This article originally appeared on ABACUS The second ever Hong Kong Esport & Music Festival ended last month. The three-day event featured tournaments of League of Legends, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, with US$500,000 in prizes. While the organizer claimed that the event was a sellout, all the empty seats at the tournament painted a different picture. Hong Kong is trying to position itself as an esports hub, but is far behind the likes of Shanghai -- which was just selected to host next year’s edition of The International, the first time the world’s richest esports tournament has left North America. Hong Kong’s lack of esports talent put the city at an disadvantage. What’s more? A survey, commissioned by the city’s largest youth NGO, found that 80% of young people in the city do not see a career in the esports industry. For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters , subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast , and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report . Also roam China Tech City , an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus .
