The championship. China's FunPlus Phoenix, or FPX, won the finals for the game "League of Legends" on Sunday in Paris, beating out a European team. 

Team member Kim Tae-Sang, who goes as "Doinb," said "this might be my last game, so if I had the chance to go back and talk to the old 'Doinb' at the start of the year, I would tell him to never give up, because there is always hope," he said about the victory.

Things have come a long way for a pastime once derided as "digital heroin."

The Chinese government first recognized gaming as an official sports program back in 2003. 

Two years later, Chinese player Li Xiaofeng, known as Sky, won China's first world championship in the game Warcraft III. 

"Every game takes us about 30 minutes. It's like Chinese Chess and Go – starting with the same amount of resources, players have to defeat their rivals through strategy, maneuvers, and wisdom," Li said. 

In 2018, China beat South Korea – a country well-associated with e-sports – in a League of Legends match at the Asian Games in Jakarta. 

The victories have fueled e-sports' popularity, as has a boom in online livestreaming platforms since 2010. 

And earlier this year, e-sports careers were formally recognized as professions. 

Gaming industry expert Xiao Hong said, "E-sports is no longer a game. It's a way of entertainment in the form of gaming, similar to other competitive sports including basketball and football." 

E-sports majors and classrooms have cropped up at universities. But e-sports is still far from a mature industry, and is in need of professional talent and regulation. 

Those dreaming to become the next Li Xiaofeng are advised to be cautious. 

Even professional League of Legends e-sports player Zhang Xingran warns playing e-sports isn't necessarily a ticket to fame and wealth. 

Zhang said, "I don't think this job is right for every gamer. You need to know your skill level and exert a lot of effort. Otherwise, you are just wasting your youth if you keep trying to go pro, and probably should focus on school instead."