League of Legends pro player Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao has been voted the Weibo person of the year, with fans voting for him more than any other Chinese celebrity on the platform.
Weibo is a Chinese social media platform equivalent to Twitter. It’s a go-to platform for celebrities, influencers, and brands, especially in the entertainment industry. It’s no different for esports, as most LPL players and teams turn to Weibo to communicate with their fans.
At the end of a year, Weibo holds awards open to fan voting. Fans pick who was the most influential personality of the year, and with 485 million points, Uzi became the 2019 Weibo person of the year. He used the same platform to thank his fans, saying it’s an honor to receive the award and that he is happy to see more and more people recognizing esports.
LPL pros are recognized as the biggest celebrities in China
Royal Never Give Up bot laner, and 2018 LPL and Mid-Season International winner Uzi isn’t the only League personality to place high on this list. EDward Gaming’s coach and retired pro Ming “Clearlove” Kai earned sixth place, while Invictus Gaming’s Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok placed eighth. There were even more pro players placing in the top 50.
It’s important to note that this award isn’t strictly related to gaming or esports. Uzi and other LPL players were competing with people from a number of fields, including traditional sports, the movie industry, and more.
Weibo Night, the ceremony where the winner is handed the award, is one of the biggest social events in the country. And with Uzi standing tall above the rest of Chinese pop culture, it shows how far the industry has come in the region.
