Korea, China, and Japan to compete in new esports competition

Representatives from the ECEA 2021 organizing committee pose for the cameras alongside Team Korea head coach Lee Ji-hun. [KeSPA]

A press conference announcing a new inter-East Asian esports tournament, dubbed "Esports Championships East Asia," was held at the S-PLEX Center in Sangam in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Friday. Three nations will participate in the new competition: Korea, China, and Japan.

ECEA 2021 is organized by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and managed by a dedicated organizing committee consisting of representatives from the ministry, the Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca), the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA), the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the Game Culture Foundation, the Korea Association of Game Industry, the Korea Tourism Organization, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Former MCST minister and head of the ECEA organizing committee Yoo Jin-ryong shared in his keynote address that ECEA was the first instance of the three national governments officially working together to hold an international esports tournament, and that it would hopefully serve as a reference for esports events to be held at the upcoming 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

ECEA 2021's official logo. [KeSPA]

ECEA 2021 is set to run for three days at Seoul Olympic Park in Songpa District, southern Seoul, from Sept. 10th to 12th. Roughly 180 players, staff and officials from the three countries will take part in the proceedings. The event was originally planned for November 2020 — discussions started in February 2020 — but the Covid-19 pandemic forced organizers to push the date back by nearly a year.

National representatives will compete in five titles: League of Legends (LoL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Clash Royale, Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2021, and Dungeon & Fighter (known internationally as Dungeon Fighter Online, or DFO). China (Clash Royale) and Japan (PES) each have the right to choose one title; Korea, as this year's host nation, could choose two (PUBG, DFO). All three nations agreed to include LoL.

Nexon and Krafton were announced as official partners, while Riot Games, Konami, Supercell and Naver were announced as official sponsors. The Asian Electronic Sports Federation was listed as a technical sponsor.

National team rosters have yet to be announced, but Gen.G Esports general manager Lee Ji-hun will be head coach of the Korean team.

BY JEON YOUNG-JAE [jeon.youngjae@joongang.co.kr]