Asia's esports revolution: Shanghai hosts HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League
Esports has stormed the world, and Asia is at the centre of this digital uprising. On Wednesday, the HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League (ACL) was formally in Shanghai, marking a historical milestone for competitive gaming. The competition will be the most extensive esports tournament in Asia, featuring nine leading esports titles, such as Counterstrike 2, Dota 2, and Honor of Kings.
Tournament overview
The Asia Championship League (ACL) is creating ripples within the esports scene as the continent’s first-ever international tournament. Organised by Hero Esports, the high-profile competition showcases the best players and teams from around the region on a grand stage. With a direct path to the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), the ACL offers Asian gamers a golden opportunity to be part of the global limelight.
ACL tournament structure
The ACL Teamfight Tactics (TFT) Tournament consists of three primary stages:
- Regional Qualifiers: Determining the top teams from the APAC and CN regions. The top eight APAC teams and top seven CN teams will qualify for the Regional Qualifiers, with the best four teams from each region advancing to the Asian Challenge. APAC Qualifier: April 15–18 and CN Qualifier: April 24–27.
- Asian Challenge: Featuring elite teams battling for spots in the Grand Finals. The Asian Challenge, held from May 8–11, features the eight strongest teams from the Regional Qualifiers. The stakes are high as only three teams will move on to the Grand Finals.
- ACL Grand Finals: The ultimate showdown in Shanghai, deciding the champion. Taking place in Shanghai from May 17–18, 2025, the ACL Grand Finals promises to be a spectacle, with top-tier competition and an electrifying audience.
The tournament structure consists of a BO3 single-elimination game on May 17, with the loser’s final deciding third place. On May 18, the BO5 championship game will be played to decide the ACL champion.
Featured esports titles
The ACL will feature some of the most popular and competitive games in the esports scene, including CS2, Dota 2, Honor of Kings, Teamfight Tactics, VALORANT Champions Tour, Delta Force, and Crossfire.
ACL CEO Wang Xinyang told the , “As the highest-level and largest international comprehensive esports event in Asia to date, this year’s ACL will offer direct qualification spots for the 2025 Esports World Cup [EWC] in the majority of its nine competition titles. By integrating sports with cultural tourism, consumer industries, and technology, hosting esports tournaments and events enhances a city’s cultural soft power, allowing audiences across Asia and the world to experience China’s esports appeal and cultural depth.”
Prize pool and rewards
With a massive $150,000 prize pool, the ACL offers significant financial incentives. More importantly, the tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2025 Esports World Cup, allowing top teams to secure a spot on one of the biggest esports stages globally.
The top three teams from each region earn a spot in the Esports World Cup. Fourth and fifth-place teams move to the Last Chance Qualifier for the EWC.
Esports and the Olympics 2027
The esports industry has been gaining mainstream recognition, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) establishing an esports commission in 2023. Moreover, esports were officially included as a medal event in the Hangzhou Asian Games, further solidifying their legitimacy as a sport.
“Now that esports are a widely recognised type of sport, thanks to their success at the Asian Games, the Olympic Esports Week, and the Esports World Cup, we believe that international multi-title esports tournaments represent the future of the industry, and the ACL marks a commitment to that future,” Dino Ying, founder of Hero Esports, told the Global Times in an interview.
The ACL will enhance the competitive esports landscape throughout Asia by promoting a more organised and competitive environment. The tournament offers visibility for new esports competitors, allowing them to gain global recognition and compete at elevated levels.
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