A player from Shanghai's Hongqiao International Central Business District (CBD) won Naraka: Bladepoint MSC at the Esports World Cup 2025 Solo tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a landmark victory for the district's burgeoning e-sports industry and global ambitions.
Chinese player Spider, a member of the SR team based at the LOOP Star Ring Center, which is part of the Shanghai International NCC & E-sports Center in Hongqiao, credited the win to a high-quality training environment, strong club management and owner support.
SR.Spider wins Naraka: Bladepoint MSC at the Esports World Cup 2025 Solo tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
On Aug 20, the SR team — comprising SR.Xhao (Xiaohao), SR.17s (Zhou Tao), and SR.Riko (Xiaolan) — dominated the competition, clinching the 2025 EWC Naraka: Bladepoint Trio tournament championship in just four matches.
The Naraka: Bladepoint MSC, part of the EWC2025 Festival, showcases top global e-sports players while promoting Chinese traditional culture abroad. As the first martial arts-themed game in elite international events and a 2026 Nagoya Asian Games title, it marks China's cultural IP shift from market export to global cultural leadership.
The Naraka: Bladepoint MSC, part of the EWC2025 Festival. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
Hongqiao International CBD has actively nurtured an e-sports cluster, attracting teams, developers, and services. The LOOP Star Ring Center hosts clubs including Alliance, OUG, BAODA and YZG, bringing together talent, capital, and event resources in one place.
Zhang Yong, head of the LOOP Star Ring Center and the Shanghai E-sports Center (South district) operator, says the center aims to become Shanghai's top destination for gaming talent, content production and e-sports events, forging a national focal point.
