The hidden depths of esports players(2)

Portraits of Youth

For Ni, the most compelling aspect of esports lies in the collective stories of its players. Her film seeks to capture the energy and camaraderie that define the world of competitive gaming.

"I saw a lot of idealism and innocence in their stories. People are drawn to group portraits because, in a crowd, they find a reflection of themselves — someone who represents their own hopes and dreams," Ni explains.

Although she has vivid memories of each player's journey, Ni and her team had already compiled 6,000 to 7,000 words of background material on the competitors before filming began. The profiles of players like Chen and Xu Bicheng, one of the six who ended up in the national team, exceeded 30,000 words.

"While the media already provides ample coverage of the games and tournaments, I felt it was essential to understand these individuals on a deeper level," Ni says. "When they speak to me in the documentary, it's as if they're speaking directly to the audience."

Ni was more than a director and became an integral part of the team, collaborating with the coach on training plans, and earning the trust of the players as a close confidante.

"This is the magic of esports — it brings together a group of people who are fully dedicated to one goal," Ni says. "The true appeal of competitive sports lies in the emotions of the players. Win or lose, I experienced those emotions with them — even though I wasn't the one competing."

Through the nuances of everyday life and training, Ni captures the personalities of each player, presenting an intimate portrait of the team dynamic.

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.

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."