From July 3 to Aug 25, the first Esports World Cup (EWC) was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In the final showdown of the Honor of Kings Invitational Midseason, held from Aug 1 to 4, China's King Pro League (KPL) Dream Team emerged victorious, defeating Malaysia's LGD team with a commanding 3-0 scoreline.

Members of the KPL Dream Team — (from left to right) Xu Bicheng (Yinuo), who won the FMVP title, Huang Yaoqin (Rong), Yang Tao (NoFear), Li Daheng (Pang), and Peng Yunfei (Fly) — celebrate their championship at the Honor of Kings Invitational Midseason x Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Aug 4. CHINA DAILY

Honor of Kings is a multiplayer online battle arena mobile game developed and operated by TiMi Studio Group under Tencent Games. Officially launched for public testing on Nov 26, 2015, the game has garnered over 200 million users across its domestic and international servers.

However, Honor of Kings is more than just a game — it is a sport.

"Similar to traditional sports, esports also tests the stress tolerance and teamwork of the players," said 23-year-old Peng Yunfei, known by his game ID "Fly", a member of KPL Dream Team. "The only difference between esports and conventional sports is the absence of physical contact, with the competitive process unfolding on LED screens."

Xu Bicheng, 22, known by his Game ID "Yinuo", clinched the FMVP title in the finals. He highlighted pivotal moments where the score was almost overturned.

"We faced and overcame the pressure exerted by LGD, and we learned a lot from our encounters with them and other teams," Xu said. "It was a precious opportunity for us to experience firsthand the gameplay and training systems of other countries."

KPL Dream Team was assembled to participate in international events and competitions, such as the EWC, to enhance the global presence of Honor of Kings. Although the team members play for different clubs during most KPL seasons, they have known each other for a long time and ultimately play within the same system.

"We all play in KPL, so we are familiar with and have a deep understanding of the different heroes in the game. During our offline training, we synchronized our strategies, which greatly facilitated our teamwork," Peng explained.

Chen Zhengzheng, 26, known as "Cat", usually serves as a roamer in this five-member game. "My role on the team is similar to that of a military strategist in ancient Chinese warfare, helping my team perform better by providing the optimal game plan," he said.

Li Daheng, 20, with the Game ID "Pang", takes on a more flexible role as the team's jungler. While others adhere to specific routes on the map, he navigates a larger area. "For junglers, it's important to maintain constant communication with the rest of the team, as strategies and routes are always changing," Li explained.

Peng further noted that, like traditional sports such as swimming and table tennis, esports have a strong and mature youth training system. Another member of the Dream Team, Wu Jinxiang, known by his Game ID "Qing", became a professional gamer through this pathway.

Reflecting on his own journey, Peng recalled his first exposure to the game while at work. "As everyone around me got into the game, I began playing just to have a shared topic with my coworkers," he said. "I soon discovered a sense of accomplishment as I earned each star and became familiar with different heroes. Eventually, I realized I was quite good at it and decided to pursue it professionally."

Esports friendship

Xu pointed out that the biggest appeal of the game for him is the friendships formed along the way.

During their stay in Riyadh, they engaged in a friendly match with the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia. Chen explained that both sides consisted of three KPL Dream Team players and two embassy staff members.

"At first, although we were the same age, we felt a little distant because they are diplomatic ambassadors representing our country," Chen said. "However, as soon as the game started, we quickly realized we shared the same passion for the game and had a great time."

Wu expressed satisfaction with the seamless cooperation with his "temporary teammates", which added to the delight of his Saudi trip.

"This is my first time abroad, and it has been truly remarkable," Wu said. He mentioned that the locals they met were very welcoming.

"They greeted us warmly and were always willing to answer any questions we had."

Going global

According to Peng, During the EWC, players from other countries would approach them during downtime to exchange team jerseys and share thoughts on the game.

"Honor of Kings has been gaining popularity in more and more countries," Peng said. "When players from other countries recognized me and told me that they had watched my gameplay from a first-person perspective, I felt truly flattered."

Through domestic and international events, the players have come to understand their growing role in representing Honor of Kings and the broader esports community.

Li noted that while esports have faced prejudice and judgment throughout their development, they have gained increasing recognition, especially since Honor of Kings was included in the 2023 Asian Games.

"People are starting to see esports as a legitimate industry," Li said. "Our responsibility is not only to showcase our skills but also to spread positive energy to the world, attracting more people to join esports and Honor of Kings."

In 2025, the first Olympic Esports Games will be held in Saudi Arabia, with the featured events yet to be announced.

"Should Honor of Kings secure a spot as an Olympic event, we would treasure the opportunity to exhibit our competitive caliber and prowess, enlightening more people about the charm of this game," said Peng.

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