E-sports became the buzzword for Shanghai this summer. The city hosted the 2019 Global E-sports Conference and the annual International Dota 2 Championships. As an increasing number of international e-sports competitions and conferences are held in Shanghai, the city is closer to its goal of becoming an e-sports capital in three to five years. China's e-sports industry will also embrace unprecedented opportunities for development.

This was the first time the Dota 2 championship, the largest e-sports tournament with a prize pool of over $34.3 million, was held in Asia. Shanghai was able to host the competition because China's e-sports industry has reached a large market scale and its industrial chain has become complete.

Statistics show that in the first half of the year, the sales volume of China's e-sports market reached 51.32 billion yuan ($7.2 billion), up 22.8 percent year on year, faster than the growth rate of the video games market. E-sports competitions are involving not only the participation of e-sports fans and practitioners but have also become a popular sports and cultural activity. China has become transformed from a follower to a leader of the global e-sports industry.

However, the new industry still faces many difficulties. For instance, in spite of the steady emergence of new players, technical and management talent are in short supply.

Also, more regulations and industry associations are needed to promote the development of the industry and protect the rights and interests of practitioners.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Guangming Daily on September 6)