The hidden depths of esports players

The latter half of the story focuses on the training for the six finalists and the competition itself.

She says the six finalists shared one key trait: They were all children from humble beginnings. One was the son of a truck driver, another grew up helping his parents work in the city, and another was raised by a single mother who ran a hardware store. Esports changed their lives and opened doors to new opportunities.

Ni and her team visited several of the players' hometowns, offering glimpses into the environments that shaped them.

"Some of the players demonstrate surprising contrasts," Ni says. "Take Xu Bicheng, for example, he seems like the cheerful one, but at home, he carries a lot of responsibility."

As a child, Xu traveled the country with his father on his truck. Following a car accident, and worried about his father's safety, Xu decided to keep him close by renting and running a fishpond in their village.

The Asian Games not only allowed him to develop his skills, but may have also brought him a bit of luck. In an interview in the documentary, he recounted a dream in which he was lifting a trophy in a packed arena as the crowd chanted his name.