Electronic gamers diversify Zhuhai's sports portfolio

League of Legends, a fast-paced, competitive electronic game that blends the speed and intensity of real time with role play, brought four days of fierce competition to the Zhuhai scene until concluding at Hengqin International Tennis Center on June 3.

It was a quest for the Demacia Cup 2018, one of the biggest domestic events in League of Legends outside of the LoL Championship Series. In Zhuhai, Royal Never Give Up (RNG) edged out Bilibili Gaming (BLG) 3-1 to lift the trophy.

More than 10,000 e-sports fans traveled to the Zhuhai stop. Featured were the top three teams from the west and east divisions of the LoL Pro League: RNG, Invictus Gaming, Edward Gaming, Snake, Rogue Warriors, and BLG. TyLoo and ShadowCream, champion and runner-up of the LoL Development League, also participated.

Co-organizers were Tencent E-Sports, LoL, and Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Investment.

Tencent proposed the E-sports City Development Plan earlier this year to promote e-sports as a new calling card in cooperation with the city government. Tencent E-Sports has since allocated a specialized fund and resources to bolster boutique e-sports events. LoL Demacia Championship Zhuhai is the first step in the development plan.

LoL Dermacia Cup Zhuhai [Photo courtesy Tencent E-Sports, LoOL & Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Investment]