eStarPro Rebuilds After Dynasty Collapse: New Coach WuMing Leads 2025 KPL Revamp

The turning point came last summer when SK stepped away temporarily, only to return later with the weight of expectations on his shoulders. The squad’s performance dipped, and the cracks began to show. In the most recent roster shock, four players have been released outright and two veterans have announced semi‑retirement, effectively dissolving the “dynasty team” that had dominated the King’s Pro League (KPL) for years. The exodus has sparked a flood of commentary on Chinese social media, with many calling it the collapse of the eStarPro empire and demanding accountability from both the players and the coaching staff.

Amid the turmoil, the club announced a fresh leadership lineup for the 2025 summer split. Zhang Cong, who streams under the ID “WuMing,” will take over as head coach. His appointment signals a strategic pivot, aiming to blend the club’s historic tactical acumen with a newer, more adaptable style of play. The 2025 KPL draft also saw jungler Hou Weiguo—known online as “ZiYuan”—picked up by eStarPro, marking a clear intent to revamp the roster from the ground up.

Behind the scenes, the organization’s structure has also shifted. Sun Liwei, the founder of eStarPro e‑sports club and co‑CEO of the holding company Xingjing Weiwu, remains the group president and head coach of the Wuhan squad. The club’s ownership now reflects a merger that brought together V5 e‑sports club, led by Mario Ho (He Youjun), with eStarPro under the Xingjing Weiwu banner. Ho, who also chairs the Macau E‑sports Federation, is the largest shareholder of the combined entity, underscoring a deepening of resources and influence in the Chinese e‑sports market. Early investors such as 360’s Tianjin Qirui Tiancheng Equity Investment Center, which participated in eStarPro’s 2017 angel round, are part of the financial tapestry that has supported the club’s ascent.

Competitive results over the past year illustrate the club’s roller‑coaster trajectory. On July 30 2024, eStarPro fell 4‑1 to the Chongqing Wolves in a decisive S‑Group match, with the Wolves’ MVPs Guigui, Xiaopang, Xiangyu and Yisheng stealing the spotlight. The Wolves continued to haunt eStarPro in the loser's bracket, beating RW and eStarPro again on November 13 2024 before staging an improbable comeback against KSG—overturning a 0‑3 deficit to win 4‑3 and secure a place in the bracket final. These defeats highlighted the urgent need for change, prompting the club’s leadership to double down on roster and coaching adjustments.

Off the battlefield, eStarPro has sought to stay connected with its massive fan base through cultural outreach. On June 3 2025, the club participated in a large public event that blended traditional dragon‑boat games, blind‑box lotteries, and a “Phoenix Crown Journey” Ming‑dynasty experience zone with an e‑sports showcase featuring both Wuhan eStarPro and Beijing WB. The event was both a nod to Chinese heritage and a platform to reinforce the club’s community presence.

The fan community’s involvement extends beyond celebrations to moments of concern. Earlier this year, a Weibo thread erupted when users demanded real‑time updates about a missing team member referred to only as “Xiran.” Posts from fans urging the official eStarPro account for information mentioned teammates “Hai team,” “Orange” and “Jiu Ku” mobilising their networks to locate the individual. The anxiety culminated in a relief‑filled update that Xiran had been found safe, crediting players Juzi and Huahai for their assistance. The episode, while brief, underscored the closeness of eStarPro’s supporters and their willingness to rally around the team in crises, even as some voices warned against rumors and “being led by the rhythm.”

As the summer split approaches, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the new coaching staff, fresh talent, and reinforced corporate backing can resurrect eStarPro to its former glory. For a club that once seemed invincible, the journey now resembles a phoenix rising from its own ashes—a narrative that will surely keep the Chinese e‑sports world watching closely.