TL;DR
- Uzi earned 485 million votes to become 2019 Weibo Person of the Year, beating all traditional celebrities
- Multiple LPL pros ranked in top 50, including Clearlove (6th) and TheShy (8th)
- Weibo serves as China’s primary platform for esports fan engagement and celebrity communication
- The award demonstrates esports’ mainstream acceptance competing against sports and entertainment industries
- Weibo Night ceremony represents significant cultural milestone for gaming industry recognition
League of Legends professional Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao achieved an unprecedented milestone by securing the Weibo Person of the Year title through overwhelming fan support, outperforming every major Chinese celebrity across entertainment sectors.
Weibo operates as China’s dominant social networking service, functionally comparable to Twitter in Western markets. It serves as the primary digital arena for celebrity-fan interactions, brand promotions, and influencer marketing across all entertainment verticals. The platform has become equally crucial for esports, with most LPL organizations and competitors utilizing Weibo as their main communication channel with supporters.
Annually, Weibo conducts prestigious awards determined exclusively by fan voting participation. Supporters select the most impactful personality across all industries, and with his staggering 485 million accumulated points, Uzi claimed the coveted 2019 Weibo Person of the Year distinction. He leveraged the identical platform to express gratitude to his fanbase, acknowledging the honor of receiving this recognition and expressing satisfaction at witnessing expanding public acceptance of competitive gaming.
LPL Professionals Emerge as China’s Premier Celebrity Figures
Royal Never Give Up’s bot lane specialist, alongside his 2018 LPL championship and Mid-Season International victory, Uzi wasn’t the solitary League of Legends personality achieving high placement. EDward Gaming’s strategic coach and former professional Ming “Clearlove” Kai secured sixth position, while Invictus Gaming’s top laner Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok attained eighth place. Numerous additional competitive players appeared within the elite top 50 rankings.
Critical to recognize that this prestigious award transcends gaming or esports categorization. Uzi and fellow LPL athletes competed directly against established figures from diverse sectors, including conventional athletics, cinematic entertainment, music, and broader popular culture domains.
Weibo Night, the formal ceremony where recipients receive their honors, stands among the nation’s most prominent social gatherings. With Uzi ascending above China’s entire pop culture landscape, this achievement clearly indicates the remarkable progress the competitive gaming sector has achieved throughout the region.
This cultural shift reflects broader acceptance of gaming as legitimate entertainment, similar to how traditional sports gained mainstream recognition decades earlier. The voting patterns reveal shifting demographic preferences among younger Chinese audiences who increasingly view esports professionals as cultural icons rather than niche competitors.
Action Checklist
- Follow LPL teams and players on Weibo for direct updates and exclusive content
- Participate in annual Weibo awards voting to support favorite esports personalities
- Engage with pro player content through comments and shares to boost visibility
- Monitor Weibo Night ceremony announcements for esports representation and industry trends
- Analyze voting patterns and rankings to understand esports’ growing cultural influence
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Royal Never Give Up star Uzi wins 2019 Weibo Person of the Year award How LPL esports stars like Uzi became China's top celebrities, surpassing traditional entertainment figures