G2 Esports vs. Origen breaks viewership record for LEC splits

The second weekend of the 2020 LEC Spring Split produced one of the most-watched matches in European League of Legends history. G2 Esports’ dominant performance over Origen attracted a record number of viewers to their screens.

After failing to reach last year’s numbers on debut day, the LEC enjoyed a significant uptick in viewership in week two. This is especially true for last weekend’s match between OG and G2, as fans tuned in to see which team would hold onto their undefeated record.

The reigning European champion G2 didn’t have trouble closing the book on Origen’s Cinderella story. Though fans were expecting the game to be competitive, G2 reminded everyone why they nearly nearly completed the golden road last year with a convincing win.

The clash the LEC’s best brings in over 400,000 viewers

According to Esports Charts’ data, the game between G2 and OG peaked at 409,456 viewers. This is double the LEC’s average viewership, and the highest viewership number a western league has reached for a regular season game in the last three years.

By contrast, the most popular game of the 2019 LEC season, with playoffs excluded, was the season-opening match between Fnatic and SK Gaming, which peaked at 397,020 viewers. This was also the first match of the newly rebranded European league.

The regular season of the 2019 LCS peaked a little lower, with a match between Counter Logic Gaming and Team Liquid during the sixth week of the Spring Split.

G2 was almost untouchable last year, winning the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational and both LEC championships. The team’s season ended in the grand finals of the 2019 World Championship, where they lost to FunPlus Phoenix.

G2 kept its lineup intact for the 2020 season but viewership was likely driven up by Origen’s hot start to the season, which gave them the appearance of a serious threat to G2.

Origen and G2 are playing their next matches on Friday, facing Team Vitality and Rogue respectively. Both teams are .

G2 Esports 2020 LEC roster

• Martin “Wunder” Hansen
• Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski
• Luka “Perkz” Perković
• Ramus “Caps” Winther
• Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle