Asia's first intl esports tournament unveiled in Shanghai

"Asia is by far, when you talk about esports, the strongest region in the world. With ACL, to be able to bring and unite all these players together and bring them under one tournament is truly fantastic," said HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, vice-chairman of the Savvy Games Group and the honorary chairman of the new league.

He remains optimistic about the prospects of Asia's esports industry, adding that the unique relationship between Saudi Arabia and China over the years has offered the two sides the opportunity to sit together on a table and push the esports industry forward.

"I think the opportunity to be able to build a global community is something that cannot be overlooked. Asian countries have close borders and are able to come and work together easily... Esports is growing year on year, and the fans and people attending these events are growing. We need to build on the industry together to keep us as the world's powerhouse in esports and gaming," he said.

In recent years, esports have drawn extensive attention with its success at the Asian Games, the Olympic Esports Week and the Esports World Cup. In 2025, the first Olympic Esports Games will be held in Saudi Arabia.

"ACL will elevate Asian esports to new heights. As esports becomes a widely recognized form of sports, we believe that international multi-title esports tournaments represent the future for esports, and ACL marks a commitment to that future," said Dino Ying, founder of VSPO.