EDward Gaming

EDward Gaming (EDG) is a professional esports organization headquartered in Shanghai, China, founded in September 2013. The company was established by Edward Zhu (Zhu Yihang), SanShao, and BingGui with the vision of creating a championship-caliber esports club in Guangzhou, a city with a rich esports history. Edward Zhu, the team's namesake, is the son of Zhu Mengyi, the founder of real estate conglomerate Hopson Development. This connection to established business has provided the organization with significant financial backing.

EDG operates multiple professional teams competing in popular esports titles, most notably League of Legends (LoL) and Valorant. The organization generates revenue through a diversified model common in the esports industry, which includes tournament prize money, corporate sponsorships, media rights, and merchandise sales. EDG has secured partnerships with prominent brands such as Intel, Razer, Red Bull, and Dior. A significant revenue stream also comes from in-game digital item sales, as demonstrated by a successful live commerce event on Douyin that generated substantial income from Valorant weapon skins.

The organization's history is marked by significant competitive achievements. Soon after its founding, the League of Legends team established its dominance in China's top-tier LoL Pro League (LPL). A major international breakthrough occurred in 2015 when EDG won the inaugural Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), defeating the Korean powerhouse SK Telecom T1. The pinnacle of their success came in 2021 when the LoL team won the World Championship, a highly celebrated victory that brought the Summoner's Cup back to China. This victory was a major event, resulting in nationwide celebrations and significant bonuses for the players, including the promise of a house for each member from the founder. The Valorant division has also achieved premier status, winning the VALORANT Champions tournament in 2024.

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