Editorial | Pokemon win opens door to Hong Kong esports glory
- As city boasts a world champion in popular game it must be prepared to invest in the industry to achieve further success
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.
