On March 2nd, European League of Legends fans turned their attention to Berlin for the highly anticipated grand final of LEC Winter 2025. The Riot Games Arena played host to an electrifying clash between two formidable teams: the seasoned powerhouse G2 Esports, renowned for its dominance in regional and international tournaments, and the surging French sensation Karmine Corp, which had showcased exceptional form throughout the season.
As the second most-watched regional League of Legends league after South Korea’s LCK, the LEC consistently attracts a vast audience from across the globe, including dedicated viewers and community casters. However, this year’s Winter Split held even greater significance. The winning team would earn a spot in First Stand 2025, a brand-new international tournament by Riot Games, adding further excitement and stakes to the competition.
Karmine Corp’s Dominance Over G2 Esports
Both Karmine Corp and G2 Esports impressed fans with their dominant performances throughout the tournament. They easily secured their positions as top contenders in the group stage and demonstrated their superiority in the playoff rounds. Interestingly, the grand finale marked the third encounter between these two rivals during LEC Winter 2025.
Karmine Corp secured an early victory against G2 Esports in the group stage during a best-of-1 match. However, G2 Esports rebounded in the upper bracket final with a decisive 3-1 win. Their final showdown, however, saw Karmine Corp completely outclassing G2 Esports, securing a resounding 3-0 victory to claim their first-ever LEC championship title.
Karmine Corp’s triumph is even more remarkable considering their previous struggles. In their first two LEC seasons (LEC Winter 2024 and LEC Spring 2024), they finished in last place, ranking 10th on both occasions. However, a significant turnaround began with a fourth-place finish in LEC Summer 2024. Just a year later, they have now climbed to the pinnacle of the league, defeating one of the most dominant teams in European League of Legends history.
Karmine Corp’s Victory Propels LEC Winter 2025 (image via Getty)Record-Breaking Viewership and Community Caster Influence
The grand final between G2 Esports and Karmine Corp became the most-watched match of LEC Winter 2025, peaking at an astounding 801,369 viewers. A significant factor behind this viewership surge was the influence of community casting, particularly by Karmine Corp’s co-owner and popular French streamer Kamel “Kameto” Kebir.
This season, community caster channels outperformed official tournament broadcasts, with Kameto, Marc Robert “Caedrel” Lamont, and Sergio “Knekro” García leading in total viewership. Kameto’s stream reached an impressive peak of 233,351 viewers during the grand finale, making it his most successful broadcast of 2025.
Notably absent from the tournament’s streaming coverage was Ibai “Ibai” Llanos, the famous Spanish streamer and owner of KOI. Having not streamed live on Twitch for over a month, Ibai’s absence may have impacted general viewership numbers. Had he been involved, LEC Winter 2025 could have potentially achieved even greater reach.
Karmine Corp’s Victory Propels LEC Winter 2025 (image via Getty)LEC Winter 2025: The Most Popular Esports Event Among French Fans
Karmine Corp’s victory played a crucial role in making LEC Winter 2025 the most-watched League of Legends tournament among French audiences. A staggering 320,456 French viewers tuned in, solidifying the tournament’s standing as a major esports spectacle in France.
While other esports tournaments drew notable French audiences, only the Inoxtag Zero Build Invitational – #3 and RLCS 2024 – Major 1: EU Open Qualifier 1 attracted more French viewers. In the broader scope of League of Legends events, LEC Winter 2025 ranked seventh in total viewership across all seasons of the European league. However, among regional leagues in early 2025, it was second only to the LCK Cup 2025, which peaked at an impressive 1,907,634 viewers.
