Weibo Gaming Explained

Weibo Gaming
Short Name:WBG, WBG FAW Audi (League of Legends division)
Parent Group:Weibo Corporation
Sport Label:Divisions
Module:
Child:yes
S:微博电子竞技俱乐部
T:微博電子競技俱樂部
P:Wēibó Diànzǐ Jìngjì Jùlèbù
L:Weibo Esports Club
Order:st

Weibo Gaming is a Chinese esports organization owned by the Weibo Corporation.[1]

Its League of Legends team competes in the LPL, the top-level league for the game in China.[2] [3] It was owned by e-commerce company Suning.com for most of its history and was previously known as Suning.[4]

Weibo are also members of the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program, funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which gives teams monetary rewards for painting the Esports World Cup tournament series in a positive light and driving engagement to the tournament, which is seen to some as a sportswashing tool that Saudi Arabia is using to distract the public from their poor human rights record.[5]

League of Legends

History

The League of Legends team was founded as Suning Gaming on 28 December 2016, following Suning.com's acquisition of the League of Legends team T.Bear Gaming. A roster was formed to compete in the LSPL, China's secondary pro league; it consisted of XiaoAL (now Langx), Avoidless, dian, Fury, and Yoon. Suning placed second in the 2017 LSPL spring regular season and later swept Young Miracles in the spring finals to qualify for the LPL.[6]

Tournament results

PlacementEventFinal result (W–L)
2nd 2017 LSPL Spring Split 17–5
1st 2017 LSPL Spring Playoffs 3–0 (against Young Miracles)
9th–12th 2017 Demacia Cup 1–2 (against I May)
4th 2017 LPL Summer Split (Group B) 7–9
7th–8th 2017 LPL Summer Playoffs 1–3 (against Invictus Gaming)
7th–8th 2017 Demacia Championship 1–2 (against Rogue Warriors)
5th 2018 LPL Spring Split (East) 9–10
4th 2018 LPL Summer Split (East) 10–9
7th–8th 2018 LPL Summer Playoffs 2–3 (against Topsports Gaming)
4th NEST 2018 0–2 (against Rogue Warriors)
3rd 2018 Winter Demacia Cup 1–2 (against Invictus Gaming)
6th–7th NESO 2018 3–5
10th 2019 LPL Spring Split 6–9
5th–8th NEST 2019 0–2 (against SinoDragon Gaming)
8th 2019 LPL Summer Split 8–7
7th–8th 2019 LPL Summer Playoffs 1–3 (against Edward Gaming)
13th–16th 2019 Demacia Cup 1–3
11th 2020 LPL Spring Split 7–9
4th 2020 LPL Summer Split 12–4
3rd 2020 LPL Summer Playoffs 3–0 (against LGD Gaming)
1st 2020 LPL Regional Finals 3–0 (against LGD Gaming)
2nd 2020 World Championship 1–3 (against DAMWON Gaming)

Notes and References

  1. News: Kelly . Michael . Suning officially renamed Weibo Gaming with LPL slot ownership purchase . 22 November 2021 . Dot Esports . 22 November 2021.
  2. News: Lupasco . Cristian . Suning eliminate Victory Five from LPL playoffs . 18 August 2020 . Dot Esports . 15 August 2020.
  3. News: Suning wins eighth straight at LPL Summer Split . 18 August 2020 . Field Level Media via Reuters . 27 July 2020 . en.
  4. News: Chen . Hongyu . League of Legends Pro League Partners With Chinese E-commerce Company Suning . 18 August 2020 . The Esports Observer . 12 June 2020.
  5. News: Fudge . James . 30 Teams Selected for the Esports World Cup Club Support Program . 9 May 2024 . The Esports Advocate . 6 May 2024.
  6. News: Moser . Kelsey . Suning Gaming join LPL . 18 August 2020 . Yahoo Esports . 14 April 2017.