(Yicai) May 19 -- The inaugural Hero Esports Asian Champions League, a premier multi-title esports tournament with a prize pool of CNY15 million (USD2.1 million), drew nearly 40,000 spectators to venues across Shanghai, reinforcing the eastern metropolis’s reputation as a hub for gaming culture.

Held over three days at the Oriental Sports Center, Jing’an Sports Center, and the National Exhibition and Convention Center, the event featured nine esports titles, including League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2, Yicai learned. The ACL Grand Finals concluded yesterday, capping a successful run of large-scale competition and fan engagement.

In addition to the prize money, top teams and players earned direct qualification for the Esports World Cup, the world’s largest multi-title esports tournament, held annually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Chinese tournament's organizer has committed to developing the ACL into a long-term intellectual property anchored in Shanghai. Jonny Wang, co-founder of Hero Esports and chief executive of the ACL, said the company plans to expand fan engagement strategies, build a comprehensive esports ecosystem in the city, and boost urban consumption through gaming culture.

Hero Esports, headquartered in Shanghai and formerly known as VSPO, launched the ACL in September last year with the aim of creating Asia’s first multi-title international esports tournament.

Unlike traditional events such as the League of Legends World Championship or The International for Dota 2, which rotate locations, the ACL is designed to become an integral part of Shanghai’s IP -- similar to how the EWC is now deeply tied to Riyadh, said Wang.

He noted that Shanghai’s esports infrastructure, passionate fan base, and strong municipal government support make it an ideal long-term host. For example, the city provided special discounts on accommodations, tourism, and shopping for ACL attendees, and decorated metro and bus lines to promote the event.

"China in general has shown that it is capable of putting on the best events," said Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, vice chairman of Savvy Games Group and honorary chairman of the ACL. Shanghai is already "a global hub for gaming and esports, and that’s why the collaboration between Riyadh and Shanghai in this event has been so important," Al Saud added.

Savvy Games Group is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. In 2023, it invested USD265 million in Hero Esports.

Last year’s inaugural EWC in Riyadh attracted 2.6 million attendees, including 50,000 Chinese fans. With the ACL partnership, Saudi organizers anticipate even greater Chinese participation in the 2025 EWC, potentially boosting tourism, per Al Saud. The next EWC is scheduled for July 7 to Aug. 24.

Coinciding with the ACL finals, Hero Esports also hosted China’s first DreamHack, a global gaming lifestyle festival that originated in Sweden in the 1990s.

Editor: Emmi Laine