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Video games' popularity has given rise to thousands of teams of professional gamers in China.

YUSHO CHO, Nikkei staff writer

SHANGHAI -- One year ago, Zen Guohao traveled some 1,000 km to Shanghai from his home in Hubei Province in central China in pursuit of a dream: playing video games.

Zen, who was 18 at the time, moved into a two-story, mortar-coated building about 15 km from the city center. He became one of dozens of pro gamers living in the building -- a gaming house operated by Chinese video-streaming startup Bilibili.

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