The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 concluded with Team Spirit claiming their first Major title in Counter-Strike 2 by defeating FaZe Clan in the grand final. This tournament marked a pivotal effort to bolster the CS2 scene within the Chinese market, despite facing challenges in engaging Western audiences due to less-than-ideal timing. According to Esports Charts, the final match peaked at 1.33 million viewers, highlighting the event’s regional significance.
Team Spirit’s Triumph
The final match between Team Spirit and FaZe Clan was an intense battle, showcasing both sides’ remarkable skill and strategic depth. On the deciding map, Spirit emerged victorious with a narrow 13-11 scoreline, demonstrating their resilience under pressure.
A standout performance came from 17-year-old donk, whose exceptional gameplay throughout the tournament earned him the title of MVP. With a rating of 7.5, donk became the youngest player to ever win a Major in Counter-Strike history, cementing his place as one of the game’s rising stars.
Tournament’s Most-Watched Match
The semifinal between FaZe Clan and G2 Esports attracted the highest viewership of the tournament, peaking at 951,400 viewers. This clash drew significant attention from both Western and Eastern Europe. By contrast, Team Spirit’s semifinal matchup against MOUZ saw lower viewership, with a peak audience of 650,000.
Impact of Scheduling
Despite the tournament’s successes, scheduling issues hindered its appeal to European and North American audiences. The final was scheduled at 10 AM Central European Time and late at night for American viewers, resulting in lower viewership from these regions.
Held from December 5 to 15, the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 featured a prize pool of $1.25 million. Team Spirit’s triumph secured them $500,000 in winnings and placed them at the top of the year’s prize money leaderboard. The event underscored the potential for growing Counter-Strike’s presence in China while highlighting the challenges of catering to global audiences.
