Chinese Super League – CSL Fantasy Football

June 10, 2019

by xfcedi

chinese fantasy football CSL

Introducing the Chinese Super League to the world of fantasy football

The CSL is a league known the world over for investing big money and a lot of energy on the dream of creating one of the best football leagues. Attendance records seem to confirm the public’s interest. More than 24.000 spectators on average are present for matches in the Chinese Super League. This makes it one of the most popular football competitions in the world. FootballCoin is one of CSL’s supporters, and the game’s developers are happy to include the league in its CSL fantasy football contests.

FootballCoin is a fantasy football game using blockchain technology at its core. The developers of the game hope to successfully merge the two worlds, that of fantasy sports to that of cryptocurrency. The fantasy CSL players and teams are actively involved in the fantasy soccer contests organised by FootballCoin.

The addition of the Chinese Super League fantasy contests to FootballCoin is, surely, a new step in the correct direction for the game. The CSL thus becomes the very first Asian addition to the game. The CSL was added to FootballCoin at the same time as the MLS. So, can we be speaking of a plan for expansion?

Yes, but more than anything, FootballCoin is continuing to answer its initial promises. One of these was to include the most exciting football leagues in the world among its fantasy football roster. At the same time, the fantasy game developers are responding to the growing interest in these leagues from the fantasy football community.

The FootballCoin fantasy model used for the Chinese Super League contests

The matches of the CSL, starting with this summer, will be included among those that will be selected to make up the fantasy football contests. This means that any of the players from the teams whose matches are represented in the contests may be chosen for a fantasy draft.

Each participant can register one team to each contest. The FootballCoin model has the manager choosing a starting 11 and the reserve bench. The reserve bench includes one player for each position (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, attacker) and one Assistant Manager. The Assistant Manager receives points based on his ranking.

All the other players on the squad are judged based on their real-life performances. That means that if the player scores a goal or provides an assist in the CSL, they are likely to receive more points in the fantasy contest. If the player has a poor performance, they are likely to earn fewer points.

The FootballCoin system employed for the fantasy CSL leagues has a set of rules that apply to each and every participant. Simply put, achievements are rewarded with points. By the same token, mistakes have points deducted from the tally.

How is a fantasy contest won?

Once the final match included in the contest has been played, all the players have their ratings ready. FootballCoin works with an esteemed sports statistics agency, Omnisport. They are the ones who calculate the points for each player.

Once all the matches have been played, the gaming system adds up the points for each squad member. (Note that each player from the reserve bench, except for the assistant manager, receives 50% of the regular point average). The CSL fantasy manager with the highest number of points wins the contest.

Source: Color China Photo via AP

The final leaderboard announces the victory, as well as the results of the other managers. The winner receives his prize in the form of XFC cryptocurrency. XFC is the official cryptocurrency of the game, the lifeblood of FootballCoin.

Before the contest beginning the prize structure for it is announced. Most contests award XFC to other virtual managers, apart from the occupant of the number one position. In some cases, the whole upper half of the fantasy football rankings receive XFC prizes.

The XFC prizes are deposited in the account of the contestant. They have a number of options of what to do with the cryptocurrency from this point onwards. They can safely keep it inside the game. In this way, they have better access to using it to purchase cards, enter private contests etc. However, they may also choose to store the amount in a secure XFC wallet. Furthermore, the user may choose to deposit the amount in one of the exchange services that currently trades XFC cryptocurrency.

The use of the XFC cryptocurrency

But, what does a manager do with all the XFC they have won or bought. As previously mentioned, XFC works to power the FootballCoin game. All actions inside the game are performed using XFC currency. However, at the same time, XFC has the same functions as the most popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple of Litecoin.

XFC can be traded on one of the exchange services that have the coin listed among its ranks. The coin can be gifted, sold, or stored. XFC acts as any other currency with its value, compared to other currencies, rising and decreasing as a result of the free flow of the market.

The main difference between FootballCoin and other games with an in-game coin is simple. FootballCoin allows its users to keep what they have won or bought. The virtual managers are the sole owners of the coin and the assets. Compare this to most other games where, mostly, the game developers have almost complete control over the game assets in spite of the effort put in by the gamers.

The fantasy CSL database of players and statistics

CSL fantasy football is a game for dreamers. It’s a contest for the fantasy football geek. Games like FootballCoin allow would be managers to dream up their perfect squad. The fantasy Chinese Super League drafts can include any of the players active for teams in the league. All of these players are registered to the FootballCoin game along with their team information.

Should a manager want to assemble a team formed exclusively of the league’s many stars, they may do so. If a manager wants to dig deep and find undervalued players for his/her roster, they may do so as well. The FootballCoin statistics and analysis offer detailed information about each and every player, helping managers make informed decisions.

