Counter-Strike Global Offensive at ESL One in Katowice shattered all the previous viewership records.
According to ESL there were over one million people tuning in at the same time to watch the amazing final series between Fnatic and Ninjas in Pyjamas.
– We’re growing an exponential rate and I’m really looking forward to the future, Tarik ”tarik” Celik tells Aftonbladet Esport about the enormous hype behind the game.

After the victory over Ninjas in Pyjamas, the tournament MVP Olof ”Olofmeister” Kjabjer told the huge audience inside Spodek Arena that: ”This is what esport is all about.”

”The growth has been astonishing”

And during the finals over one million people tuned in to watch the amazing game between Fnatic and NiP.
– It is insane. I never thought we would get those kind of numbers, Chad ”SPUNJ” Burchill tells Aftonbladet Esport and continues:
– The growth of the game trough the last the years have been astonishing. There’s no other way to put it. And you have to keep in mind that CS:GO is till far from a global game. We still got like the Asian market and the South American one – so the numbers could still go up even further. They could even double. The future looks really bright.

”I think that everyone is doing their part”

What do you think is driving these kinds of numbers?
– I think Counter-Strike kind of have gotten it’s mojo back. It used to huge by the end of 1.6 – everybody loved it. The we had a bit of a dull period and we went through a shaky time. But all the things that Valve is putting in to the game make it more engaging for just the everyday player and now we see the numbers just grow and grow.

The CounterLogic Gaming star and Twitch profile Tarik Celik, chimes in and says that the community is a huge driving force behind the success of the game.
– I think that everyone is doing their part and that is very important, we all have to contribute together. Right now I’m really happy with all the work everybody is doing to keep on growing the game.

”It’s absolutely crazy considering the last major”

Cloud9:s Sean Gares who was analyzing the finals attributes the success to Valve in part, but also says the players have a responsibility to ensure further growth.
– It’s absolutely crazy considering the last major, it was slightly more than that last major. The growth and what Valve has done to push the game the last couple of months is just phenomenal. CS:GO has been on an exponential growth spurt, it’s still in that phase and it’ll continue to rise but it’s important that we players keep pushing it in the right ways and Valve making it more viewer-friendly.  The venues are doing a great job accommodating the fans and the streams are excellently run lately.

”It makes you speechless”

Team SoloMid:s Nicolai ”device” Reedtz says he expected this development of the viewership, judging from the last couple of majors.
– One year ago the first major had 125.000 and katowice was doubled as well, and the feeling here is that it’s bigger than everything. A lot more people know CS:GO and think it’s exciting instead of something they waste their time on.
– It’s really awesome to be playing a huge game and it makes you speechless when you think about how many people watch the games. To have an impact on so many of peoples time and what they’re interested in.