Chongqing Esports Players Clinch Esports World Cup Championship

Chongqing - As Chinese Olympic athletes make waves at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, young esports players from Chongqing are also garnering accolades on the global stage. 

In the early hours of August 5, Chongqing Wolves' jungle player Li Daheng (ID: XiaoPang) cemented his legacy by embedding the opponent's team emblem into the championship trophy, symbolizing their victory. This triumphant act led the KPL Dream Team, representing China, to claim the champion’s trophy in the Honor of Kings category at the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

On July 12, the International Olympic Committee announced a collaboration with the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Series in Saudi Arabia in 2025. Consequently, the ongoing Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia is perceived as a precursor to the Esports Olympics. The KPL (King Pro League) officials selected the most outstanding players to form a Dream Team for this event through a public vote. Two Chongqing esports players were selected: 23-year-old Peng Yunfei (ID: fly) and 20-year-old Li.

Former teammates reunite: Peng Yunfei (left) and Li Daheng (right). (Photo/Li Daheng's personal Weibo)

Reunited, the two former teammates exhibited exceptional synergy throughout the Esports World Cup. Notably, in the knockout stage and semifinals on August 4, Li delivered an extraordinary performance, earning MVP in two rounds and propelling the team to a 3-0 victory over Hong Kong's AG Team, thus securing their spot in the final. In the final match, Peng and Li continued to dazzle. Peng's signature character established a significant team advantage in the decisive third round. Li's critical defeat of the opponent's key player led to a decisive 3-0 sweep against Malaysia's LGD Team, clinching the championship.

Reflecting on the victory, Li expressed, "I was a bit surprised but extremely delighted to be selected for the Dream Team! Before this, we were highly proactive in online and offline training, and now we are reaping the rewards of our efforts."

In the KPL league, Li is lauded as the "best jungle" by fans, having clinched MVP titles in the 2022 KPL Summer Playoffs and the 2024 KPL Spring Playoffs. Showcasing his prowess once again in this Esports World Cup, he said, "The title of 'best jungle' is both an honor and a source of pressure for me. This pressure drives me to continuously improve. Maintaining a learner's mindset - practicing more, reviewing more, and constantly enhancing my skills—is crucial to staying in top form. I believe that while the title of 'best jungle' is not exclusively mine, it will always be my aspiration."

Post-match group photo of the KPL Dream Team. (Photo/King Pro League)

Li shared, "Life offers many choices, each one being the best or most desirable at that moment. When I chose the path of esports, my parents did not support it. I had to prove my worth through my achievements within a year, and I did. Now, they are very supportive and often come to watch my matches. I feel that my esports journey is still long, with many goals yet to be achieved, so for now, I am focused on the present, living in the moment. Looking ahead, I aim to achieve better results, win more championships, and strive for greater accomplishments."

If Li, with three years of professional league experience, is considered a young player, then Peng, with eight years in the league, is undoubtedly a veteran. During the Saudi competition, some fans held up a banner reading “Young Fly for Another Ten Years (literal translation).” Responding to this, Peng said, “I feel quite happy because the banner describes me as young. I have been in my league for eight years and am regarded as a veteran. I believe I can continue for another ten years. I hope to keep pushing forward and achieve my goals soon.”

After securing the Esports World Cup championship, Peng shared his sentiments on his personal Weibo on August 5, reading, "The world is so vast, I want to win more championships!"