After a year-long absence, Hearthstone esports has triumphantly returned to China, with mlYanming securing an emotional and historic victory for his country at the 2024 Hearthstone Masters Tour World Championship.
mlYanming Crowned Hearthstone World Champion 2024
The grand finale of the 2024 Hearthstone Masters Tour World Championship saw mlYanming take down Denmark’s Frederik “Furyhunter” Møller in a nail-biting 3-2 series. With this hard-fought victory, mlYanming not only claimed the prestigious title of World Champion but also pocketed a massive $100,000 USD prize.
This triumph carries immense significance as it marks the long-awaited return of China to the Hearthstone esports scene. For context, Chinese Hearthstone players were unable to participate in official tournaments following Blizzard’s licensing expiration with NetEase at the start of January 2023.
This left a noticeable gap in the competitive scene, with many top Chinese talents sidelined from the global stage. However, more than a year later, Hearthstone’s re-entry into China reignited the competitive fire, leading to a landmark moment for Chinese esports with mlYanming’s championship win.
The Return of China to Hearthstone Esports
The revival of Hearthstone esports in China brought with it an increased prize pool of $500,000 USD, up from $350,000 USD, offering greater incentive for competitors to showcase their skills. Chinese players seized this opportunity, stepping back onto the global stage with creative and dominant decks, including mlYanming’s Armor Warlock and Control Warrior.
Hearthstone caster Alexander “Raven” Baguley praised the strength of the returning players, noting their impressive performances throughout the Group Stage. Despite many Chinese competitors being unfamiliar to international audiences, their decisive gameplay quickly established them as top contenders.
China’s Impact and the European Rivalry
Fellow Hearthstone caster Simon “Sottle” Welch shared his emotional thoughts on the significance of China’s return. To Sottle, the Chinese players brought a unique presence that had been sorely missed in the competitive scene:
“I lack the words to describe it, but you know, sometimes you have a hole in your heart, but you don’t realize it’s there until it gets filled again? You don’t know what you were missing until you experience it again after all this time.”
Sottle also emphasized the historic rivalry between China and Europe, which culminated in the grand final showdown between mlYanming and Furyhunter. As Europe’s top representative, Furyhunter himself acknowledged the weight of this rivalry, declaring that the ultimate battle for the championship felt as it should be: China versus Europe.
“China versus Europe was really the standout rivalry that was developing in Hearthstone esports. Furyhunter called it out himself when he got to speak to us in interviews, saying that Europe versus China was the way the finals felt like they should be, and it absolutely was,” Sottle added.
A Monumental Victory for Hearthstone and China
For Hearthstone fans and players, mlYanming’s victory symbolizes the strength of the Chinese competitive scene and the importance of their return. Not only did China secure the title of World Champion, but the performances of their players also reignited a sense of excitement and competition that had been missing over the past year.
With mlYanming’s historic win at the 2024 Hearthstone Masters Tour World Championship, the future of Chinese Hearthstone esports looks brighter than ever, promising more thrilling tournaments and fierce rivalries on the global stage.