iG's victory highlights Putuo's rise as esports hub

Invictus Gaming esports club celebrates after winning the League of Legends Demacia Cup 2025. [Photo/WeChat account: shputuo]

On Jan 3, Invictus Gaming (iG) esports club, headquartered in Shanghai's Putuo district, decisively won the League of Legends Demacia Cup 2025 with a 3-0 victory. Their jungler, WEI, was named the Finals MVP. This triumph not only marks a strong comeback for the veteran club but also underscores Putuo's maturation as a leading esports cluster.

Invictus Gaming esports club bask in their victory after triumphing at the League of Legends Demacia Cup 2025. [Photo/WeChat account: shputuo]

iG's success is rooted in Putuo's thriving ecosystem. The club relocated its headquarters to the district's MTR Cloud Center in April 2025, a key gathering point for the esports industry in the area.

The MTR Cloud Center in Putuo district. [Photo/WeChat account: shputuo]

Putuo's deep esports foundations date back to 2020, with the esports tournament now upgraded to a public esports carnival. The 2025 edition set records, attracting over 400 teams and 2,000 contestants, with online and on-site exposure exceeding 50 million views.

The "Lightforged Gorehowl" statue in MTR City Plaza. [Photo/WeChat account: shputuo]

MTR City Plaza has been central to popularizing esports, housing the pioneering Blizzard ESports Hall since 2015, which marked the first esports stadium within a shopping center.

MTR City Plaza. [Photo/WeChat account: shputuo]

An esports industrial park will open in Putuo this March, serving as iG's on-site home and a production center of Huya. This 10,000-square-meter facility aims to create an integrated hub for competitions, content creation, and leisure, supporting broader industry alliances and talent development.

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Putuo Media Center at "shputuo"