In a recent announcement from the official VCT account, Riot Games disclosed that the recent Masters Madrid event has shattered previous viewership records, doubling the numbers set by last year’s VCT Masters Tokyo.
The Valorant community witnessed history as the Masters Madrid finals became the most-watched Valorant esports event ever, drawing a staggering peak viewership of 1.6 million, according to data from Esports Charts. However, it was only yesterday that Riot Games unveiled their internal viewership metrics, revealing an even more impressive figure: a peak of 3.1 million concurrent viewers and an average of 1.1 million viewers throughout the event. These numbers potentially include viewers from streaming services and China.
This remarkable feat not only outstrips the viewership of VCT Masters Tokyo but also surpasses other VCT series such as last year’s VCT Champions in the USA, which peaked at 1.29 million viewers during the clash between Evil Geniuses and Paper Rex, and the VCT LOCK//IN 2023 grand final between Fnatic and Loud, which garnered over 1.4 million viewers.
Moreover, data from Esports Charts highlights three pivotal matches involving Sentinels during the playoff rounds, with the grand finals’ showdown against Gen.G emerging as the most-watched match of the tournament. Following closely were matches against Loud in the opening day of playoffs and Paper Rex in the lower bracket finals.
Sentinels’ impressive run at that competition marked their resurgence as a world-class contender, following a title drought since 2021. Their victory not only solidified their position as a dominant force in Valorant esports but also secured them a hefty $250,000 first-place prize, capturing the hearts of fans and generating significant engagement on social media.
Looking ahead, all eyes are set on the upcoming Masters Shanghai, where the qualified teams will vie for supremacy from May 23 to June 9. With Valorant esports expanding into China this year, anticipation is high for a surge in viewership from the region, potentially setting the stage for another record-breaking season.
