Tencent Esports
{{Short description|Chinese esports brand}}
{{Orphan|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Tencent Esports
| logo =
| former_name = TGA
| industry = Esports
| founded = December 9, 2016
| hq_location = Shenzhen
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Mars Hou (general manager){{cite web | author=Zheping Huang | title=China Hosts Biggest Esports Moment With Tencent at the Wheel | work=Bloomberg News | url=https://archive.today/20240528100054/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-24/asian-games-2023-china-fires-up-post-covid-comeback-with-esports | date=September 24, 2023 | access-date= }}
| parent = Tencent Holdings Ltd.{{cite web | author1=Teng Jing Xuan | author2=Shi Rui | author3=Liu Xiaojing | author4=Huang Rong | title=Competitive Video-Gaming Gets Attention of Major Entertainment Companies | work=Caixin | url=https://archive.today/20240511121348/https://www.caixinglobal.com/2017-02-10/competitive-video-gaming-gets-attention-of-major-entertainment-companies-101053991.html | date=February 10, 2017 | access-date= }}
| website = {{URL|https://esports.qq.com}}
}}
Tencent Esports ({{zh|s=腾讯电竞|t=騰訊電競|first=s}}), also spelled as Tencent E-sports,{{cite web | author=Nazvi Careem | title=Tencent-OCA esports alliance can put Hong Kong on global map | website=South China Morning Post | url=https://archive.today/20240506040339/https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3164521/tencent-and-ocas-esports-alliance-can-help-put-hong-kong-map-global | date=January 24, 2022 }} is a Chinese esports brand{{cite web | author=Liang Shihuang | title=Fortune Announces the List of World's Greatest Leaders, Pony Ma Ranks 4th | work=Yahoo News | url=https://archive.today/20240509102340/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E8%B2%A1%E5%AF%8C50%E5%A4%A7%E9%A0%98%E8%A2%96%E6%A6%9C-%E9%A6%AC%E5%8C%96%E9%A8%B0%E5%90%8D%E5%88%97%E7%AC%AC%E5%9B%9B-215005357--finance.html | date=April 19, 2019 }} founded in 2016.{{cite web | author=Takashi Kawakami | title=Tencent, Douyin press play on esports ahead of Asian Games | work=Nikkei Asia | url=https://archive.today/20240502074337/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Media-Entertainment/Tencent-Douyin-press-play-on-esports-ahead-of-Asian-Games | date=July 29, 2023 }} It is the esports arm of Tencent,{{cite web | author=Tom Hancock | title=Tencent eyes more esports competitions in China | work=Financial Times | url=https://archive.today/20240502072358/https://www.ft.com/content/89feb218-3bc2-11e9-b72b-2c7f526ca5d0 | date=March 3, 2019 }} and a founding partner of the Global Esports Federation.{{cite web | author=Cai Xingxiu | title=Global Esports Federation Officially Established | work=Yahoo News | url=https://archive.today/20240502092311/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E9%9B%BB%E7%AB%B6%E5%A5%A7%E9%81%8B%E6%9C%89%E8%AD%9C-%E5%9C%8B%E9%9A%9B%E9%9B%BB%E5%AD%90%E7%AB%B6%E6%8A%80%E8%81%AF%E5%90%88%E6%9C%83%E6%88%90%E7%AB%8B-081934120.html | date=December 17, 2019 }} It focuses on esports tournaments, esports education and esports technologies. It has several professional leagues,{{cite web | title=Chinese video-sharing website Bilibili seeks secondary listing in Hong Kong | author=Yanhong Luo | work=The Wall Street Journal | url=https://archive.today/20240528095742/https://cn.wsj.com/articles/%E4%B8%AD%E6%A6%82%E8%82%A1%E7%AE%80%E6%8A%A5%EF%BC%9A%E6%8A%A5%E9%81%93%E7%A7%B0bilibili%E8%80%83%E8%99%91%E5%9C%A8%E6%B8%AF%E4%BA%8C%E6%AC%A1%E4%B8%8A%E5%B8%82%EF%BC%8C%E6%8B%9F%E5%94%AE5-10%E8%82%A1%E4%BB%BD-11594338308 | date=July 10, 2020 }} including LPL, KPL, KGL, PEL, and CFPL.Forbes Staff. {{cite web | title=Esports Flourishing in China | work=Forbes | date=May 27, 2019 | url=https://www.forbeschina.com/business/597 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928124338/https://www.forbeschina.com/business/597 | archive-date=September 28, 2024 | url-status=live }} It initiated the Tencent Esports Tech-Union,{{cite web | title=China Unicom partners with Tencent Esports | work=Yahoo News | url=https://archive.today/20240512115547/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E8%81%AF%E9%80%9A%E8%88%87%E9%A8%B0%E8%A8%8A%E9%9B%BB%E7%AB%B6%E5%85%B1%E5%BB%BA-5g-%E9%9B%BB%E7%AB%B6%E8%81%AF%E5%90%88%E5%AF%A6%E9%A9%97%E5%AE%A4-180037891.html | author=Steven Lee | date=August 27, 2019 }} of which Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm are members.{{cite web | author=Hongyu Chen | title=Tencent Esports Partners with Manchester City F.C. | work=The Esports Observer | url=https://archive.today/20240510105901/https://archive.esportsobserver.com/china-esports-recap-june26-2019/ | date=June 26, 2019 }} It is a member of the Japan eSports Union.{{cite web | title=The Shenzhen Station of Empower Esports Worldwide Series Concludes at the Sea World Culture and Arts Center | work=Ta Kung Pao | url=https://archive.today/20250308104136/https://www.takungpao.com/special/239159/2025/0306/1065806.html | date=March 6, 2025 }}
