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Esports

Esports
Esports (also known as electronic sports, e-sports, or eSports) is a form of sporting competition using video games. It often takes the form of organised, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. The Asian Games will include esports as a medal event at the 2022 edition after it was presented as an exhibition event at the 2018 Asian Games.
South Korea’s T1 member Faker, or Lee Sang-hyeok, is seen on screen during the final of the League of Legends World Championship in Chengdu, southwestern China’s Sichuan province, on November 9, 2025. Photo: AFP
Video gaming

How League of Legends is still China’s top PC game after 15 years

Vital esports scene surrounding the game, developed by Tencent subsidiary Riot Games, helps maintain its popularity.

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FURIA defeat Falcons in front of sold-out crowd as esports take over Hong Kong

Falcons set up grand final with FURIA as sold-out BLAST Rivals takes over

Vitality wins an epic as Hong Kong’s biggest Esports event wows packed crowd

The first day of action in front of the Hong Kong crowd did not disappoint.

Team Vitality and Spirit enter the stage at the AsiaWorld-Arena. Photos: BLAST/Luc Bouchon

TYLOO bows out as BLAST Hong Kong group stage comes to a close

There will be no Asian representation in the esports playoffs at the AsiaWorld-Arena as The MongolZ also depart.

Rocky start for Asian sides as BLAST Hong Kong kicks off at AsiaWorld-Arena

The HKD$7.7 million Counter-Strike tournament will be watched by sold-out crowds at the weekend.

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Teams relish Asia swing as Counter-Strike descends on Hong Kong for BLAST Rivals

Home favourites TYLOO and fellow Asian side The MongolZ will be in action on day one at the AsiaWorld-Arena.

Ji “Jee” Dongkai at the BLAST Austin Major 2025. Photo: Handout
South Korea

Video | Third consecutive championship for South Korea’s T1

Focus is on T1 star player, Faker, who won 6 times at the championship finals held on November 9, 2025, in Chengdu.

Video gaming

Saudi video gaming giant Savvy eyes China’s vast market and talent

The state-owned firm is looking for opportunities beyond mature Western markets, particularly in emerging and Asian markets.

IOC

IOC, Saudi Arabia cancel 12-year deal on video gaming Esports Olympics

Kingdom’s capital was due to host first event in 2027, but parties end partnership after 14 months and will now pursue separate projects.

Olympic Rings in front of The Olympic House, headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Photo: AP
Video gaming

Hong Kong ready to play in esports: executive of gaming-gear firm

City could host ‘mega-event’ for competitive video gaming in the next few years, Asia-Pacific head of Danish gear maker SteelSeries says.

Players and fans enjoy an e-sports event on August 30, 2025, at CyberArena in the Cyberport Mall. Photo: Karma Lo
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Review | Good Game: lightweight Hong Kong esports comedy with Will Or

Will Or stars with Andrew Lam and Yanny Chan as a member of a gaming team in this underdog story that leans on sentimentality over substance.

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Trending in China

Chinese esports club offers 22-day ‘quit gaming’ course, charges US$1,400

While top players can make huge amounts of money, only 1 in 120,000 will become professionals; most simply become hooked on gaming.

League of Legends

League of Legends world championship returns to China as esports sector grows

Event kicks off in Beijing on October 14, moves to Shanghai from October 28 to November 2, and then to Chengdu for the November 9 final.

This year marks the third time that China hosts the League of Legends World Championship. Photo: AFP
Fifa

China’s footballers failed in World Cup bid. Now officials launch esports team

Chinese Football Association capitalises on nation’s dominance in esports to launch national team, but social media users mock the move.

China’s Hu Hetao (centre) reacts after his team’s loss to Indonesia in a 2026 Fifa World Cup Asian qualifier in Jakarta early last month. Photo: Xinhua

TYLOO take China to new heights in Counter-Strike with first Tier One win

Asia’s third-best side win the esport’s opening event of the season.

Hong Kong to host its biggest esports event, first to receive ‘M’ Mark status

Blast Premier Hong Kong Rivals will see teams compete for US$1 million at the AsiaWorld-Expo in November.

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Video gaming

Chinese esports giant NIP sets global targets with Abu Dhabi expansion

Co-founder Hicham Chahine said a significant portion of NIP’s audience is now outside China, which he called a more ‘developed’ video gaming market.

Mario Ho Yau-kwan, the youngest son of the late Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun, became the youngest founder of a Nasdaq-listed company in Asia when his esports company NIP Group went public in 2024. Photo: X/ NasdaqExchange
Hong Kong sports

Kao, 15, hails ‘super-crazy’ chess game with grandmaster Ding on Hong Kong tram

City’s No 1 Jamison Kao says he could have won the game against the former world champion.

Video gaming

Tencent-backed Hero Esports leverages AI in bid to become global leader

CEO Danny Tang said the esports tournament organiser is pilot-testing AI models, including DeepSeek, in ‘all aspects of the business’.

Video gaming

Ready? Fight! How fighting game tournaments draw thousands of eager fans

Fighting game events like Frosty Faustings in the US boast huge audiences for even older fighting games like Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

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James “Shakira” Martinez (second left) holds the championship trophy for winning the Marvel vs. Capcom 2 tournament at Frosty Faustings XVII at the Westin Chicago Lombard hotel on January 24, 2025, in Lombard, Illinois, US. Other Top 8 finishers included David “Dave Blaine” Thacker (left), Jacob “Jacobpat84” Tranaude (in black T-shirt) and Jose “DJ Vest” Dominguez (behind Tranaude). Photo: TNS
Australian Open

Australian Open brings the game to the gamers with live matches in animation form

Using an approach tried by the NFL and NBA, the year’s first grand slam is using Wii-like characters to attract a younger audience.

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An animated form of Daniil Medvedev (left) smashing his racquet in his match against Kasidit Samrej on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Millionaires and billionaires

8 richest Twitch streamers in 2025: net worths, ranked

Live streaming is big business, with gamers dominating Twitch’s list of wealthiest users. Top players of games like Overwatch, Fortnite and Call of Duty rule the roost with millions of subscribers

Video gaming

China’s esports industry returns to growth in 2024 as Tencent, NetEase expand overseas

The growth is testament to how China’s esports industry has become a booming business, with local clubs making an impact on the global arena.

Asia travel

Esports hotels’ big monitors and cheap, dorm-like rooms a hit with gamers

Think the ultimate gamer getaway – rooms with beds, food, huge monitors and no nagging parents. In China, this is a typical weekend escape.

A room at the E-Blue Esports Hotel in Zhongshan, China. Photo: E-Blue Esports
MTR Corporation

Letters | We need a conversation about reckless escalator use on the MTR

Readers discuss the MTR’s latest safety campaign, the potential for thriving esports sector in Hong Kong and how opinion polls got it wrong on the US presidential race.

Passengers use an escalator in Admiralty MTR Station, on November 11. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong economy

Why is Hong Kong’s esports scene not in the game? More backing needed, fans say

City lags behind others in Asia as esports hub, but slice of rapidly growing US$5.39 billion market still up for grabs.

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Video | Esports: why is Hong Kong not in the game?

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