When it comes to video games, China seems to be playing both sides of the joystick. On one hand, esports has become a billion-yuan industry, with professional players earning salaries that rival pop stars. On the other, the country is grappling with a surge in gaming addiction among its youth. According to a report from South China Morning Post, now, an esports club in Hebei province has found a way to straddle both worlds: offering courses to help children break free from compulsive gaming, with fees going around Rs 1.25 lakh.
From Pro-Gaming Dreams to “Dissuasion” Courses
The initiative comes from Su Chenhao, owner of a northern China esports club founded in 2018. Initially set up to groom professional players, Su quickly realized that prodigies were rare. According to him, more than 85 percent of the nearly 4,000 children who trained at his club over the years weren’t future champions at all — they were simply hooked on games as an escape from schoolwork and stress.
That discovery led Su to launch “gaming dissuasion” courses in 2023, designed to cure addiction by making gaming less fun. His method? Marathon sessions from 9 a.m. to midnight, broken only by meals and light exercise. Within days, participants like Xiao Dan, a teenager dreaming of esports glory, found themselves exhausted, some even in tears, as gaming turned into a punishing task rather than entertainment.
Price Tag of Quitting
The cost of kicking the habit is not cheap. A week-long programme can run into several thousand yuan, while a 22-day camp is priced at around 10,000 yuan (about Rs 1.25 lakh or US$1,400), as reported by the South China Morning Post. Fees vary depending on the level of addiction and how much parents are willing to spend.
Critics point out the irony: the same clubs that once sold parents the dream of esports careers are now charging them to pull their children away. Yet, others see it as a pragmatic solution. As one online observer commented, “It is a win-win game. The club makes money and the children are not addicted to games any more.”
A Nation Obsessed with Esports
The backdrop of this trend is China’s booming esports culture. The 2024 China Esports Industry Development Report by the Shanghai Esports Association estimates that the country has nearly 490 million esports users, amounting to 35 percent of the population. Listed as an official sport since 2003, esports has gone from being dismissed as a waste of time to being celebrated as a lucrative profession. Top-level Chinese players today can earn up to one million yuan (about US$140,000) in a single month, not counting sponsorships and endorsements.
The Odds of Making It Big
Despite the glittering salaries, the path to professional esports remains narrow. Clubs like the one run by Hou Xu in Sichuan province show how slim the chances are. Of the 700 students his club trained over eight years, only three advanced to professional teams. By his calculation, the odds of a gamer turning pro are one in 120,000. For everyone else, the addiction risk looms larger than the success story.
Can Parents Really Have It Both Ways?
The paradox is hard to miss. Parents encourage gaming when it seems like a golden ticket, only to pull back when screens take over their children’s lives. Meanwhile, esports clubs like Su’s have found a business model that profits from both dreams and fears.
Whether this is clever entrepreneurship or a troubling cycle depends on perspective. But one thing is certain: in China’s gaming landscape, the line between opportunity and obsession is just a few clicks apart.
From Pro-Gaming Dreams to “Dissuasion” Courses
The initiative comes from Su Chenhao, owner of a northern China esports club founded in 2018. Initially set up to groom professional players, Su quickly realized that prodigies were rare. According to him, more than 85 percent of the nearly 4,000 children who trained at his club over the years weren’t future champions at all — they were simply hooked on games as an escape from schoolwork and stress.
That discovery led Su to launch “gaming dissuasion” courses in 2023, designed to cure addiction by making gaming less fun. His method? Marathon sessions from 9 a.m. to midnight, broken only by meals and light exercise. Within days, participants like Xiao Dan, a teenager dreaming of esports glory, found themselves exhausted, some even in tears, as gaming turned into a punishing task rather than entertainment.
Price Tag of Quitting
The cost of kicking the habit is not cheap. A week-long programme can run into several thousand yuan, while a 22-day camp is priced at around 10,000 yuan (about Rs 1.25 lakh or US$1,400), as reported by the South China Morning Post. Fees vary depending on the level of addiction and how much parents are willing to spend.
Critics point out the irony: the same clubs that once sold parents the dream of esports careers are now charging them to pull their children away. Yet, others see it as a pragmatic solution. As one online observer commented, “It is a win-win game. The club makes money and the children are not addicted to games any more.”
A Nation Obsessed with Esports
The backdrop of this trend is China’s booming esports culture. The 2024 China Esports Industry Development Report by the Shanghai Esports Association estimates that the country has nearly 490 million esports users, amounting to 35 percent of the population. Listed as an official sport since 2003, esports has gone from being dismissed as a waste of time to being celebrated as a lucrative profession. Top-level Chinese players today can earn up to one million yuan (about US$140,000) in a single month, not counting sponsorships and endorsements.
The Odds of Making It Big
Despite the glittering salaries, the path to professional esports remains narrow. Clubs like the one run by Hou Xu in Sichuan province show how slim the chances are. Of the 700 students his club trained over eight years, only three advanced to professional teams. By his calculation, the odds of a gamer turning pro are one in 120,000. For everyone else, the addiction risk looms larger than the success story.
Can Parents Really Have It Both Ways?
The paradox is hard to miss. Parents encourage gaming when it seems like a golden ticket, only to pull back when screens take over their children’s lives. Meanwhile, esports clubs like Su’s have found a business model that profits from both dreams and fears.
Whether this is clever entrepreneurship or a troubling cycle depends on perspective. But one thing is certain: in China’s gaming landscape, the line between opportunity and obsession is just a few clicks apart.
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