China's esports team Bilibili Gaming (BLG) defeated South Korea's Gen.G 3-1 in the final of the 2026 League of Legends World Championship at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday, claiming the world title.
The victory marked the first time in five years that a Chinese team has won the championship.
BLG advanced to the best-of-five final after defeating defending champion T1 of South Korea 3-1 in the semifinals. The Chinese team eliminated four consecutive South Korean opponents on its way to the title.
Throughout the final, Chinese chants echoed through the arena as fans waved team flags and cheered for the Chinese players. The championship drew Chinese fans from across the United States, with some traveling from China to witness the showdown.
Chinese fans said they were proud to see BLG make it this far and Chinese players showcase their talent on the world stage.
"I'm absolutely thrilled. As a Chinese fan, I couldn't be prouder. I'm just so happy," Yang Baoxiang, a Chinese fan, told China Daily, fighting back tears shortly after BLG claimed the title.
Yang said he had traveled from the West Coast to attend the final. After his original flight was canceled, he and his companions took a six-hour flight to Florida before driving about 18 hours to New York.
"We've been up for 24 hours. I came here to cheer for BLG. I believe in BLG, and I believe in our Chinese team," he said.
While the final featured a rivalry between two of the world's strongest esports regions, it also brought together fans of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, united by their passion for the game.
Matthew Campos, a longtime American League of Legends player, said he was impressed by BLG's performance in the tournament.
"BLG has been waiting for a long time, so it's kind of cool for them to beat T1 to get here," he said.
"I think esports bring a lot of people together. As you can see, we have Korean fans, Chinese fans, Americans, everybody here just enjoying the sport of the game."
Among those attending the final was 19-year-old Tory Patterson, a Colorado resident who attends college in Detroit. Dressed as a character from League of Legends in a costume, Patterson spoke highly of the Chinese team's performance.
"They've been playing really well. I've watched their last games in the semifinals, and they just played really well," she told China Daily.
For Patterson, League of Legends has also provided an opportunity to connect with people beyond national and linguistic boundaries.
"I've met a lot of people through this game in various different regions. And even if there is a language barrier, I've managed to play some games and have a good time," she said.
League of Legends is one of the world's most popular and influential esports titles, with professional leagues across multiple regions and an estimated global player base of more than 100 million.
Developed by Riot Games and launched in 2009, the free-to-play online game pits two teams of five players against each other, with the objective of destroying the opposing team's base.
Seventeen years after its launch, the game continues to attract a global audience, with international tournaments bringing together professional players and fans from around the world.
China is also set to host another major international League of Legends tournament next year.
Riot Games announced on Friday that China will host an expanded edition of First Stand, the opening international tournament of the 2027 season.
The one-off edition, called "First Stand: All In", will feature more teams and players. Riot said further details on the tournament format and qualification process will be released in January.
mingmeili@chinadailyusa.com
