In a monumental shift, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang professional championship, M4, which concluded in January, has ceded its viewership throne to the League of Legends Worlds 2023 competition, emerging as the premier international esports event.
Esports Charts‘ statistics reveal that the electrifying semi-final clash between T1 and JD Gaming during the last weekend of Worlds 2023 has etched its name in esports history, boasting an impressive peak viewership of 4,308,901. T1’s iconic player, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, continues to be the linchpin of the competition, along with significant contributions from the fervent Chinese audience.
This viewership milestone surpasses M4’s record set in Jakarta, Indonesia, in January 2023, which tallied a peak of 4,270,270 views. The intense upper bracket semi-finals between Blacklist International and RRQ Hoshi at Gelora Bung Karno not only lived up to expectations but also soared to become the most-watched games of the event.
This achievement establishes a new pinnacle for viewership in the professional MLBB realm, eclipsing the peak views of M3’s culmination in Singapore at 3,191,404 in late 2021. Throughout 2023, M4 outshone other top tier esports events, including The International 12 (Dota 2), Champions 2023 (Valorant), and Blast Paris Major 2023 (CS:GO), before yielding the spotlight to Worlds 2023.
As the spotlight shifts to the grand finals on November 19, where T1 will lock horns with Weibo Gaming, Worlds 2023 is poised to witness a staggering surge in viewership. Given the historical narrative of World competitions, the underdog status of Weibo suggests a potential continuation of the tradition of unexpected champions.
Meanwhile, the upcoming M5 tournament in the Philippines looms on the horizon, promising its own spectacle and record-breaking potential. With fan favorites like Onic Esports, Blacklist International, HomeBois, and intriguing newcomers such as KeepBestGaming and Team Falcons, enthusiasts can anticipate a series of gripping, unpredictable matchups.
