The city of Chengdu in China is set to emerge as a major hub for esports in 2024, with several tournaments already announced.
Image Credit: ESL
Esports in Chengdu – Home of IEM China and League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational
Chengdu is taking major steps in establishing itself as a leading host for significant esports competitions. Earlier today, ESL revealed that the IEM China will be held at the Wuliangye Chengdu Performing Arts Centre in April, featuring 16 teams competing for a $250,000 prize pool and a direct invite to the IEM Cologne 2024 Group Stage.
Shortly after IEM China, Riot Games will partner with the city to host the Mid-Season Invitational, the first international tournament of the 2024 LoL season, solidifying Chengdu’s position in the global esports landscape.
In addition to PC gaming, the mobile game Honor of Kings recently hosted the Grand Finals of the Honor of Kings International Championship 2023 at the Chengdu Phoenix Hill Sports Park, as well as CrossFire’s world championship event—CrossFire Stars (CFS) and NetEase’s Naraka Bladepoint World Championship last month.
Chengdu’s Commitment to Developing the Esports Industry
According to The Esports Advocate, the Chengdu Gaoxin District intends to invest 240 million RMB ($33.5M) to position the city as a cultural epicenter of esports within the country. The government has also pledged to offer up to 5 million RMB ($700K) in allowances to organizers hosting large-scale international esports events in Chengdu, attracting tournament organizers to the city.
China boasts one of the largest esports fan bases globally, with nearly 500 million people, as reported by Statista. It’s also one of the most developed economic landscapes for gaming and esports, providing a fertile ground for fostering growth in the region and overcoming challenges faced by the industry. This has led tournament organizers to seek expansion and monetization opportunities in the region, especially at a time when the industry is navigating through the “esports winter.”
