The 2025 League of Legends World Championship kicked off with a bang. The opening day T1 versus Invictus Gaming series pulled over 2.5 million peak concurrent viewers across tracked platforms, according to Esports Charts.
That makes it the highest opening day peak in Worlds history. The number represents a nearly 80% jump compared to last year’s opening day viewership.
The figures come from Esports Charts tracking of YouTube and Twitch, including official broadcasts and approved co-streams. Chinese streaming platforms like Huya, Douyu, and Bilibili aren’t included in these numbers due to data access limitations. The actual global total was significantly higher.
The matchup delivered exactly what draws massive audiences. T1 remains the most followed League organization worldwide, anchored by Faker, the game’s biggest star and most recognizable player. Invictus Gaming brings serious legacy as the 2018 world champion and an LPL powerhouse with a history of household names like TheShy and Rookie.
Having these two brands clash on day one created appointment viewing. The format change putting a high-stakes series immediately on opening day helped drive the turnout.
The record came on a Tuesday, which makes the numbers even more notable. The timing likely aligned well with East Asian primetime, pulling strong LCK and LPL regional audiences.
YouTube captured a large share of the viewers. The platform offers DVR playback and typically runs fewer mid-game ad interruptions compared to Twitch, which has become a frequent complaint among viewers. Some fans also reported watching through the official LoL Esports site, which can serve either platform’s player.
Peak concurrent viewers measures the single highest simultaneous audience count at any moment across all tracked streams. It differs from average minute audience or total unique viewers, but it’s the standard benchmark for measuring big esports moments.
The opening day surge suggests stronger early-tournament engagement than 2024. The format placing marquee matchups up front, combined with broader co-streaming availability and two massive brands facing off, created the perfect storm.
