{
  "id": 1019358,
  "title": "China’s ‘Cat’, Honor of Kings great, reflects on his gaming career amid the esports explosion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/chinas-cat-honor-of-kings-great-reflects-on-his-gaming-career-amid",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-15T11:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Business",
    "slug": "scmp-business",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3364057/chinas-cat-honor-kings-great-reflects-his-gaming-career-amid-esports-explosion"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent esports match in Paris, hundreds of fans cheered as a player, Chen Zhengzheng, known as Cat, demonstrated his prowess in the mobile game Honor of Kings. Cat, a 28-year-old with five international championships under his belt, attributed his rise to the game's immense popularity in China. He started playing in 2015 and joined competitions soon after, marking his first competition in Changsha, a city in the eastern province of Shandong.\n\nCat's career coincided with the rapid growth of China's esports industry, which saw a surge in competitors and viewers from 80 million in 2014 to 511 million a decade later. This growth helped Cat's parents understand and accept his career choice. The turning point was Cat's victory in 2017, a match attended by nearly 10,000 fans. Cat's parents were proud of his achievement, seeing a significant change in their perception of esports from \"internet addiction\" to a legitimate career path.\n\nAs Cat's career progressed, a significant transfer between clubs in 2017 generated headlines, with a value of 1 million yuan (US$148,000). This was a substantial sum for Cat, who was initially stunned by the offer. The deal, however, was a transfer fee between two clubs, not Cat's individual income. Over time, such transactions became more transparent, with Cat explaining the process to enthusiastic fans.\n\nLooking back at his journey, Cat reflects on the evolution of esports in China, from a niche activity to a global phenomenon. In 2021, when he changed teams again, the deal was worth 15 million yuan. Cat's career also involved coaching, providing guidance to newcomers in the field. Looking ahead, Cat plans to continue his involvement in esports for another decade, focusing on sharing his experience and fostering a positive, optimistic mindset among players and fans.",
  "summary": "Hundreds of rapt fans sat in a convention hall in Paris recently, erupting into cheers after a competitor darted across the scene and left two opponents dead within seconds. The victims were only pixels on a screen, as the setting was a friendly esports match where leading players exhibited their skills in Honor of Kings, Tencent Holdings’ top mobile game. One of the most recognised stars on that…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SCMP Tech",
        "title": "China’s ‘Cat’, Honor of Kings great, reflects on his gaming career amid the esports explosion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/chinas-cat-honor-of-kings-great-reflects-on-his-gaming-career-amid-1019762",
        "published": "2026-08-15T11:00:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}