“While we can expect somewhat lower engagement from the Korean audience at First Stand, the drop likely won’t be as drastic: locals tend to support all their teams.”
The League of Legends First Stand 2025 tournament is bringing in the viewership numbers as teams from various regions duke it out for the inaugural crown. That's right — this tournament is the first event of its kind, and it doesn't disappoint in terms of what teams are showcased between March 10 and March 16. Read on for some First Stand 2025 viewership insights!
First Stand 2025 viewership
The First Stand 2025 tournament kicked off on March 10 with two matches. While Karmine Corp (KC) went against Team Liquid (TL), Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) fought Top Esports (TES). According to data from Esports Charts, the KC versus TL match reached 608,070 peak viewers. Meanwhile, HLE versus TES had 698,844.
The latter clash between the Korean and Chinese regions generated lots of interest, drawing in 14.93% more viewers than the opening match. This was despite the absence of T1.
"While we can expect somewhat lower engagement from the Korean audience at First Stand, the drop likely won’t be as drastic: locals tend to support all their teams," Esports Charts explained.
Match | Stage | Peak Viewers |
|---|---|---|
| HLE vs TES | Round Robin, Day 1 | 698,844 |
| TES vs KC | Round Robin, Day 3 | 622,966 |
| KC vs TL | Round Robin, Day 1 | 608,070 |
| KC vs CFO | Round Robin, Day 2 | 488,073 |
| HLE vs CFO | Round Robin, Day 3 | 477,030 |
Related articles
First Stand 2025 teams and their impact on viewership
For the KC versus TL match, KC led the charge with its massive French fanbase. The viewership data showed that much of this boost came from the organization's owner, Kamel "Kameto" Kebir, whose co-casting drew in lots of people.
In terms of America's First Stand 2025 viewership, the situation isn't far from ideal, according to Esports Charts, adding that the numbers would've likely been higher if a Brazilian team such as LOUD had qualified to it. Brazilian fans make up a huge part of the League of Legends audience, but their engagement is strongest when their own teams are duking it out. Without this audience, First Stand 2025 is likely to see a drop in Brazilian viewership.
As for CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO), Esports Charts noted that it will have the least impact on the overall viewership. However, it should be noted that the platform does not include data from China's streaming platforms.
First Stand 2025 is expected to reach between 40 million and 52 million hours of watch time, Esports Charts noted, adding that "if the 'ideal' teams had qualified for the tournament," then the viewership could have seen a significant boost. Total watch time might have increased by over 46%, reaching up to 76 million hours watched and surpassing the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) Playoffs.
That's all for now. However, stick around for more esports news and updates.
