SHANGHAI, Jan 3 - Chinese gaming stocks soared on Wednesday to outperform a weak broader market, after Reuters reported China removed a gaming regulatory official.

China's CSI Anime Comic Game Index jumped more than 1.5%, against a roughly flat broad market.

China removed an official at a government body overseeing its press and publications regulator, five sources who were briefed on the matter said, days after Chinese gaming stocks were hit by proposed rules to curb spending on video games. (Reporting by Jason Xue and Brenda Goh; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)