From Mamaks to Sold Out Arenas: This EPIC Local Esports Team Shares Their Success in the Gaming Industry!

Is it just me or is there always someone on their phone playing Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile and so on every time we go lepak? These mobile games are getting so popular that even the 2019 SEA games will include them as medal sports in not just one, but six categories!

You’ve probably heard that our Ministry of Youth and Sports is pushing for esports to flourish in Malaysia but how much do we really know about our local esports scene?

Source: Lapar E-sports

We recently sat down with a local esports organization called Lapar Esports and asked them to share the challenges that they face within the local competitive mobile gaming scene. This is their story.

They risked it all for the love of the game

Ilya Kravchuk – Lapar Esports CEO and Club President | Source: Lapar Esports

Kravchuk Ilya Vyacheslavovich, or Ilya for short, is not your ordinary Malaysian name but he has an extraordinary story to tell. The current CEO and Club President for the organization, Ilya quit a high paying Law and Finance position to helm this fledgeling local e-sports team that desires to bring innovation into esports team management and business whilst upholding their core values of professionalism.

The same can be said of his right-hand man and general team manager, Mari’e ‘Honam’ Muhammad who sidelined his multiple successful businesses so that he can manage the club’s roster full-time.

What drives both to take such a gamble? Their shared love and passion for esports.

Honam. Lapar esport’s General Manager | Source: Lapar Esports

It was challenging: Players occasionally had to use their OWN phones and data to compete!

Source: Lapar Esports

There are many challenges that the scene faces daily which makes it hard for teams such as Lapar Esports to compete. If you didn’t know, some Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile tournaments actually require players to use their own phones rather than being supplied by the organizers.

Seeing how players came from different backgrounds and lack financial support, most can’t afford the latest and greatest phones. Honam noted that some of his players are using old phones with problems such as cracked screens that greatly affects performance.

Lapar PubgM national Championship Qualifiers | Source: Lapar Esports

Once, Ilya even had to lend his iPhone to one of his players during a tournament because the player’s phone was malfunctioning.

What’s more shocking is the fact that some tournaments don’t even provide wifi, so the players have to use their own data!

If you (unfortunately) relate to having poor data connectivity, one thing you can consider is switching to a super-fast and reliable network carrier such as YES’s EPIC Unlimited 4G data plan, for instance, so you can compete to the fullest!

Malaysia’s mobile gaming scene is growing by leaps and bounds

Source: Lapar Esports

Ilya pointed us towards multiple studies conducted by an international firm known as Newzoo, which states that the major bulk of esports in Asia being watched globally is actually mobile esports rather than the conventional esports titles such as Dota 2 and League of Legends.

He noted that the emergence of the mobile gaming scene can be attributed to many factors. One is its easy accessibility, as all of the popular mobile esports titles are free to play on your mobile phones.

Source: Lapar Esports

The wide and super-fast mobile internet connectivity in Malaysia such as the one offered by YES also plays a big part as more and more people can play the game lag-free, making YES the most epic companion to exert one’s skills in ranked matchmaking.

The origin of their name and expansion

Source: Lapar E-sports

Founded by two of Malaysia’s most famous game streamers, MelRomeo & Kuizwan “Eiko” Kumajid, the organization was originally just a group of friends playing the PC version of PUBG together.

They needed a name and since the team was hungry for “chicken dinner”, the term used for those who finished the game on top, they decided to call themselves ‘Lapar‘, since they were always hungry to achieve better results and improve their skill.

The top management of Lapar Esports | Source: Lapar Esports

An independent organization, Lapar Esports was built from its strong and committed community with many players from different games asking to join in under their unique banner.

Fast forward two years later, the clan is now a full-fledged esports organization with successful rosters in PUBG, Dota 2, Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile and more.

Source: Lapar Esports

Success and what the future holds for mobile esports

Source: Lapar Esports

Lapar kids | Source: Lapar Esports

Lapar Esports has participated in many international tournaments and is gaining fans wherever they go. Ilya even noticed someone wearing their team’s jersey when in Thailand which really makes the whole endeavour worthwhile.

Both Honam and Ilya see a bright future for their team and mobile esports in general as many examples from overseas are pointing to not just a sustainable industry for the scene but also a very lucrative one.

WORLD OF BUZZ is definitely impressed by the vigour and vision of this young organization and hope they achieve all the success they deserve in the future!

Source: Lapar Esports

Well, one thing that could spur the growth of mobile esports even further is the wide and blazing 4G network by YES. With super-fast internet speeds wherever you go, it makes it easier for mobile gamers to play practically anywhere without any hiccups!

Konfem 4G, Konfem Unlimited la bro! 

YES wei! That also means you can now watch countless game guides from your favourite Youtubers (or streamers) without worrying about running out of data. While you’re at it, why not watch our local teams compete to show your sapot too ?.

With pure unlimited 4G LTE internet at only RM1 per day, you can game till you get that winner winner chicken dinner — lag-free, worry-free!

So, if you’re passionate about gaming, here’s why YES is the most epic companion for you:

• Hone your skills without worrying about lag thanks to the network’s low latency.
• Practice virtually anywhere with 4G nationwide coverage.
• All this for an affordable price of only Rm1 per day!

Awesome, don’t you think?

Our local mobile esports scene will definitely flourish with such amazing and ubiquitous network coverage. Say no to bad internet and switch to YES 4G.

For more information on how you can switch to YES, click here.