Established by Tencent Interactive Entertainment,{{cite web | author1=Liu Jiaxuan | author2=Zheng Shuai | author3=Lin Dandan | title=China's Esports Industry Set to Enter Golden Era | publisher=Xinhua News Agency | url=https://archive.today/20240926045223/http://sports.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0823/c420694-30247046.html | date=August 23, 2018 }} it is part of Tencent's Neo-Culture Creativity operations.{{cite web | author=Surin Murugiah | title=Tencent signs up as founding partner with Global Esports Federation | work=The Edge | url=https://archive.today/20240509045916/https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/tencent-signs-founding-partner-global-esports-federation | date=May 9, 2024 }} In 2018, the China esports team, composed of the brand's athletes, won two gold and one silver medals at the Jakarta Asian Games.{{cite web | title=2019 China Game Industry Annual Conference held in Haikou | work=IGN | url=https://archive.today/20240918075418/https://www.ign.com.cn/cgiac/29160/news/mian-xiang-wei-lai-rang-you-xi-zhan-fang-geng-da-neng-liang-teng-xun-ji-tuan-fu-zong-cai-cheng-wu | date=December 19, 2019 }} In 2019, it cooperated with the GEF.{{cite web | last=Bashir | first=Dale | title=Tencent Partners with the Newly Established Global Esports Federation | work=IGN | date=December 17, 2019 | url=https://sea.ign.com/esports/156248/news/tencent-partners-with-the-newly-established-global-esports-federation-gef | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528103520/https://sea.ign.com/esports/156248/news/tencent-partners-with-the-newly-established-global-esports-federation-gef | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | url-status=live }} In 2022, it partnered with the Asian Electronic Sports Federation. In 2023, it supported the Road to Asian Games (RDAG), an esports event organized by the OCA and AESF.{{cite web | title=First phase of the Road to Asian Games 2022 concludes in Macau | work=Sports Business Journal | url=https://archive.today/20240510035750/https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Esports/Sections/Media/2022/01/Tencent-Olympics.aspx | author=Hongyu Chen | date=July 3, 2023 }}
History
=2016-2017=
Tencent Esports was formerly known as TGA, which was established in 2010.{{cite web | title=Tencent Esports Starts Independent Operations | author=Shi Rui | work=Caixin | url=https://archive.today/20161210143810/https://companies.caixin.com/2016-12-09/101025244.html | date=December 9, 2016 }} On December 9, 2016, it was formally established as a new division and began operating independently. On June 16, 2017, the brand released the "Five-Year Plan".{{cite web | author=Zhang Shuling | title=Tencent Esports Launches its Five-Year Plan | work=Yahoo News | url=https://archive.today/20240928123018/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E9%A8%B0%E8%A8%8A%E7%99%BC%E5%B8%835%E5%B9%B4%E8%A8%88%E7%95%AB-%E6%89%93%E9%80%A0%E6%95%B8%E5%8D%83%E5%84%84%E9%9B%BB%E7%AB%B6%E7%94%A2%E6%A5%AD-051937538--finance.html?guccounter=1 | date=June 17, 2017 }}
=2018-2020=
Esports was first introduced as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games.{{cite web | title=Exclusive: Doping-Education first but drug-testing in gamers' future, says WADA | website=Reuters | url=https://archive.today/20240106034639/https://www.reuters.com/sports/doping-education-first-drug-testing-gamers-future-says-wada-2023-05-23/ | author=Steve Keating | date=May 23, 2023 }} In the same year, Tencent Esports, together with three esports products, League of Legends, Honor of Kings, Clash Royale, was included in the Asian Games.{{cite web | title=Esports Forum of Annual Conference of Chinese Game Industry Concludes | work=IGN | url=https://archive.today/20240917033806/https://www.ign.com.cn/cgiac/29169/news/dian-jing-huang-jin-shi-dai-zhong-guo-you-xi-chan-ye-nian-hui-dian-zi-jing-ji-lun-tan-yuan-man-luo-m | date=December 19, 2019 }}
In 2018, Tencent Esports worked with the University of Oxford to set up esports courses and host esports tournaments.{{cite web | title=Tencent partners with UK government's cultural and creative industries | work=Game Developer | url=https://archive.today/20240926234921/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/tencent-partners-with-uk-government-s-cultural-and-creative-industries | date=May 9, 2018 }} In June 2019, it collaborated with Manchester City Football Club. In August, it set up a 5G esports joint lab with China Unicom.
