RRQ Hoshi’s icon Rivaldi “R7” Fatah clearly still has the fire within him, wasting no time in revealing his ambition to re-enter the MLBB arena and chase the prestigious titles that have eluded him so far.
In case you missed it, the 25-year-old decided to step away from competitive play following the M4 World Championship in Jakarta, which wrapped up in January 2023. He took an indefinite hiatus to recover from a hand injury and to focus on his family.
R7’s unexpected departure created a domino effect, severely impacting RRQ Hoshi’s performance for over a year. The team struggled to win major matches and no longer seen as a powerhouse within SEA competitive scene. This decline has left their fans, known as RRQ Kingdom, longing for the return of R7’s leadership.
As time goes by, rumors of R7’s comeback have frequently swirled on social media, but these were consistently shot down by his teammates and RRQ staff. However, a recent podcast appearance on Indonesian celebrity Rigen Rakelna’s channel has finally provided some clarity.
There, R7 shared his burning desire to win the championships he missed out on while with RRQ Hoshi. He set his sights on the next M Series and SEA Games as his targets for a triumphant return to MLBB, hinting at a possible comeback in 2025.
“Personally, I won’t be satisfied until I win a world championship. Whether it’s in the M-Series or by clinching a gold medal at the SEA Games,” R7 declared. “I really want to compete in the next SEA Games. If there’s an individual registration, I’ll join, because I only got silver in Hanoi in 2021.”
Nevertheless, many fans speculate that R7 might dive into the esports scene of another game if he returns sooner. This speculation arises as several of his MLBB colleagues have recently switched to Honor of Kings esports.
Seeing how badly RRQ struggled against younger teams in professional MLBB competitions, R7 is undoubtedly the catalyst that they need to regain their confidence. Recent performances show that the other veterans like Muhammad “Lemon” Ikhsan and Calvyn “Vyn,” RRQ lacks the leadership quality which R7 embodies.