Wahlap E-Sport Championship 2024 Recap

Wahlap’s 2024 E-Sport Championship brought competitive arcade gaming to Guangzhou, China, combining rhythm, racing, card and action titles across a large national tournament. The event concluded on 5 October during the Guangzhou CICF×AGF Guangzhou Comic and Game Expo.

Wahlap is a significant force in China’s arcade industry, with growing recognition in Western markets through games including Storm Racer, Asphalt 9 Arcade, Asphalt Moto Blitz and Monster Eye. For readers following international arcade news and gaming developments, WEC2024 offers a useful look at how arcade competition is being organised at scale.

Six arcade games featured in WEC2024

The national finals brought together 98 finalists after four days of competition. The six featured events were:

Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5DX Plus
maimai DX Girls’ Division
maimai DX Open Division
Taiko no Tatsujin
CHUNITHM
Kingdoms Fantasy

Five of the games came from Bandai Namco or Sega, while Kingdoms Fantasy was the Wahlap title included in the line-up. The programme covered racing and rhythm formats, with the separate maimai DX category for female players introduced for the first time. Kingdoms Fantasy also added team play, giving spectators and competitors a different format to follow.

The choice of Maximum Tune 5DX+ is notable for players who closely follow the series in different regions. The tournament’s inclusion of a current competitive arcade racer also highlights the continuing role of driving games in organised arcade events. Australian enthusiasts interested in similar hardware can explore racing arcade machines.

More than 5,500 players entered the tournament

WEC2024 began with store auditions before moving through regional preliminaries and the national finals. Organiser statistics recorded more than 5,500 participating players across nearly 800 audition rounds in cities throughout China. The final 98 competitors played for total prizes of ¥500,000, described as approximately US$70,000.

The championship received support from nearly 100 recognised animation and gaming chains and stores. Drink brand War Horse also collaborated with the event to provide energy support for players.

Different stages used challenges with varying levels of difficulty. This structure allowed players to progress from local venues through regional competition before reaching the Guangzhou finals, while giving participating arcades a role in the wider event.

Arcade competition across venues and online platforms

The finals were presented as a combined offline and online production, linking arcade play with e-sports coverage and live streaming. Broadcasts ran through WeChat, Bilibili, Douyin and other online platforms.

The four-day live broadcast reportedly reached more than 10 million people. Across the wider online network, the event recorded more than 800,000 views and close to two million interactions. Those figures show how venue-based arcade tournaments can extend beyond the physical location and reach a much larger audience.

A championship with a long history

Wahlap established its championship programme in 2008. The event developed from the WLC Wahlap Cup into WEC, a national arcade competition intended to connect players, venues and brands. The 2024 edition used the theme “Towards a Borderless New World” and positioned arcade culture alongside contemporary e-sports.

Wahlap chairman Benny Su described WEC as both a competition platform and a bridge between players, stores and brands. The programme combines joint marketing, in-person and online experiences, and social-platform interaction to increase the reach of arcade gaming and entertainment venues.

Wahlap E-sports says it intends to continue developing WEC through partnerships spanning anime, technology and entertainment, with international expansion among its future goals. The company also plans to keep refining the competition format and pursue a championship brand with global influence.

Wahlap championship timeline

2008: Wahlap Championship established.
2009: We Dancing Online 1st National Championship at Panyu Xindaxin Department Store.
2010: Ha Sangokushi Taisen 1st National Championship at China Import and Export Complex, alongside GTI EXPO.
2011: WLC2011 at Teemall Department Store.
2012: WLC2012 at Panyu Worldmart Jewelry Plaza.
2014: WLC2014 at Teemall Department Store.
2015: WLC2015 at Teemall Department Store.
2016: WLC2016 at Panyu AEON MALL.
2017: WLC2017 at Guangzhou University He Shijie Gymnasium.
2017: DABZ BASE Asian Cup at Siam Paragon Department Store in Bangkok.
2018: WLC2018 at Panyu AEON MALL.
2018: DABZ BASE Asian Cup at PLUIT VILLAGE in Jakarta.
2019: WEC2019 national finals at Pazhou CICF EXPO.
2021: WEC2021 national finals at Pazhou CICF EXPO.
2024: WEC2024 national finals at Pazhou CICF EXPO.

For Australian operators and home players, the event is a reminder that arcade machines remain social competition platforms as well as individual entertainment systems. Those planning a setup can compare arcade machines, review the arcade machine buying guide or consider arcade parts for repairs and upgrades.