The Thunderpick World Championship 2023, held online from October 27 to November 5, initiated with a subdued viewership. However, it laid the foundation for a potentially captivating series, showcasing top European and American talent in an annual week-long showdown.
In its debut, FaZe Clan smoothly secured a 2:0 victory against Virtus.pro in the Grand Final of the Playoffs, emerging as the victor of this inaugural event. FaZe Clan claimed half of the $500K prize pool, while the runner-up secured a $100K prize.
During the Thunderpick World Championship 2023, the clash between BIG and FURIA Esports on Day 5 of the Group Stage garnered immense attention, peaking at 144K viewers. This pivotal Decider Match in Group D determined the quarterfinalist, witnessing BIG triumphing 2:1, securing their advancement while leaving FURIA Esports and their fans disappointed.
This clash wasn’t their only standout encounter, as both matches between these teams dominated the top five most-watched games list, uniquely representing the Group Stage. In their previous encounter, BIG secured a 2:0 victory. Collectively, these matches contributed to the event’s success, accumulating 3.2M Hours Watched and maintaining an average of 37K viewers across 86 hours of thrilling gameplay.
In this competition, one name stood out as the most popular team, appearing twice in the most-watched matches, though another team had three entries.
The battle for watch time between languages was tight, with English slightly edging ahead by a mere 1.08%. However, the platform choice was clear-cut, with Twitch overwhelmingly favored by viewers to experience the live action.
When considering CS2 tournaments featuring prize pools below $500K, the Thunderpick World Championship 2023 secured the eighth position in viewership. The top spot in this category belongs to the BLAST Premier Fall Groups 2023, while the overall leader for 2023 tournaments is the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023.
As the discipline embraces the full adoption of Counter-Strike 2 in 2024, the future holds intrigue to see if established teams maintain their dominance or if new organizations carve their presence. For now, enthusiasts can appreciate the remarkable legacy of CS:GO, carrying cherished memories from one of the most beloved and captivating esports games into the forthcoming year.