The CS Asia Championships 2023 unfolded in Shanghai from November 8 to 12, marking a fresh addition to Perfect World’s esteemed international CS2 series in China. Welcoming esteemed European teams, including FaZe Clan, ENCE, MOUZ, Astralis, and Ninjas in Pyjamas, the event boasted a substantial $500K prize pool.
This tournament shattered previous records, drawing in over 185K Peak Viewers, surpassing all past competitions within the series. Among the eight participating teams were invitees FaZe Clan, ENCE, MOUZ, Astralis, and Ninjas in Pyjamas, while the remaining three slots were secured by local talents from the PPL Season 5 league: Lynn Vision Gaming, Wings Up Gaming, and TYLOO.
At the CS Asia Championships 2023, the dominance of Western teams over their Chinese counterparts was evident, culminating in a final showdown where FaZe Clan triumphed over MOUZ with a resounding 2:0 victory, securing a $250K prize. This achievement marked FaZe’s third title within the last two months, following their wins at IEM Sydney 2023 in October and the online Thunderpick World Championship 2023 in November, showcasing karrigaN’s adept leadership.
Notably, whispers of potential alterations to the FaZe Clan roster have surfaced, particularly concerning Twistzz’s potential departure. Speculations in the past month linked the Canadian player to interest from Falcons and Team Vitality. However, recent information from the dust2.us portal hints at an imminent move to Team Liquid for Twistzz.
CS Asia Championships 2023 viewership results
The CS Asia Championships 2023 amassed an impressive 1.6 million Hours Watched, drawing in 38.2K Average Viewers and peaking at 185.4K viewers. The apex of excitement, the Grand Final showdown between MOUZ and FaZe, emerged as the tournament’s highlight, commanding notably higher viewership compared to all other Playoff series. FaZe Clan’s position as a prominent and successful team in the esports realm solidified its leadership, evident in its outstanding Hours Watched and average viewer numbers.
PGL’s official broadcast channels covered the event, alongside community casters such as ohnepixel, olofmeister, and heaton. Notably, even Gaules streamed the matches, albeit with reduced activity on his channel due to the absence of Brazilian teams in the tournament and the inconvenient time zone difference for his audience.
Comparison of the CS Asia Championships 2023 with other tournaments
The CS Asia Championships 2023 served as a resurgence of major international Counter-Strike tournaments in China since the CS:GO Asia Championships 2019, which MOUZ claimed victory in. Following the pandemic-induced hiatus that kept tournament organizers away from the region, this event illuminated the enduring enthusiasm among Valve shooter fans in China. Impressively, compared to its predecessor in the series, the CS Asia Championships 2023 witnessed a staggering 63% surge in Peak Viewership, signifying the sustained and burgeoning interest in the competitive scene.
The CS Asia Championships 2023 clinched the third-highest Peak viewership among fall tournaments this season, trailing behind only ESL Pro League Season 18 and IEM Sydney 2023 in this aspect. Anticipatedly, it may soon yield its standing to BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2023, set to occur in late November in Copenhagen. Nonetheless, the event notably garnered a respectable audience, showcasing its success despite the comparatively lower popularity of the discipline within China.
Previously overlooked, China is poised to become a focal point for developers and tournament operators in the gaming sphere, marking a potential shift in their strategies. The CS Asia Championships 2023 served as a catalyst for change, as Perfect World made a groundbreaking announcement during the event—Shanghai is set to host the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, marking the inaugural Chinese major for Counter-Strike in the shooter’s history. Historically, major tournaments were predominantly held in Europe, North America, and Brazil, but this announcement signals a pivotal shift toward recognizing China’s significance as a hub for such prestigious gaming events.