BY JAMES WONG
KUCHING: Mobile gaming has been gaining traction, both in terms of popularity and prominence, in recent years.
In Malaysia the competitive professional gaming scene has been likewise growing with endorsement and support from the government.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is among the most downloaded and most played mobile games in Malaysia, and many are now aspiring to turn professional.
To evolve from a player to an e-sport coach is no easy feat, to say the least.
But it is no deterrent to Kelvin Unting, better known as ‘Rexvinn’, presently the head coach for the all-female team representing Malaysia in MLBB at the upcoming SEA Games in Cambodia.
The 20-year-old who completed his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) studies not too long ago at Sacred Heart Secondary School resides in Sibu.
New Sarawak Tribune spoke to him to gain an insight into his foray into the industry and the world of MLBB competitive e-sports.
Kelvin’s interest in the MLBB scene started in his high school days when he was invited by his friends to play the game.
The game became his first pick out of other multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games, citing the game’s ease of access as the reason.
From there, he started to involve himself in various tournaments, and ultimately this sparked his interest to enter the professional e-sports scene.
“Before I entered the professional league, I won several semi-professional tournaments as a player,” he said.
His first experience with coaching took place in 2020 when he was just 18, with a community MLBB team named Centroux.
Alongside coaching, he also played with the team, all while juggling with his Form 5 studies.
As a coach, he currently has two national competitions experience under his belt, namely the Season 9 of Mobile Legends Professional League Malaysia (MLP) and MLBB Women’s Invitational (MWI) last year.
“I felt empowered to be involved in the competitions. The experiences taught me a lot, that being a leader requires a high level of cooperation and responsibility.
“I am excited to be given the opportunity to coach for the SEA Esports because it is one of my dreams to bring Malaysia’s name to the international level,” he said.
He started his professional coaching journey when he volunteered to help a MLBB women’s team without patronage or affiliation to any party.
From there, his skills and expertise in coaching the game became known among the community.
He was then scouted by Padel, the team manager of MPL Malaysia to work as a head coach at Suhaz Esports, a well-known organisation that manages teams in various competitive e-sports games.
His team was also brought over to merge with Suhaz Esports, and he was offered a spot as a head coach after coaching for a few weeks at Suhaz Ladies, an all-female division from Suhaz Esports.
This is the fifth year since the inclusion of electronic sports (e-sports) in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and for the first time, the game will feature a women’s gaming division.
At the time of the interview, Kelvin was working as a SEA Games trainer for the women’s category.
“Being a coach requires a lot of responsibility because of the busy schedule.
“I train team members to improve their agility in playing to be able to compete with other national teams.
“I need to do research and learn effective game techniques so as not to be left behind by the opposing team,” he said.
But on his training regimen and strategy, he was understandably tight-lipped about specifics.
“While I can’t reveal specifically what strategies we will bring to the next SEA Games, what I can say is that we will do our best in every game for the sake of the badge on the chest,” he said.
He also stated that he has arranged various strategies for the upcoming competition, such as ‘scrims’, a simulated practice or test-match with other teams to prepare the players.
“After the scrims are over, I will re-analyse the scrims and point out the mistakes they made,” he added.
He looks up to Coach Zeys, the former head coach for EVOS Esports.
“My idol is Coach Zeys because of his remarkable achievement of winning the world championship twice with different players, and his ability to think outside the box,” he said.
Leading the all-female team has been a highlight for him as the group has demonstrated good teamwork and synergy.
“One of the members I have to highlight is Aria, she is a player who can give instructions to team members in various situations during the match.
“She can also provide a cheerful atmosphere to cheer up her team members,” he added.
On coaching men versus women, he said the difference lies in the approach.
“The difference is that I tend to be more open because the female team members display a different level of commitment compared to male teams,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the challenge he is facing right now is the time constraint as some of the team members are students. In spite of it, they still find time to commit to practice.
As for the role of mobile gaming in e-sports and the industry’s future, he believes it will play a pivotal role in the world of e-sports in the years to come.
“In my opinion, I think e-sports, especially the mobile gaming industry, will continue to progress, with more international level competitions being organised.
“The competitive MLBB Esports scene in Malaysia is developing over time, but there is still not enough preparation to bring Malaysia’s name to the world stage,” he said.
However, he stressed that to elevate the Malaysian e-sports scene and boost its recognition globally, it is crucial for the Malaysian government to play a more active role.
“To bring Malaysia’s name to the world stage, the government plays a vital role. It will benefit the Malaysian e-sport scene and the players as well,” he emphasised.
To young women and players who aspire to turn professional gamers or coaches in e-sports, he stressed that they should not let negative comments, particularly from those who underestimate the potential of women in e-sports, affect their drive and passion.
On his future plans, he said he is looking at completing his studies after the SEA Games.
“Maybe after graduation, I will return to the professional scene and help teams that need coaching services,” he said.
