The hidden depths of esports players

Last month, that dream came true as Xu led AG Super Play, the club he normally competes with, to victory at the 2024 KPL finals in Beijing, as the crowd roared his name.

Since its national preview last month, the documentary has drawn emotional responses, with many viewers reflecting on their own youthful ambitions and saying they were inspired by the protagonists' struggles.

Go player Ke Jie, who also competed at the Asian Games, is particularly moved by a line from Xu's interview: "The worst thing you can hear is 'You've done your best', but deep down, I know I could have tried harder. I could have done better."

"I felt that deeply," Ke says. "In competitions, people often say you've done your best, but you know there are always areas where you could improve."

One online user who goes by the name of Choufeizhiren Wangxiaoxia comments on the changing view of gaming. "Older Chinese people have long seen video games as a threat …but in this film, these young men, wearing the Chinese national team uniform at the Asian Games, are challenging those stereotypes. Gamers can be kind, warm and full of light."

Ni says that 22 is both the prime age for esports players, and the threshold of the rite of passage into adulthood.

"For the public, 22 marks a turning point. It's when you graduate, start supporting your family, and take on adult responsibilities. At 18, life is still uncertain," she says, adding to her comment in the documentary that, "if you're not yet 22, embrace it with courage. If you've passed it, face every challenge with the same bravery."