Tencent TiMi Studio Group L1 Global Esports GM Resigns Over Alleged Corruption

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
Zhang Yijia, general manager of Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group L1 Esports Center and president of the King Pro League, has resigned due to allegations of supplier corruption.
02
Tencent confirmed that an internal email cited supplier corruption as the reason for Zhang Yijia's departure from the company.
03
Zhang Yijia was a foundational figure in Tencent's esports division, overseeing the production and operations of major titles including Honor of Kings and QQ Speed.
04
Tencent previously reported firing over 120 employees in 2023 specifically due to supplier corruption issues.
05
NetEase recently fired nine senior executives, including the general manager of its Battle Business Division, following a separate internal investigation into corruption that involved police intervention.
06
As part of its anti-corruption crackdown, NetEase has issued lifetime bans to 27 supplier companies involved in illicit partnerships.
07
Tencent discontinued its annual Tencent Esports Global Annual Summit in 2024, though it remains unconfirmed if this decision was linked to the internal investigations involving Zhang Yijia.

Summary

Zhang Yijia, the general manager of Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group L1 Esports Center and a prominent figure in the Chinese esports ecosystem, has resigned following allegations of supplier corruption. As a foundational leader in Tencent’s esports division since 2016, Yijia oversaw the production and operation of major mobile titles, including Honor of Kings and QQ Speed, and served as the president of the King Pro League. Internal communications from Tencent confirmed that the departure was directly linked to investigations into improper financial benefits involving external vendors.

This development occurs within a broader trend of increased scrutiny regarding corporate integrity among major Chinese game publishers. Tencent previously reported the termination of over 120 employees in 2023 due to similar supplier corruption issues. Concurrently, NetEase has taken aggressive legal action, recently firing nine senior executives and involving law enforcement to investigate criminal liability, while issuing lifelong bans to 27 associated supplier companies.

The investigation into Yijia coincides with the cancellation of the 2024 Tencent Esports Global Annual Summit, though a direct causal link remains unverified. These events highlight a rigorous industry-wide crackdown on kickbacks and bribery, where suppliers provide illegal financial incentives to company personnel to secure business contracts. As of the current reporting, Tencent has not announced a successor for the vacated leadership position.