Chinese livestreaming platform Huya announced it will host the Immortal Cup, a Dota 2 tournament taking place June 14-15 at Suzhou’s Yang Cheng Hu Esports Center. The event features retired Chinese professional Dota 2 players and prominent streamers from both Huya and rival streaming platform Douyu, competing for a prize pool totaling ¥1 million RMB (approximately $140,000 USD).
Notably, the 2,000-seat venue, home to League of Legends Pro League (LPL) team LNG Esports, saw tickets sell out within seven minutes, highlighting substantial local fan interest.
The Immortal Cup mirrors Huya’s successful Legend Cup for League of Legends, which similarly featured retired LPL pros and prominent streamers, boasting a total prize pool of ¥3 million RMB (around $420,000 USD).
This announcement comes amid Huya’s evolving business model in esports. In September 2024, Huya notably reduced its LPL broadcast licensing fees from ¥300 million RMB ($42.8 million USD) to ¥230 million RMB ($32.8 million USD) for the 2024-2025 season, a strategic shift coinciding with its expanded role as a tournament organizer.
With rapid sellouts and significant prize pools, Huya’s Immortal Cup represents a broader strategy to deepen its presence in esports beyond live streaming, positioning itself as a pivotal organizer of prominent esports events in China.