Esports events particularly popular as ticket sales for 21 Asian Games events begin

People watch e-sports game in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province on May 31, 2022. Photo: VCG

Including 21sport categories in total, sales of the first batch of tickets for sports games at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, began on Monday. 

The tickets cover a total of 252 events for sports such as soccer, boxing, Chinese martial arts, or wushu, tennis and esport competitions for the upcoming sports gala, and have attracted great anticipation from sports fans worldwide. 

Prior to the September Games, a national invitation esports tournament was launched in May at the Hangzhou Esports Centre. The event was hailed by visitors, with packed crowds filling up the venue to 98 percent capacity. 

The public can make direct ticket purchasing for 20 events like boxing and tennis. Due to the relatively tight capacity of venues and the public's high demand for tickets, tickets for esport competitions can only be purchased through a lottery system. Registration for the lottery will end when the number of applicants reaches 2 million. 

Xiang Feiyu, a gaming fan in Shanghai, told the Global Times that he hopes his "wish will be granted" when it comes to getting a ticket. 

"This is the first time that esports have been officially included in the Asian Games in China. It is like the debut of a dancer who has been practicing her skills for 10 years. You can imagine how exciting and important the competitions will be," Xiang told the Global Times. 

Gearing up to be held at the Hangzhou Esports Centre starting from September 24, there are seven events in the sport, such as Dream Three Kingdoms 2 and Dota.

Registration channels for these two events started on Monday morning, while those for League of Legends, another highlighted event, started that afternoon. The three games' lottery results are scheduled to be revealed to people on the waiting list on August 25.   

Ticket prices for esport matches have been classified into A and B grades. Prices for A-class tickets for preliminary matches go up to 500 yuan ($69) while tickets for the A-class final run up to 1,000 yuan, making these some of the most expensive matches at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou. 

"It is totally worth the price," esports fan Liu Wenbo told the Global Times, adding that he looks forward to seeing another "2018 Chinese victory."  

At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, China's esports team defeated team South Korea 3-1 in League of Legends.