadcasts, as fans in this demographic tuned in in droves to watch their favorite teams. Notably, Russian-language streams contributed a significant share of the overall viewership, and the average viewership on Russian streams for European RMR events was far higher than for American tournaments.

Interestingly, the success of Russian-language broadcasts also highlighted the differing fan bases between regions. While European tournaments saw a massive engagement from Russian-speaking audiences, viewership from other regions like America and Asia displayed more volatility. In these regions, viewership typically fluctuated depending on the specific teams and players in the tournaments. The performance of DRILLAS in the Asia-Pacific RMR, for instance, saw an unexpected surge, showing that regional teams can still create surprise engagement levels.

Looking Back at the RMR Legacy

As we look back on the RMR format’s legacy, the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 marks the conclusion of an era. The RMR tournaments reached their peak popularity in 2024, particularly during the PGL Major Copenhagen events. These tournaments, which generated over 22.1 million hours watched, represent the pinnacle of RMR’s success. Notably, the European RMR Decider Stage at PGL Major Copenhagen accounted for an additional 2.1 million hours watched, further propelling its status as the most successful RMR tournament to date.

The IEM Rio Major 2022 also remains one of the most-watched events in the history of RMR tournaments, largely due to the compelling storylines surrounding Brazilian teams. The dramatic “Last Dance” of FalleN and Imperial Esports caught the attention of fans worldwide, with over 486.5K concurrent viewers tuning in to watch their decisive match against Complexity. The Brazilian fanbase’s passion proved instrumental in driving this viewership, reinforcing the importance of storylines and player legacy in esports.

Regional Preferences and Viewership Dynamics

In examining regional preferences, it’s clear that European RMR tournaments dominate in terms of viewership. European events account for a significant portion of the most-watched RMR events, thanks in part to the heavy engagement of Russian-speaking viewers. These tournaments often feature matchups between Eastern and Western European teams, creating a compelling narrative that attracts attention from both English-speaking and Russian-speaking audiences.

Despite the dominance of European teams and viewers, it’s important to note that American and Asian viewership numbers are more unpredictable. Matches between teams from different regions often see a surge in viewership, driven by the intrigue of seeing how diverse teams perform against each other. For instance, the match between ENCE and Team Vitality was the most-watched among matches featuring teams from the same region, although it still couldn’t surpass the viewership of cross-regional matchups.

Esports and Its Growing Influence

As esports continues to evolve, events like the European RMR B at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 play a key role in shaping the industry. The success of these tournaments demonstrates the growing influence of esports on a global scale, with millions of viewers tuning in to watch their favorite teams and players. As the esports scene shifts with new formats and evolving structures, fans can expect even more exciting events and record-breaking moments in the future.

In conclusion, the European RMR B at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 has set a new benchmark in esports viewership. With a combination of unexpected results, intense competition, and increasing global fan engagement, this event has cemented itself as a milestone in the history of RMR tournaments. As we look ahead to the future, it’s clear that the esports scene is growing more dynamic, and the excitement surrounding these tournaments will continue to drive viewership and fan participation.

Esports Charts has officially partnered with PUBG Esports to become the official viewership data supplier for the PUBG Global Championship (PGC) 2024. This collaboration will provide comprehensive and timely statistics on audience engagement for the event, which is set to take place in Kuala Lumpur from December 9 to December 22, 2024.

Ensuring Precision and Transparency in Esports Data

The partnership between Esports Charts and PUBG Esports represents a significant step forward in the esports industry, ensuring accurate and transparent viewership insights. Esports Charts, an analytics service known for its precise data aggregation, will track audience interaction throughout the tournament. According to Sergii Rudenko, Chief Sales Officer at Esports Charts, this collaboration reflects the trust PUBG Esports places in their analytics capabilities, helping to deliver the highest standards of data.

Rudenko expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We look forward to supporting the event with the highest standards of viewership insights and are thrilled to continue our journey with PUBG Esports.” This partnership aims to enhance the experience for fans, players, and partners by offering a clear view of the tournament’s global reach and audience engagement.

The PUBG Global Championship 2024: A Global Esports Spectacle

The PUBG Global Championship 2024 will feature 24 of the season’s top teams, including a special invite from Malaysia, as the event takes place in Kuala Lumpur. Teams from various regions, including the Americas, APAC, EMEA, China, and Korea, will compete for a slice of the $1.5 million prize pool. In addition to the team competition, a $10,000 reward will be given to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, celebrating individual excellence.

In a special move to engage fans, the PGC 2024 Pick’em Challenge will also be launched, contributing 25% of its revenue to the final prize pool. The collaboration with Esports Charts will further deepen insights into the event’s global viewership and ensure fans are fully immersed in the action.

An Expansive Streaming Reach

Fans of PUBG: Battlegrounds can look forward to watching the championship on various major platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, SOOP, and several Chinese streaming services. The event will be streamed in multiple languages, particularly focusing on regions like Asia and Europe. Moreover, PUBG Esports will feature unique watch party streams, where viewers can enjoy the tournament through the lenses of their favorite streamers.

A dedicated map broadcast will also allow fans to choose their preferred angles, providing an innovative way to experience the matches. This global accessibility ensures that PUBG Global Championship 2024 will have a broad reach, offering fans worldwide a chance to witness the intense competition.

Commitment to Growing PUBG Esports Ecosystem

Minho Yi, Head of PUBG Esports, highlighted the importance of this partnership in growing the PUBG esports ecosystem. He said, “This partnership represents our commitment to growing the PUBG Esports ecosystem and setting new benchmarks in the industry.” By joining forces with Esports Charts, PUBG Esports is aiming to gain deeper insights into their broadcasts, further elevating the experience for players and fans alike.

The partnership will also help PUBG Esports refine its strategies for future events and continue innovating in the competitive gaming space. Both Esports Charts and PUBG Esports aim to use data-driven insights to shape the future of esports, making it more interactive and engaging for all stakeholders.

About Esports Charts

Esports Charts is an industry-leading analytics platform that focuses on providing timely viewership insights for esports events. Since its inception in 2016, the platform has been at the forefront of making esports data more accessible to businesses and fans. Esports Charts aggregates data from streaming platforms and offers comprehensive metrics on tournaments, players, and organizations, making it a valuable tool for understanding esports trends and audience behavior.

About PUBG Global Championship

The PUBG Global Championship (PGC) is the premier event for competitive PUBG, annually held by PUBG Corporation. As the culmination of the competitive season, PGC determines the official PUBG Global Champions each year. Since its launch in 2019, the championship has become a staple in the esports calendar, with over $15 million in prize money awarded to top-performing teams globally. The event has grown to feature the best teams from around the world, with a highly competitive and thrilling finale.

Looking Ahead: Esports Charts and PUBG Esports

As the official viewership data supplier, Esports Charts will play a key role in delivering crucial analytics throughout the PUBG Global Championship 2024. Fans can look forward to a new level of transparency and engagement, ensuring that the tournament remains a global spectacle, where the competition is as intense as the data insights that track it. This partnership not only marks a milestone for Esports Charts but also signals the future of esports events, driven by data and fan interaction.

In conclusion, the Esports Charts and PUBG Esports partnership sets a high standard for esports data transparency and audience engagement, reflecting the industry’s ongoing evolution toward a more data-driven, immersive experience. Fans, players, and sponsors alike will benefit from the deeper insights provided, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the PUBG Global Championship 2024.