Korea earns first-ever Esports medal at Asiad in EA Sports FC Online

EA Sports FC Online pro gamer Kwak Jun-hyuk games at S-Plex Center in western Seoul on Sept. 7 ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games. [NEWS1]

EA Sports FC Online pro gamer Kwak Jun-hyuk took bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games after a 2-1 loss in the losers’ bracket final to Varanan Phatanasak of Thailand on Wednesday, securing Korea’s first-ever Esports medal at the Asiad.

This year’s Asiad features Esports as a medal event for the first time in history, having debuted it as a demonstration sport in 2018. FC Online — an online football game developed by EA Sports — is one of the Esports games in the tournament. The players play three games to determine the winner.

The winner of Wednesday’s game at China Hangzhou Esports Centre FOP Area in Hangzhou, China would advance to the final, while the loser woukd claim a bronze.

Kwak faced Phatanasak for the second time in the tournament, having secured a 2-0 victory in the winners’ bracket round 3 on Sunday.

Kwak started the game on the wrong foot, losing the opening game 2-1. He also conceded a goal first in the second game, but made it 1-1 and took it to a penalty shootout.

He managed to win the second game 4-2 on penalties and it came down to the third match.

Kwan, however, conceded a goal in the third game and failed to score the much-needed equalizer through injury time, ending the game 1-0 for a final score 2-1 and claiming a bronze.

The remaining Esports events will continue through the tournament. A total of seven Esports games are in the tournament: FC Online, Arena of Valor, Dota 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, League of Legends, Peacekeeper Elite and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]