Teenager Cheng Yip-kai will not be parading through the streets on an open-top bus like Hong Kong’s Olympic medal winners, but he is the city’s latest champion. The 16-year-old won the Pokemon Go world championships in Honolulu last weekend, defeating his Dutch opponent 3-1 and claiming the US$20,000 prize.
Cheng, better known to fans as Yekai0904, came top among 208 finalists from all over the world in a tournament that also featured three other Pokemon games.
The championships, running for 20 years, attract thousands of fans, with many more watching on live stream. Getting to the invitation-only tournament was an achievement in itself.
Cheng needed to win sufficient points in competitions during the year to qualify. He then relied on HK$5,000 (US$641) raised in crowdfunding by teammates, with flights and accommodation paid by organisers.
Cheng’s success has renewed calls for more support, financial and otherwise, for esports in Hong Kong. The city’s Asian Games team unexpectedly won a silver medal last year in a game they had only started playing five months before.
This was a breakthrough.
Hong Kong’s esports ecosystem is still in its early stages of development and it is not easy for players to become professionals. The city does not have the benefit of the leading esports teams, the mainland and South Korea, who have the backing of big video game companies.
The government did invest HK$100 million in esports in 2018, turning part of a shopping centre at Cyberport into a competition venue. Start-ups emerged and many tournaments were held.
But the momentum was lost during the pandemic. There is a need for it to be revived.
There are good reasons Hong Kong should support the esports industry. It is expected to generate US$4.3 billion globally in revenue this year. Perceptions of the games, which have often been negative especially among parents and educators, have changed.
Esports was included in the Asian Games as a medal category for the first time. Last month, the International Olympic Committee approved the first Esports Olympics, to be held in Saudi Arabia next year.
Congratulations to Cheng on his victory. It is to be hoped there will be more esports glory for the city in future.
