Most teachers would not be impressed to discover a student playing video games in their class. But at a school in eastern China it is mandatory, part of a drive to train eSport champions and tap into the booming industry
China’s eSport craze
Chinese internet research company iResearch estimates 260 million people are already playing eSport games or watching competitions in the country, with the biggest bouts playing out to thousands of spectators in stadiums and many more online
The growth shows no signs of slowing. Market research firm Newzoo estimates that the eSport industry will be worth $906 million in global revenues in 2018, a 38.2 per cent increase from last year. China alone will account for 18 per cent
Team sports in universities
Gaming has become a team sport at 910 universities across the Asian country, but there is also an increase in educational establishments, such as Lanxiang Technical, actively teaching the skills needed for eSports success. Around 50 students signed up for its inaugural eSports course, which launched in September
Unusual syllabus
League of Legends, one of the world’s most played games, is a strategy-driven bout where players fight each other in a digital arena is taught there. First person shooters like Overwatch, Counter Strike and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, are also part of this syllabus
From web addiction to Olympic status?
It is all a far cry from the situation less than a decade ago when the government was so concerned about youngsters spending excessive time on the Internet it listed web addiction as a clinical disorder and drafted legislation to limit online time. Now, eSports are to be included as a medal sport for the first time at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and proponents are pushing for Olympic status