All transfer deals, retirements etc. are monitored by the FootballCoin team. The team makes the appropriate changes so that the squads are always up to date. This means that fantasy soccer follows the same pace of the evolution of the Chinese Super League. Often, the seasonal points of a player are a reflection of not only his individual performances but those of the entire club in the Chinese top tier of football.

A brief history of the Chinese Super League

The Chinese Super League, in much of its current format, has been around since 2004. Since then, it has attracted the attention of the sporting community due to the higher number of football stars choosing to play here, the attendance records and the growing quality of Chinese football in general.

The CSL may not have a lot of years of activity. It is a striking fact, however, it is due noting that the origins of the league stem from a competition began in 1954. It was deemed the National Football League of China and featured two tiers of football. The league grew consistently. By the 1980s the NFL allowed sponsors, investors and even offered players semi-pro status.

By the late 1980s, it had closed shop, only to be replaced by the Chinese Jia-A League starting with 1994. While it was noted for awarding pro status to players and attracting a considerable audience, the Chinese Jia-A had numerous critics. With the complaints piling up, it was deemed that a fresh start was in order.

The CSL was officially started in 2004 and aimed to correct some of the errors of the past. Among other things, clubs were required to adhere to a strict set of regulations to gain participation. The youth level system also received a makeover, owing to China’s growing reputation on the international football scene, as well. The success of the league also caught the attention of football manager and fantasy manager enthusiasts the world over.

Enter the Brazilians and the fantasy football geeks

Football is played all over the world. But, it is safe to say that one of the main ingredients for a league being famous is the star power factor. Those in charge of the fate of the CSL knew this. They began investing hugely in persuading talented players to join the ranks of the Chinese teams.

Until now, the most noted foreign players active in CSL have come from Brazil, the most successful footballing nation. In fact, until the present, more than 170 Brazilian players have been active in the CSL competition. It’s a fantasy football geek’s dream! Those transfers were responsible for many headlines in international media. All of these helped the popularity of the Chinese Super League.

The transfer of Oscar from Chelsea signified the strength the CSL now enjoys. The technically proficient attacker Shanghai SIPG in 2017, for a fee of around £60 million. World-renowned football players like Carlos Tevez, Mikel Obi, or Hulk also attracted a lot of attention to their transfers to the CSL. The fantasy Premier League now has a proper rival in terms of the public’s attention.

The CSL, a league of significant investments and considerable revenue

There’s an ongoing myth about spending in the Chinese Super League. The legend is that Chinese clubs spend substantial sums of money to bring in famous players, but neglect their business model. In other words, some believe that it is merely the CSL higher-ups spending for the sake of having a star-filled cast.

However, the economic stats show this to be far from true. A recent study suggested that the Chinese Super League may be the 14th league in the world in terms of revenue. The CSL makes approximately 945 € million. Other competitions that are included among the highest earning leagues are NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, UEFA Champions League, Serie A, La Liga, Formula One.

Clearly, the CSL is in good company. The high number of attendances, intense merchandising and growing international appeal, make this possible. This helps the CSL clubs pay the high wages that their star players demand.

For example, at the start of the 2018/19 season, Oscar was the highest paid player in the league, earning 400.000 British pounds. His teammate and fellow Brazilian Hulk earned 320.000. Players like Graziano Pelle, Alex Witsel (who later moved to Dortmund), or Ezequiel Lavezzi made 290K pounds per week. The high wages offered to top calibre players are part of the CSL strategy. It is a plan that has helped the league grow. And, there are no signs that the Chinese Super League will slow any time soon. It’s these policies that also make the league an exciting prospect for the fantasy football contests.

The high pace of development of the CSL could mean that the competition organisers may have some useful tips to share with other leagues around the world.

The format of the Chinese Super League

The CSL began with 12 teams back in 2004. It was decided that for the next years the league would expand. It currently features 16 teams. Each of the teams plays the others home and away. The top two teams at the end of the campaign gain automatic access to the AFC Champions League, the Asian version of the European UCL. The club that finishes in third is admitted into the qualifying stages of the same competition.

The two teams that finish bottom of the league are relegated. The Chinese football system includes a second tier of football from which teams are promoted into the CSL. It is likely a wise choice to have had this added to the organisation as it ensures a high degree of competitivity.

This is also a factor that ensures that the fantasy Chinese Super League hosted by FootballCoin is a highly disputed league full of surprises. As with any fantasy soccer competition, the participants to our CSL league, are encouraged to research the stats and info of the players they choose. The proper research, together with the right strategy ensures a high likelihood of succeeding in the game’s fantasy football contests.

Is there a limit to the number of stars you can have on your fantasy football draft?

