One of global e-sports' most prestigious tournaments, Dota 2 The International 2026, wrapped up in Shanghai on Sunday. Shanghai's hosting of the popular multi-player online battle's championship boosts its bid to become a global hub in e-sports. Chen Tong reports.
After a fierce, four-day main-event battle, Team Spirit from Russia were crowned champions this year.
Dota has a history spanning more than two decades, with millions of players worldwide. That enduring global following is one reason the tournament has generated so much attention.
CHEN TONG Shanghai "I don't know much about the game, but I can feel all the excitement here. After seven years, the competition is back to Shanghai, attracting fans from all over the world."
Tickets incredibly sold out within five minutes of release on June 10, and has attracted fans from 73 countries and regions.
ANDREI BUTOV Fan of Dota 2 "For me it's a dream and we have a beautiful opportunity go to China first one and the second one it's international for me. It's wow and it's unbelievable. I mean it's something incredible."
SASHA NABOKA Fan of Dota 2 "I've been playing Dota like for ten years. I feel so excited. Thank you so much Shanghai for giving us the opportunity to come."
There are also esports KOLs who came to Shanghai for the very first time who couldn't wait to explore the city.
NURSEITOVA DINA Esports KOL "I want to visit Disneyland and I want to do shopping because it's Shanghai."
Beyond intense in-game battles, the Shanghai event highlights the integration of esports and urban culture. A special orchestra performance was held in July, along with pop-up installations at Shanghai's major shopping malls.
SAM GU CEO of Perfect World "Many of our players are young people and they want to learn about China and Shanghai. This tournament is a great opportunity to enrich their travel plans. They come to China not only to discover scenic spots, but their favorite competitions too and explore the local culture. This is a new lifestyle for the youth."
Shanghai has been working for years to establish itself as a global esports hub. In the first half of this year, the city hosted about a quarter of offline esports competitions held across China, while its number of esports clubs ranks first nationwide. The Dota 2 tournament is another opportunity for Shanghai to strengthen its position on the global esports stage. Chen Tong, CGTN, Shanghai.