This week in Chinese esports: CrossFire, Sichuan Province

As part of our partnership with China Electronic Athletics, we’re now bringing you the biggest headlines from the esports industry in China every week. This week in Chinese esports saw Sichuan Province release regulations for managing esports athletes and CrossFire receive two franchise leagues.

We also have a twice-weekly newsletter that informs you of every significant happening in the business and industry side of esports, the ESI Dispatch, please feel free to subscribe here.

Sichuan Province releases regulations and standards for managing esports athletes, coaches and referees

After Shanghai launched the registration for esports athletes, the publication of regulations and standards for regulating esports athletes, coaches, and referees from Sichuan Province is undoubtedly another piece of good news for Chinese esports scene. It’s evident that a number of local Chinese esports associations are actively exploring appropriate approaches for regulating the esports industry.

China Electronic Athletics says: As we mentioned before, there are two different methodologies for regulating esports and formulating standards in China. For Shanghai and Sichuan, both local esports associations are trying to combine esports with the regulations and standards from the Chinese political system. Whether it’s promoting professional management in esports or popularizing esports to the older generation, this kind of trial and combination are very important to the development of Chinese esports.

CFPL and CFML apply franchise system 

On September 29th, Tencent Esports hosted a press conference of CrossFire esports in Shenzhen. At the conference, LGD Gaming, EDward Gaming, Team WE, and other seven clubs announced that they would establish teams to competing in CrossFire Pro League (CFPL) and CrossFire Mobile League (CFML). The new season will adopt a franchise system.

As the first professional esports tournament organised by Tencent, CFPL has been held 14 times since 2012.

China Electronic Athletics says: Although franchise systems can bring plenty of benefits for esports, the current esports system still has a problem: the absence of esports agencies. In China, multiple franchise esports leagues have proved that cultivating esports stars for fans is the core of establishing such leagues. Whoever provides a correct answer for this debate will take the lead in shaping a real esports star. However, it seems that all organizers of Chinese franchise esports leagues are still on the same starting line.

Contact China Electronic Athletics:
Wechat public account: china_ea
Contact Name: Xiang Shi
Email: [email protected]

Subscribe to ESI on YouTube