The FootballCoin system includes no restrictions towards the number of stars that can be featured on your team. The virtual managers can technically have players like Renate Augusto, Johnathan Jonathan Viera, Marouane Fellaini, Hulk, or Oscar all on their team sheet.marouane fellaini nears departure of Manchester United to the Chinese Super League on transfer deadline dayThe CSL, similarly to the MLS, attempts to limit the number of famous foreign players alotted to each club. It is a policy meant to both encourage significant transfer, as well as the development of young talented players from China.

In FootballCoin, however, there are no restrictions to the players a manager can register to a fantasy contest. The managers must simply follow the rules that dictate they have 11 starting players and 5 reserves. They must choose either free players or players represented by collectible cards which they own. Note that at the moment almost every player that can be selected for FootballCoin’s fantasy CSL contests are free to be chosen by all managers.

FootballCoin, a free fantasy football game using collectable cards

All of the players involved in FootballCoin contests have their likeness shown on a virtual player card. These cards are meant to be a nod towards the football cards one might collect in the vicinity of a great football tournament. Every card presents the player’s image and their essential information. When choosing a team, the manager is basically arranging these cards to fit a team formation and strategy.

The majority of these cards, across all leagues, are free to be used by any manager. This is also true for the CSL, where players like Paulinho, Oscar, or Hulk are free cards. The system designates them as 2* cards.

FootballCoin also includes collectible player cards issued on the game’s own blockchain. Each of these cards is unique and can have only one owner. These may be used only by the cards’ owner for each contest. Only one of these cards can be used for one contest at a time. These are listed with values of 3*, 4* and 5*.

They usually represent the footballing elite, from the world’s best leagues. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba or Gianluigi Buffon are included in this category. These are players that, typically, have won several prestigious trophies.

Fantasy football played on blockchain using collectible digital assets

The advent of cryptocurrency shook the financial industry. Its popularity has continuously grown. Numerous industries have embraced it, many famous companies have shown an interest in it. What all these essential players on the financial market are most interested in is the blockchain technology that sits at the basis of cryptocurrency. Simply put, the blockchain is a digital ledger that stores data publicly, securely and quickly.

FootballCoin is one of the companies using this novel technology. The game uses its own blockchain as a way of powering and storing its records through the use of cryptography. This helps the actions inside the game, such as the transactions, practically instantaneous. This makes all decisions irreversible. And, this helps enforce a set of rules that all participants must adhere to. Ultimately, these are what make FootballCoin function to the standards that modern gaming has set.

It is a novel concept through which the developers hope to resolve many issues. First and foremost, the game is created in a way that is fun to play. Secondly, through merging football and blockchain technology, they hope to expose the concepts to a broader audience. More so, the game rules and its sturdy foundation are expected to create the basis for the game to continue to exist and grow organically well into the future. What the developers hope to create is a self-sustainable environment where the decisions of the community mold its existence.

How does the collectable cards system work?

The collectable cards, in the past merely in physical form, are part of the soccer tradition. Other sports, most notably baseball, have a similar history. These cards are meant to represent the members of each team and provide their essential data. Judging by their popularity over the years, it is safe to say that these represent one of the merchandising elements that have been most popular through the ages.

It appeals to a few basic human needs. One of them is the desire to find ways to get closer to things that make a person happy. Music fans collect rare recordings, comic book fans collect limited editions etc. Another need is simply that of owning something that nobody else has and that accurately represents your interests. It is the desire to own a piece of the world and to use it however, you see fit.

The collectable cards in FootballCoin function in a similar way, for the same purposes. Only, that in this case the cards are not represented in physical form, but rather digital assets. Those that earn the cards are free to use them however they see fit. They are the sole owners of the cards.

The cards also have practical use inside the game. Each manager must choose from the large collection of fantasy player cards to assemble their draft. In fantasy CSL contests, they must move through the squads of each of the teams participating in the league and join a team which they hope will earn them points. The teams that receive the highest number of points are rewarded with XFC coins. XFC is a digital asset acting as the in-game currency in FootballCoin.

No restrictions in terms of team selection

The FoootballCoin system gives virtual managers complete control in assembling their fantasy Chinese Super League team. It’s a distinction that is worth nothing. As mentioned, fantasy football does already have a rich history. The systems employed by the various fantasy football games are different.

The majority of these game systems employ the idea of having the manager forced to stick to a specific budget. In most cases, the players receive a numeric value based on their perceived potential. Managers need to choose their line-up so that the sum of the players’ value does not exceed past the allotted budget.

However, FootballCoin allows the manager to choose whichever players they want. For example, you can create a fantasy CSL team that features Hulk, Oscar, Fellaini, or Paulinho. The manager will just need to choose one of the formations offered by the game, be it 4-4-2, 4-3-3 etc. And, if the manager opts to use player cards rated above 3*, they must own the cards in question. One card gets to be used for one team and contest at a time. In this way, the game can remain balanced and both those choosing exclusively free players, as well as those with a team made up of collectable cards, have a good chance of winning. (Note: Managers can also make use of the FootballCoin resources, such as the fantasy football scout news and the game statistics).

