Chinese esports conquers Paris
Chinese teams at the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris are showcasing Honor of Kings, a homegrown game rooted in Chinese history and now capturing the attention of a global audience. When ancient emperors and generals come to life on smartphone screens, and millions of players around the world battle for virtual glory, esports ceases to be mere entertainment – it becomes a bridge between the past and the future. Honor of Kings, a game where every hero bears a name from Chinese history, is now stepping onto the world stage, proving that culture and technology can go hand in hand. Paris, one of the symbols of Western civilisation, has for six weeks become the capital of the digital East, where Chinese teams are not just competing but telling their stories to the world through battles, strategies and tactics.
The six‑week tournament kicked off on 6 July, bringing together teams and fans from across the globe at one of the world's largest esports venues. Honor of Kings, one of China's biggest esports titles, enjoys massive popularity at home and is steadily growing overseas. "The atmosphere of this international competition is perhaps a bit more intense, and the pre‑match mindset is different too, because we are representing China at an overseas tournament, so I'm really excited. And it's also very important," said Liu Yongyu, a Chinese player. The game's popularity is reflected in the surge in ticket demand – tickets for past finals sold out in seconds. "You can see it from ticket sales. Actually, now all tickets sell out very quickly. For example, last year we had the Honor of Kings final at the Bird's Nest stadium, which we call the National Stadium in Beijing, seating 62,000 people, but tickets sold out in 12 seconds. That's how fast it happens," said Eddie Chen, Chief Operating Officer of AG Esports' overseas headquarters and President of the Hong Kong Esports Association, China. Much of the game's appeal lies in its Chinese identity, with many heroes inspired by historical figures from the country. "Honor of Kings is a game with many Chinese historical idols and heroes. So it's very closely tied to Chinese history, and also because it's a mobile game. Right now, China's mobile market is developing very fast. So everyone has mobile phones to play, and I think it's also a smart game," Chen said.
China now has more than 495 million esports users, and last year the industry generated over US$4 billion. The goal now is to turn this massive domestic audience into a truly global market. "We believe that global tournaments like this will definitely help many Chinese game companies export cultural values. For example, the game Honor of Kings. It is designed with rich Chinese history in mind. And when players from around the world play this game, they can essentially learn about Chinese history as well," Chen said.
Honor of Kings was launched in 2015 and over ten years has become the most popular mobile game in China, with more than 100 million monthly active users. Its international version, Arena of Valor, has already gained popularity in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas. The 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris was the first major tournament where Honor of Kings was featured as one of the main disciplines. The game's international success coincides with growing global interest in Chinese culture, especially among the younger generation. According to the China Game Industry Association, in the first half of 2026, Chinese game exports grew by 15%, and the cultural component has become a key driver of this growth. Tournament organisers note that esports has long ceased to be just a game – it has become a tool for diplomacy and cultural exchange.
As CCTV+ reports, the participation of Chinese teams in EWC 2026 was not just a sporting event but a triumph of national cultural identity, where every hero in Honor of Kings is an ambassador of China, and every victory is a step towards greater mutual understanding between East and West.
