The Mid-Season Invitational 2025 (MSI 2025) kicked off with a real media explosion. Right from the kick-off round, the tournament set a new record for viewership, demonstrating the unprecedented appeal of League of Legends (LoL) and eSports in general. In particular, the highlight match between GAM Esports (Vietnam) and G2 Esports (Europe) became the most watched match to date, marking a turning point not only for the tournament but also for the Southeast Asian LoL community.
GAM vs G2 match: Highest online viewership in MSI 2025 history
On June 30, 2025, the match between GAM and G2 at MSI 2025 attracted more than 1.13 million concurrent views, the first time a match in the play-in stage of the Mid-Season Invitational 2025 surpassed the one million view mark. It is not just a number, but a testament to the love of the eSports community for teams from emerging regions, especially Vietnam.
The dramatic, fast-paced elements and the emotional attachment between the fans and the teams created a breathtaking atmosphere for the match. GAM not only competed for victory, but also represented the aspiration to reach the Southeast Asian region on the world eSports map.
GAM vs G2 match has the highest online viewership in MSI 2025 history
MSI 2025 – When the play-in round also becomes the “main event”
Without having to wait for the group stage or playoffs, the Mid-Season Invitational 2025 has proven from the very first days that the appeal of eSports lies in every moment. The fact that a single match in the play-in round attracted a record number of viewers shows that fans are interested in the entire journey of the teams, not just the final result.
The opening round with the world's strongest teams such as T1, Gen.G, JDG, G2... is getting into gear, experts predict that there will be new records after the GAM vs G2 match. The global broadcasting system, multilingual commentary and social networks contribute to increasing the influence of MSI, helping every moment of the tournament spread to millions of viewers in just a few minutes.
The future is wide open for Vietnamese eSports
The Vietnamese team started making its mark at the Mid-Season Invitational in 2017 with GIGABYTE Marines, who created a big shock when they entered the world's top 6. After that, representatives such as EVOS (2018), Phong Vu Buffalo (2019), Saigon Buffalo (2022) and GAM Esports (2023, 2025) continued to participate. Although sometimes interrupted due to the pandemic, Vietnamese eSports always left an impression with fiery, emotional gameplay. And the GAM vs G2 match at the Mid-Season Invitational 2025 set a record of more than 1.13 million views, proving the growing appeal of Vietnam in the international League of Legends arena.
Although the match result was not in favor of GAM, the Vietnamese team has done something very proud. Perhaps the international community is following every step of Vietnamese eSports, opening up new opportunities for young players, investors and professional organizations in the country. MSI 2025 also helps increase awareness of eSports in society, when the competing teams are not simply "playing games" but carry the responsibility of inspiring and representing the country.
See more: eSports at ASIAD 2026 – The pinnacle playground for Asian gamers
The Mid-Season Invitational 2025 is no longer simply a mid-season League of Legends tournament – it has become a symbol of global eSports. With the marks it has left, Vietnam will not only stop at the role of a participant, but can completely rise up to make a miracle on the world eSports map in the near future.