FootballCoin’s fantasy football rewarding skill and knowledge of the Chinese Super League

FootballCoin is a game of skill and a highly competitive one at that. A dedicated community of virtual managers has been created around the game. The majority of them follow football events closely. Almost all of them have incredible knowledge of the stats and performances of players.

To win in these contests, managers need to step up their game. To win the XFC prizes that are at stake, the managers must come prepared. It is the way it has always been. In the very beginning, those that embraced fantasy sports were, for the most part, football nerds. Typically they were extremely knowledgable to squads, player form, statistics.

It’s the same passion for assembling your ideal football squad that keeps the FootballCoin community excited about the contests. Dreaming up a brilliant fantasy soccer CSL team allows someone to act like a real football manager. And, every top manager deserves to be rewarded. In this case, these come in the form of the XFC cryptocurrency that is offered as prizes for performing well in the fantasy contests.

Managers joining the MLS contests or creating their own fantasy leagues

The majority of fantasy sports games have leagues. FootballCoin has something similar, although there is a distinction. The game organises contests. The contests have matches chosen from the world’s top leagues. Note that in most cases a contest will represent a single league, with matches exclusively selected from that country.

Football managers can join two different kind of contests: public and private contests. They can join the public contests, the one organised by FootballCoin. These contests accompany each week of a major football league (e.g. EPL or CSL).

The prizes are offered by FootballCoin, and the details for the contest are announced before it’s starting.

But, the managers that are looking to create their own set of rules can create their own contest. This is similar to creating a fantasy league in some of the other fantasy sports games. In this case, the manager gets to customise things such as the games that are chosen for the contest, or the entry fee. This can also prove to be profitable for the organiser. The person organising the contest receives a percentage of the total prize pool.

Stadium cards and setting up contests

The stadium cards are the counterparts to the ones that depict players. In fact, the stadium cards represent famous stadiums such as San Siro, Old Trafford, or Santiago Bernabeu. Every football match, even the fantasy football ones, need grounds for it to be played on. These cards are used to help organise the contests.

The stadium cards are organised in similar ones to the player cards and share some characteristics. These cards are also ranked 2* to 5* stars. The main criteria for this were the number of sits in each stadium. Larger football grounds can be used to organise bigger contests. The fantasy football ranking of each stadium is proportional to the number of managers that can join the contest. The size of the contest, if it is a private event, also determined the size of the prize pool.

Creating large contests that anyone can join holds undeniable appeal. But, what about playing against your closest friends? FootballCoin allows you to challenge to a contest of fantasy football. To make the entry fee selective, the contest creator must simply use a password that the other participants will need to be made aware of. (Note that each manager may also choose the fantasy football name of his team).

The future of the Chinese Super League and of fantasy sports

It is difficult to make an accurate prognosis about the trajectory of either the CSL or of fantasy sports. But, judging by the rhythm in which both have evolved, it is safe to assume that both are here to stay, and likely to improve. New fans of the Chinese first tier of football and of fantasy sports appear each new year.

Vital to their development is the worldwide popularity of football (or “soccer” as it is referred to in some places). Yes, football was likely the most popular sport in Europe and much of South America for the better part of the last century.

But, in recent decades its appeal has increased even more. The game has even more teams, leagues and fans across Europe and South America. But, at the same time, a high football culture has thrived in countries across Asia, Africa and North America. At the moment the Chinese  Super League and the MLS are two of the most watched, attended and commented upon, football leagues in the world.

FootballCoin hopes to leverage this support for football and continue providing a quality gaming service. The ultimate goal is to create a system that functions independently, based on the interest and decisions of the fantasy managers. To ensure that this goal is met, the developers of this fantasy football game, know that the daily activities of the game must be at top notch level.

FootballCoin’s vision for the future

FootballCoin continues to be optimistic about the future, especially about blockchain’s technology widespread use in the coming years. The data stored in the blockchain, like data stored in a digital ledger, helps maintain the FootballCoin game functional.

Ultimately the game developers hope to create a bridge. On one side, there are those involved in the fantasy football world. On the other, there are those passionate about blockchain and/or the cryptocurrencies that function using this technology. FootballCoin aims to bring them together. In doing this, the developers wish to act as a symbol for the widespread uses of blockchain technology and their positive effects.

The Chinese Super League has finally joined the FootballCoin ranks. Its potential within fantasy football is immense. It is a league watched by millions that attracts football superstars and produces great players. In representing the CSL, this fantasy football game, hopes to help grow a significant community. This community will hopefully reap the accumulated benefits of blockchain technology, fantasy sports, and the XFC cryptocurrency.