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IEM Cologne Major 2026 amassed over 2,000,000 live viewers at quarterfinal game between G2 Esports and Team Spirit (1:2). This is the highest concurrent viewership in Counter-Strike 2 history and the best since PGL Major Antwerp 2022.
The record was set during an extraordinary series in which Team Spirit defeated G2 Esports 2:1. The deciding Mirage went to quadruple overtime, with viewership reaching its highest point during the closing rounds of the map. Spirit eventually prevailed 25:22, securing a semifinal spot against the winner of Team Falcons versus Team Vitality.
IEM Cologne Major is now the most popular Counter-Strike tournament held since the game transitioned to CS2 in September 2023. The previous record belonged to PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, whose grand final between NAVI and FaZe Clan attracted 1.85 million Peak Viewers. Cologne has already surpassed that figure by over 10%, with the tournament still two rounds away from completion.
Top CS2 esports tournaments by Peak Viewers
While IEM Cologne Major set a new viewership record for the CS2 era with 2,044,764 Peak Viewers, it currently ranks third among all Counter-Strike tournaments. PGL Major Antwerp 2022 remains ahead with more than 2.1 million Peak Viewers, while PGL Major Stockholm 2021 continues to hold the discipline’s all-time record. Its grand final between G2 Esports and Natus Vincere attracted more than 2.7 million concurrent viewers.
The quarterfinals are still underway, leaving the event with further opportunities to improve its peak. More significantly, IEM Cologne Major has already generated the highest Hours Watched total in Counter-Strike esports history, surpassing every previous tournament across both CS2 and CS:GO. Read more about the tournament’s record-breaking watch time in our dedicated analysis.