In 2019, Arena of Valor, the international version of Honor of Kings, a game product of Tencent Esports,{{cite web | title=The International Version of Honor of Kings Selected for the 2019 SEA Games | author=Xiao Yazhuo | publisher=Xinhua News Agency | date=March 24, 2019 | url=https://www.sohu.com/a/303513061_267106 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919054606/https://www.sohu.com/a/303513061_267106 | archive-date=September 19, 2024 | url-status=live }} became an official game title of the SEA Games.{{cite web | author=Jian Yuquan | title=Arena of Valor makes its official debut at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games | work=Yahoo News | url=https://archive.today/20240511120726/https://tw.yahoo.com/news/%E7%99%BB%E4%B8%8A%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E7%B4%9A%E6%AE%BF%E5%A0%82-%E5%82%B3%E8%AA%AA%E5%B0%8D%E6%B1%BA-%E5%85%A5%E9%81%B8%E6%9D%B1%E5%8D%97%E4%BA%9E%E9%81%8B%E5%8B%95%E6%9C%83%E6%AD%A3%E5%BC%8F%E9%A0%85%E7%9B%AE-052122547.html | date=November 7, 2019 }} In the same year, Tencent Esports reached a cooperation with China Media Group.{{cite web | author=Hongyu Chen | title=Tencent Esports Partners with China Media Group | work=The Esports Observer | url=https://archive.today/20240510100331/https://archive.esportsobserver.com/china-esports-recap-dec11-2019/ | date=December 11, 2019 }}
In 2019, the brand became a founding partner of the GEF. In August 2020, it introduced the #worldconnected initiative.{{cite web | title=Global Esports Federation in breakthrough milestone | newspaper=The Herald | url=https://archive.today/20240926051018/https://www.herald.co.zw/global-esports-federation-in-breakthrough-milestone/ | date=August 26, 2020 }} In the same year, it partnered with FC Barcelona.{{cite web | author=Yanhong Luo | title=FC Barcelona and Tencent Esports team up for esports collaboration | work=The Wall Street Journal | url=https://archive.today/20240518093905/https://cn.wsj.com/articles/%E4%B8%AD%E6%A6%82%E8%82%A1%E7%AE%80%E6%8A%A5%EF%BC%9A%E6%8A%A5%E9%81%93%E7%A7%B0%E9%98%BF%E9%87%8C%E5%B7%B4%E5%B7%B4%E5%A4%9A%E4%B8%AA%E4%B8%BB%E8%A6%81%E6%8A%95%E8%B5%84%E8%80%85%E6%8A%8A%E6%89%80%E6%8C%81adr%E8%BD%AC%E6%8D%A2%E4%B8%BA%E6%B8%AF%E8%82%A1-11598312411 | date=August 25, 2020 }} In the same month, Tencent Esports and Razer rolled out co-branded gaming peripherals.{{cite web | title=Razer and Tencent Esports Release Customised Esports Kits | work=Yahoo News | url=https://archive.today/20240926033548/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E9%9B%B7%E8%9B%87-01337-%E7%99%BC%E5%B8%83%E5%9F%BA%E6%96%BC%E5%A4%A7%E6%95%B8%E6%93%9A%E6%89%93%E9%80%A0%E7%9A%84%E9%A8%B0%E8%A8%8A%E9%9B%BB%E7%AB%B6%E8%A8%82%E8%A3%BD%E5%A5%97%E8%A3%9D-101755083.html?guccounter=1 | date=August 24, 2020 }}
=2021–present=
In July 2021, Tencent Esports co-launched customized gaming-themed rooms with Shangri-La Group.{{cite web | title=Tencent Esports Global Summit Held in Shanghai | website=Yahoo News | url=https://archive.today/20240916124415/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%A4%A7%E9%99%B8%E7%94%A2%E6%A5%AD-%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E5%AE%85%E5%9C%A8%E5%AE%B6%E5%82%AC%E7%94%9F%E5%A4%A7%E9%99%B8%E9%9B%BB%E7%AB%B6%E6%97%85%E9%A4%A8%E5%95%86%E6%A9%9F-%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%E8%A6%8F%E6%A8%A1%E7%BF%BB%E5%80%8D%E6%88%90%E9%95%B7-055702435.html?guccounter=1 | author= | date=February 9, 2023 }} In August, a Tim Hortons and Tencent Esports Cafe store was opened in Shenzhen.{{cite web | author=Michael Standaert | title=Will teen gaming clampdown deal a knockout to China's esports? | work=Al Jazeera | date=September 10, 2021 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/9/10/will-teen-gaming-clampdown-deal-china-esports-a-technical-ko | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509015054/https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/9/10/will-teen-gaming-clampdown-deal-china-esports-a-technical-ko | archive-date=May 9, 2024 | url-status=live }}
