This summer, Guangzhou will welcome a long-awaited top-tier international Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournament. Xinsai Esports (XSE) recently announced that its tournament IP, XPL 2026, will land in Guangzhou. It is also one of the highest-level international Counter-Strike tournaments to be staged in Guangzhou in recent years. According to official information, the tournament will take place in July, with 16 international teams competing. Renowned teams including FaZe Clan have also confirmed their participation.

For Counter-Strike players and fans in China, top international events in recent years have been held more often in cities such as Shanghai and Chengdu. This time, however, Guangzhou is finding its place on the global Counter-Strike esports map. "This event is different. It is a Valve Tier 1 event, and also the highest-level tournament we have organized so far," said Chen Hang, head of Xinsai Esports, in an interview.

Esports events are no longer simply about "playing a match." From visas, venues, livestreaming and security to commercial facilities and culture-tourism integration, an international tournament is backed by an entire system of urban coordination. A number of gaming companies, including NetEase, 37 Interactive Entertainment and Kuro Games, have long been based in Guangzhou, making the city one of China's key hubs for game development and publishing.

Since the beginning of this year, the Guangdong Esports Super League (GESL), jointly launched by Yangcheng Evening News Group (Yangcheng Evening News) and the Guangdong Game Industry Association, has been in full swing as the first esports tournament in Guangdong to cover all 21 cities in the province. As part of the Guangfu competition zone, Guangzhou held its city qualifier at the Baiyunli International Beauty Center in April, attracting more than 120 local teams and over 500 players.

At the same time, homegrown esports clubs in Guangzhou have also begun to make their mark on the international stage. Recently, Guangzhou Gaming (GZG) won the championship at the 2026 Hero Asian Champions League (ACL) × Mobile Legends: Bang Bang East Asia Championship Tour (MCT EA) and secured a berth in the main stage of the Esports World Cup in Paris this July, once again bringing Guangzhou's local esports clubs into the public spotlight.

Whether it is the League of Legends World Championship or international CS2 tournaments, more events are now placing greater emphasis on the "city experience." Tournaments are no longer merely livestreamed content; they have become part of young people's offline consumption, urban tourism and social culture.

With its exhibition resources, commercial facilities, international air routes and young consumer market, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is naturally well suited to hosting international esports events. This is especially true for first-person shooter (FPS) titles, where the in-person viewing atmosphere and the vitality of local esports communities can directly shape the popularity of a tournament.

一场国际顶级电竞赛事，为何选择落地广州？

这个夏天，广州将迎来一场久违的国际顶级CS2（《反恐精英2》）赛事。日前，歆赛电竞（XSE）宣布，旗下赛事IP“XPL 2026”将落地广州。这也是近年来广州规格最高的CS国际赛事之一。根据官方公布的信息，赛事将于7月举行，16支国际战队将参与角逐。FaZe Clan等国际知名队伍已确认参赛。

对于国内CS玩家来说，过去几年，国际顶级赛事更多集中在上海、成都等城市。而这一次，广州开始进入全球CS赛事版图。“这次不一样，它是V社官方授权的T1级别（高级别）世界赛，也是我们目前规格最高的一届赛事。”歆赛电竞负责人陈航在接受采访时表示。

电竞赛事早已不是简单的“打一场比赛”。从签证、场馆、直播、安保，到商业配套、文旅联动，一场国际赛事背后，其实是一整套城市协同能力。网易、三七互娱、库洛游戏等一批游戏企业长期聚集于此，广州也因此成为国内游戏研发和发行的重要城市之一。

今年以来，作为广东省内首个覆盖21个地市的电竞赛事，由羊城晚报报业集团（羊城晚报社）与广东省游戏产业协会联合打造的“电竞粤超”举办得如火如荼。广州作为广府赛区的一员，今年4月在白云里国际美妆中心举办城市海选赛，吸引超120支本土战队、500余名选手参赛。

与此同时，广州本土电竞俱乐部也开始在国际赛事中崭露头角。近日，GZG广州电竞队夺得2026英雄亚冠ACL×决胜巅峰东亚冠军巡回赛冠军，并锁定7月巴黎电竞世俱杯正赛席位，也让广州本土电竞俱乐部再次进入大众视野。

无论是英雄联盟全球总决赛，还是《CS2》国际赛事，越来越多赛事开始强调“城市体验”，赛事不只是直播内容，而是年轻人的线下消费、城市旅游、社交文化的一部分。

从会展资源到商业配套，从国际航线到年轻消费市场，大湾区天然适合承接国际化电竞赛事。尤其对于FPS项目（第一人称射击游戏）来说，线下观赛氛围、本地电竞社群活跃度，都会直接影响赛事热度。

文 | 记者 陈旭泽
图 | 赛事方提供
译 | 郑奕玲
审 | 曾敏