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The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has only just begun, but it has already delivered a breakthrough in esports viewership. On the opening day of competition, the event set a new national record for Hungary and produced a landmark moment for the streaming platform Kick, which surpassed six-figure live viewership at an esports event for the first time.
Kick reached its new milestone during the second match block of the Counter-Strike Major, when two fixtures were played simultaneously: Legacy vs FlyQuest and PARIVISION vs The Huns Esports. The bulk of Kick’s audience gathered around Legacy’s match, driven in large part by the influence of Brazilian streamer Alexandre “Gaules” Borba. One of the most prominent casters in Counter-Strike, Gaules co-streamed the match across multiple platforms, helping deliver unprecedented traffic to Kick during the broadcast. The platform’s new peak represents a 64% increase over its previous esports record. That earlier high came from the FISSURE Playground #2 tournament, also a Counter-Strike competition, during its group stage matchups featuring G2 Esports vs Legacy and FaZe Clan vs Falcons. The Budapest Major has now emphatically surpassed that benchmark, signalling Kick’s growing presence in major esports broadcasts.
Kick’s rise has coincided with the broader momentum surrounding Counter-Strike in 2025, as the title continues to draw global attention with its revamped Major circuit and expanding international audience. The early stages of the Budapest Major have reinforced that trend, with day one viewership indicating strong global engagement and heightened interest in several emerging teams.
According to early data, Kick registered a peak of 141,027 viewers during day one of the StarLadder Budapest Major. This places the event at the top of the platform’s all-time rankings for esports broadcasts. The tournament’s opening fixtures attracted audiences from across Europe, South America, and the Middle East, further highlighting the global reach of Counter-Strike’s competitive ecosystem.
A breakdown of Kick’s highest-viewed esports broadcasts to date shows the Budapest Major now holding a substantial lead over all previous events:
The figures reveal not only the Budapest Major’s strong start but also the growing competitiveness of esports across multiple titles. Valorant, League of Legends, and Fortnite events continue to make up a significant portion of Kick’s most-watched broadcasts, reflecting the platform’s increasingly diverse streaming landscape.
Beyond setting new viewership milestones, day one of the Budapest Major has already begun to shape the competitive narrative of Stage 1. Several early favourites have established themselves with strong opening performances, while several teams now face an uphill battle to avoid early elimination.
Legacy’s commanding presence, amplified further by Gaules’ audience, has drawn much of the early attention. Meanwhile, regional contenders such as The Huns Esports, representing the host nation, delivered spirited performances that resonated with local viewers and contributed to Hungary’s record-breaking day for esports broadcasting.
As the event progresses, viewership is expected to climb further, particularly as the tournament moves into its elimination phases and marquee matchups draw global attention. If day one is any indication, the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is set to become one of the most-watched Counter-Strike events of the year—and a defining moment in Kick’s evolution as a major esports streaming platform.
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