In a stunning twist of fate, Nigma Galaxy, having recently parted ways with Daniel “Ghost” Chan and Roman “rmN” Paley just two days ago, has made waves in the esports scene by officially announcing the acquisition of Saeiful “Fbz” Ilham from Indonesia and Farith “Matthew” Puente from Peru. This strategic move is a bold effort to bolster their roster in preparation for the upcoming ESL One Birmingham 2024 MENA closed qualifier, which kicks off on January 28th.
Joining forces with veterans Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi Takhasomi, Sumail “Sumail” Hassan, and the recently returned Amer “Miracle” Al-Barkawi, the team appears primed for a fierce competition. While Fbz and Matthew lack prior experience in the MENA region, Nigma fans need not be concerned about their capabilities.
Having established himself as one of the SEA region’s finest during his five-year tenure with Boom Esports, Fbz played a pivotal role during Boom’s prime era in 2022 and even reached The International 11. And when it comes to playing alongside European, the 22-year-old offlaner is clearly no stranger, having gained valuable experience during his stint with Team Secret last year. His exceptional gameplay earned praise from his European teammates, including the legendary Clement “Puppey” Ivanov.
Meanwhile, Matthew asserted his dominance in South America while with Thunder Awaken and Evil Geniuses from 2021 to 2023. Although his brief stint with Boom Esports last month didn’t replicate previous success, fans still hold him in high regard, anticipating his excellence with the right team composition.
This fresh lineup promises to inject new vitality into the team, much needed after the disappointing performances in the DreamLeague Season 22 qualifiers and BetBoom Dacha 2024 Dubai qualifier. However, Nigma is not the sole MENA powerhouse undergoing changes, as PSG Quest and Team Falcon are yet to unveil their revamped rosters.
