Phoenix rises to conquer the world

Fledgling Chinese club is dreaming big after bagging League of Legends' top prize in Paris

At the start of this season, no one could have believed that an e-sports club that was founded just two years ago would eventually be crowned world champion.

FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) proved all the doubters wrong, when on Nov 10 the Chinese club's elite gamers defeated European powerhouse G2 Esports 3-0 in Paris to win the 2019 League of Legends World Championship.

It's the second time that a club from China's League of Legends Pro League (LPL) has won the title after Invictus Gaming's triumph at last year's worlds in Incheon, South Korea.

FPX's triumph has cast a warm glow over the Chinese gaming community, with some fan groups even booking bars or screening rooms in movie theaters to watch the live broadcast and share in the excitement.

"In the last few seconds of the match, I still just couldn't believe that we could win the championship", said FPX player Liu Qingsong, aka Crisp, in an exclusive interview with China Daily. "There were no easy games at the world championship."

FPX's victory was practically inconceivable some years ago, when Chinese e-sports teams struggled against their South Korean and European rivals at major international tournaments.

Chinese e-sports proved its worth in 2018 when the nation achieved a League of Legends 'Grand Slam'－comprised of Royal Never Give Up's win at LOL's Mid-Season Invitational in Paris in May, China's continental victory at Rift Rivals in Dalian, Liaoning province, in July, August's Asian Games gold, and Invictus Gaming's triumph at the world championship in Incheon in November.

However, those LPL clubs were unable to maintain last year's momentum this season, failing to defend many of their international titles. Even before the start of world championship final earlier this month, FPX remained a dark horse for the trophy－known as the Summoner's Cup.

"Before the final, all of our players were confident, believing there was a chance for us to win," said Liu, whose team defeated defending champion Invictus Gaming in the semifinal on Nov 2. "We actually have played against G2 many times before. We beat them many times in training matches. We were just unsure if they would play differently and be more aggressive in the final than in training."

Total dedication

Far from a fluke, this triumph was born of good old-fashioned hard work and dedication.

"In terms of daily training, I would get up 10 am in the morning and train until 1 or 2 am the next morning," said Liu. "So, I would train about 14 to 15 hours a day. I would play at least 15 training matches in a single day."

With such a tough training schedule to stick to, the well-being of the players is high on the FPX team's list of priorities.

"We make sure our players have a regular daily schedule and a nutritious diet," Li Chun, the CEO of FPX, told China Daily. "Each day we prepare four meals for the players, and we have a psychological counselor to take care of their mental health. The club also has a long-term cooperation with an athletic rehabilitation team to keep our players healthy."

It's been a whirlwind few years for Liu and his teammates, but he recalls that it hasn't all been plain sailing.

"I was really looking forward to the atmosphere of competing and siting in the center of the stage. That's why I chose to become a pro gamer when I was 18 years old. Now, I've played for four to five years," said Liu.

"At the very beginning, I was uncertain. I didn't know what I could achieve in my career, and I wasn't sure about the future of the e-sports industry.

"But as my performances improved and the e-sports environment improved, I enjoyed it more. I can see room for the industry's development, so I don't worry about the future now."

All indications suggest Liu is right not to worry.

The Chinese e-sports market was worth 8.5 billion yuan ($1.2 billion) in 2018, with that figure expected to exceed 13 billion yuan by the end of this year, according to the 2019 Global E-sports Development Report.

E-sports' fanbase is also snowballing. In 2018, there were about 320 million gamers and fans in China, a figure that is projected to rise to 350 million by the end of this year. Globally, it's estimated the number of e-sports fans will exceed 450 million by the end of 2019.

And for FPX the future looks especially bright.

"The world title was the ultimate reward for the players' efforts, and for the club. This is a very positive step forward. We will keep growing," CEO Li added.

"Our goal has always been the same. We've always considered ourselves to be a startup company, and we are not just like a regular e-sports club.

"Since the very beginning, we have been aiming to build FPX into the top e-sports club in China. We believe we can be the first or second Chinese club in terms of our teams' performances, the club's influence and business capabilities.

"I hope we will become the leading Chinese e-sports club in the future, and the premier e-sports club in the world."