Esports became a medal event at the Hangzhou Asian Games. In November 2021, Tencent Esports, in association with League, FIFA Online 4, and other esports products, was selected for the Games.{{cite web | author=Fei Fei | title=Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee Announces the Formal Esports Projects | newspaper=Yangtse Evening Post | date=November 8, 2021 | url=https://www.yangtse.com/zncontent/1739533.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915053640/https://www.yangtse.com/zncontent/1739533.html | archive-date=September 15, 2024 | url-status=live }} In 2022, the Jinge Hotel, built by the brand, went into operation.
In July 2022, Tencent Esports jointly released the 2022 Asian Esports Industry Development Report with the AESF.{{cite web | title=China Becomes the World's Largest Esports Market | work=The Wall Street Journal | url=https://archive.today/20240915172541/https://cn.wsj.com/articles/%E4%B8%AD%E6%A6%82%E8%82%A1%E7%AE%80%E6%8A%A5-%E6%9D%8E%E6%96%8C-%E8%94%9A%E6%9D%A5%E5%B0%86%E6%AF%8F%E5%B9%B4%E5%87%BA%E4%B8%80%E9%83%A8%E6%89%8B%E6%9C%BA-%E5%83%8F%E8%8B%B9%E6%9E%9C%E4%B8%80%E6%A0%B7-11659052205 | date=July 29, 2022 }} In July 2023, the Global Esports Summit and Tencent Esports Annual Conference was held in Shenzhen.{{cite web | author=Ann Cao | title=China's video gaming giant Tencent touts esports ambitions ahead of Asian Games | work=South China Morning Post | url=https://archive.today/20240509001731/https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3227778/chinas-video-gaming-giant-tencent-touts-global-esports-ambitions-ahead-asian-games | date=July 14, 2023 }} In June 2024, it released the Empower Esports Worldwide Series.{{cite web | author=Coco Feng | title=Tencent's Roco Kingdom: World among 104 new video games approved by Beijing in June | work=South China Morning Post | url=https://archive.today/20240626035353/https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3268024/tencents-roco-kingdom-world-among-104-new-video-games-approved-beijing-june | date=June 26, 2024 }}
In August 2024, the first event of the Series took place in Saudi Arabia. Tencent Esports, along with representatives from the Esports World Cup Foundation, Qiddiya, and local Saudi esports clubs, discussed several topics like international esports ecosystem exchange.{{cite web | title=The Japan Station of Empower Esports Worldwide Series Concludes in Tokyo | work=Ta Kung Pao | url=https://archive.today/20241013110108/https://www.takungpao.com/special/239159/2024/1011/1019678.html | date=October 11, 2024 }} In September, the Series event was held in Tokyo.
On February 16, 2025, the Series event took place in Shenzhen, with attendees including the OCA and the CMG.
In February, Tencent Esports became the strategic partner of the EWCF in China.{{cite web | last=Takahashi | first=Dean | title=Esports World Cup Foundation teams with Tencent on esports | website=VentureBeat | url=https://venturebeat.com/games/esports-world-cup-foundation-team-swith-tencent-on-esports/ | date=February 17, 2025 }} According to the agreement, the two parties will jointly establish the EWC China Development Team.